Most hard jerkbaits that are around the 4 inch size come from the factory with 3 treble hooks. I find that this is kind of overkill. With all those hooks it makes unhooking and releasing more difficult. It also does more damage to the fish. Sometimes the middle treble will even get them in or around the eye. I have been experimenting with removing the middle treble hook. So far, it does not seem to alter the action of the bait, the depth, or the catch rate. It is easier to unhook them and less chance of sticking yourself. Anyone else do this or have any other feedback on this? Thanks.

No it will usually make a suspending bait float. Besides LC Pointers only come with two hooks 

No it will usually make a suspending bait float. Besides LC Pointers only come with two hooks 

Some Pointer come with two hook & some come with three hooks

Pointer 128-3hooks

Flashminnow 100-3 hooks

Flash Pointer 100-3 hooks

Flash Pointer 115-3 hooks

Slender Pointer 97-3 hooks

Slender Pointer 112-3 hooks

Slender Pointer 127-3 hooks

 

If you want to take off the middle hook & keep the balance you can weigh the three hooks & change out to two heavier hooks that weight the same. Or add some soft lead like solder wire in place of the middle hook. You could cut off the hook tips & leave the rest of the hook.

Some Pointer come with two hook & some come with three hooks

Pointer 128-3hooks

Flashminnow 100-3 hooks

Flash Pointer 100-3 hooks

Flash Pointer 115-3 hooks

Slender Pointer 97-3 hooks

Slender Pointer 112-3 hooks

Slender Pointer 127-3 hooks

 

If you want to take off the middle hook & keep the balance you can weigh the three hooks & change out to two heavier hooks that weight the same. Or add some soft lead like solder wire in place of the middle hook. You could cut off the hook tips & leave the rest of the hook.

You got me  . I usually stick to the Pointer Minnow which has two. Pretty interesting on the different ways you can make it suspend. Just shows how little I like to play around with my jerkbaits lol.

Bass like to slap at jerkbaits, especially smallmouth. I like to have as many options as possible out there for them to stick themselves on. You can always pinch the barbs down if you're worried about easier hook removal.

I only have a few smaller baits that come with 3 hooks, most are 4.5" and larger. I like a Super Rogue Jr, the bait is 4 and 1/8" in length and comes with 2 sets of hooks and on 12lb like it gets down to 5' to 5.5' and suspends really well in 45 to 50 degree water temps. I have only a few jerkbaits that are 4" and less with 3 sets of hooks but I will tell you this, in my experience, long jerkbaits with 3 sets of hooks will still hook a fish in the eye every now and again with the middle hook removed, in fact it will happen more often with the middle hook removed. Removing the middle hook makes it easier to remove the bait, that is true but if the fish are on and you have the right bait then the fish will hit it at the head and that results in the fish being hooked on the front set of trebles.  On a long jerkbait if the fish is hooked on the front set, it leaves the back free to swing around but if there is a middle set of treble hooks, it usually ends up pinning the entire bait to the mouth of the fish which makes it hard on the angler but it keeps the bait from swinging around for the tail trebles to latch on to and eye.

Seems like the easiest thing to do is just purchase baits that come equipped with only two hooks. Plenty of good ones available.