Hooks treble vs single

[C&R]

A question about hooks. I've read a lot of people on this and other boards speak of the benefits of single hooks over trebles. How barbless get quicker penetration. Why not mandate Single barbless in all waters. It's less damaging to fish, if you fight the fish without giving it too much slack landing percentage should be the same or high (if penetration is easier).

Hi C&R. I don't think the % is quite the same, but close enough for me to agree that it is getting time for ODFW to consider mandating their use for many of our fisheries. - RT

[wiser]

Barbless hooks are required for sturgeon angling and were required a couple years ago for much of the steelhead fishery. It is my understanding that the ODFW Commission was provided with reports of studies regarding hooking mortality that indicated there is very little difference in hooking mortality on fish hooked with barbed hooks compared to fish hooked with barbless. These reports were apparently the best science available and convinced the Commission to relax the rule.
Personally, I believe mortality is influenced far more by how the fish is released than by what kind of hook is used. Trying to remove a swallowed baited hook,barbed or barbless, would probably be fatal to most salmonids. I advocate the use of barbless myself but,until some "scientific" study shows it decreases mortality, the rule will probably remain in effect because there are a lot of people who support the use of barbed hooks.