Gamakatsu Treble RB NS Black

🎣 The Gamakatsu Treble RB NS Black is the round bend treble in NS Black coating, available in 4 sizes (6, 5, 4, 2).

Gamakatsu Treble Round Bend NS Black

The Gamakatsu Treble RB NS Black is the round bend treble in NS Black coating, available in 4 sizes (6, 5, 4, 2). NS Black is Gamakatsu's nano-smooth black finish that reduces hook visibility in clear water. Where standard chrome trebles flash and may spook wary bass in pressured clear-water lakes, NS Black trebles maintain a low-profile appearance that doesn't telegraph as easily. Most popular for finesse topwater applications, jerkbaits in clear water, and tournament-pressured fisheries.

Why Gamakatsu Hooks

Gamakatsu hooks are made in Japan with proprietary high-carbon steel and a sharpening process that delivers point penetration tournament pros call Gamakatsu sharpness. Tournament bass and saltwater pros worldwide use Gamakatsu because the hook point is consistently sharper out of the package than competing brands, requiring less hookset force to bury. Gamakatsu sharpness translates directly to hookup percentage when fish bite light or short. The TGW (Tournament Grade Wire) construction holds up to repeated tournament use without dulling or bending.

Configuration

• Sub-family: Round bend treble in NS Black low-glare finish
• Sizes available: 6, 5, 4, 2
• Pack pricing: $9.99
• Number of size variants: 4

Application Guide

Clear water tournament bass: Pressured clear-water lakes (Smith Mountain, Champlain, clear-water reservoirs) where bass are highly aware of hooks. NS Black reduces visibility and may improve hookup percentage on wary fish.

Finesse topwater: Smaller topwater plugs and prop baits where any visual disturbance from chrome hooks could put fish off. NS Black blends with bait colors better.

Jerkbait stealth applications: Cold-water clear-lake jerkbait fishing where the bait needs to suspend perfectly and hooks should not be the visual focus.

Saltwater inshore: Speckled trout and redfish on suspending plugs where clear shallow water requires stealth presentation.

Common Hard Bait Pairings

• Clear-water jerkbaits: Megabass Vision 110, Lucky Craft Pointer (size 4 or 6)
• Finesse topwater: Smaller spook-style baits, prop baits (size 4 or 6)
• Inshore saltwater suspending plugs: MirrOlure, Paul Brown Soft Dine (size 4 or 5)
• Tournament crankbaits: Pressured-water replacement (size 4 or 6)

Recommended Line

10-15 lb fluorocarbon for clear water bass and inshore saltwater applications.

Hook Sizing Reference

Hook size in fishing nomenclature is reverse-counted: smaller numbers are larger hooks. Size 6 is smaller than size 1. Once you cross zero, sizes count up: 1/0 is larger than size 1, 5/0 is larger than 4/0, 12/0 is the largest. For this product's sub-family:

• Treble hooks: Size 6 for small crankbaits and topwater, size 4 for medium hard baits, size 2 for medium-large jerkbaits and topwater, size 1 and 1/0 for magnum baits and swimbaits

Who This Is For

This hook is best for tournament bass anglers replacing OEM crankbait, jerkbait, and topwater plug trebles.

Specifications

• Brand: Gamakatsu (Japan)
• Hook category: Round bend treble in NS Black low-glare finish
• Sizes: 6, 5, 4, 2
• Wire grade: Standard premium hook wire
• Finish: Black NS coating low-glare
• Price range: $9.99
• Variants in this product: 4

Compatibility Reference

• Line types: 10-15 lb fluorocarbon for clear water bass and inshore saltwater applications.
• Rod and reel: Match to existing rod/reel for the hard bait being trebled
• Tackle storage: Compatible with Gamakatsu G-Box utility cases (sold separately) for organized tournament storage

Frequently Asked Questions

Circle hook vs J-hook: when to use which?

Circle hooks self-set in the corner of the fish's mouth as the line tightens, requiring no hookset. J-hooks require an active hookset when the fish bites. Use circle hooks when leaving rods unattended (catfish, surf fishing, party boats), when catch-and-release ethics matter (tournament catfish), or when fishing for species prone to gut-hooking. Use J-hooks (octopus, EWG, etc.) when actively fishing your rod and want to set the hook on every bite.

How does Gamakatsu compare to other premium hook brands?

Gamakatsu, Owner, and VMC are the three premium hook brands tournament anglers use. Gamakatsu is known for sharpness out of the package and consistent quality. Owner is similar quality with slightly different geometry options. VMC has strong tournament adoption in jig and treble hook categories. All three are quality choices; many tournament pros mix brands across techniques.

Are Gamakatsu hooks worth the premium price?

For tournament fishing, yes. Hookup percentage matters in tournaments where missing one fish can drop you out of the money. Gamakatsu sharpness reduces missed bites. For recreational fishing, the upgrade is appreciated but not essential, budget brands work fine. The price premium is roughly $2-4 per pack vs budget brands.

How do I store these hooks?

The included Gamakatsu pack with sliding closure works for short-term storage. For tournament-level organization, transfer hooks to a Gamakatsu G-Box utility case (sold separately) or similar dedicated tackle storage. Keep hooks dry and rust-free. Saltwater hooks especially require fresh water rinse and dry storage to prevent corrosion.

Replacement frequency for tournament use?

Sharpen or replace hooks at the first sign of dull point (cannot scratch a thumbnail with light pressure). Tournament pros often replace hooks after every 1-3 fish or after fishing through heavy cover. Gamakatsu sharpness is a competitive advantage only when the point stays sharp; dulled Gamakatsu performs no better than dulled budget hooks.

Treble hook replacement, how do I do it?

Use split ring pliers to remove the existing OEM treble from the bait's split ring, then attach the new Gamakatsu treble. Match size to the existing OEM hook for proper bait balance. Some anglers add a slightly larger or smaller treble to change bait action; experiment carefully.