JUNGLEJIM1
Well-known member
I've always been a little paranoid about baits with treble hooks, especially one's with two or more. I've never been stuck with one until Tuesday while camping with my youngest daughter and oldest granddaughter. No pics the entire trip. River is super low now, lowest I've seen it. Fish weren't hitting much and the girls went back to camp. Digging through my bag I found a silver/black Rapala shallow diver that's been chewed up quite a bit over the years. Couple casts working the bait sub surface and nice Brown trout about 15 inches hits. I get it in and release it. Wish I had the camera then, beautiful fish. Couple casts later a nice smallie hits. Using 4 lb test I take my time and get him close when he runs straight at me between my legs snagging the front treble into my shin bone. After a few very painful lunges he quiets down so I reach down to try to grab the hook so he lunges more. This goes on for a couple minutes, when I reach he lunges. Finally get a hold on the treble and luckily it isn't buried past the barb so it comes out pretty easy. Smallie isn't huge, probably around 2 lbs but it certainly was my most painful catch ever. Puncture where the hook went in is bruised and sore. I have a date with the doctor tomorrow for a tetanus shot since I can't remember when I last got on. This is why I like jigs so much and hate using baits with treble hooks. You just can't trust a smallie.
