I have attached a picture of a lure (Nishine Lure Works - Spybait) that has been very effective for me in catching Small Mouth Bass - yet it has also caused issues (as you can see by the blood on the measuring board) - the fish typically inhale it so the back trebles (or terrible hooks as I sometimes refer to them as) are cutting up the fishes gills or throat, and there is probably some additional damage from the back prop - the back hooks are then very difficult to remove from the fish, especially fish with a smaller mouth ---

Has anyone else encountered this ?

Do you think crushing the back barbs would be a decent idea ?

Maybe taking the back treble off completely ? 

Honestly, I'd just deal with injuring fish rather than losing them. Fishing is a blood sport.

Tough call.  I don't like losing fish either, but I also hate the idea of killing them by accidental mortality.  Bass take a long time to reach trophy size here in the north - about a decade.

 

A barbless rear treble seems like a reasonable middle ground here if they are swallowing it.

You try using single replacement hooks #4102 from Owner,  X strong. See Owners chart for size; size 4 treble is size 1 size 6 is size 2 treble hook replacement.

Tom

They are engulfing that lure , huh? I'll have to get me one.