Why do they always show fishing hooks with one hook or point in the survival kits. Wouldn't the treble hooks, the ones with three points have a better chance of catching something.

While I am not an expert fisherman by any means, I would imagine the fact that the single-pointed hooks are one dimensional is one major reason why they are included in many PSKs. It's a lot easier to pack the flat hooks in somewhere than the three dimensional, three-pointed hooks.

This is just a guess - I may be way off...

Yes, you have a much better chance of catching something - tree branches, bushes, sticks underwater in the stream, old tires, plastic buckets, weeds, rocks, your face, - well, you get the idea.

Yes, a treble hook is more reliable, but not as packable.

The best way to catch fish, barring the use of poison, concussion grenade, or electricity, is a gill net.

They are quite illegal for sport or commercial fishing, because they work so well.
The military pilot survival gill nets with 1" openings on eBay are a little large for most freshwater fish, but the net is more than long enough to cross a creek so that everything, including turtles can be driven into one.
I have a gill net in my abandon ship bag, as well as in my plane.

We're allowed to fish with gill nets up to 300' recreationally here in Virginia provided we have a liscense and follow the seasonal restrictions during spawning. Maryland and Delaware follow the same guidelines I believe.

How do you use a gill net?

Essentially they are nets that hang vertically in the water and are called gill nets because fish swim into them and become entangled by the gills, fins etc.

You would either "hang" them in the water by attaching something that floats to the top part of the net and something that sinks to the bottom part of the net, or you would stake them across a stream and anchor the bottom of the net with rocks.

After that they can either be left alone and fish will just swim into them naturally and become entangled, you can "herd" fish into them by basically splashing around like a nutcase, or you can lure them into the net .

Basically the net is left hanging like a curtain in the water instead of being dragged through it.

Think 35mm film case. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I carry single, and treble hooks in my frisking kit. If you have room, a plastic hook protector, or elect. tape will save a poke or 1 in the fingers, and keep the hooks from sticking your other gear.

"Wouldn't the treble hooks, the ones with three points have a better chance of catching something?"

The answer is a definite yes, no, or that depends.

There are more small fish than there are large fish. At least where I am (Southeastern US) it is easier to catch small pan fish (fish smaller than your hand) with simple tackle and live bait. A small single hook will work on a wider range of fish sizes. Unless you have a tiny treble, small fish cannot get it into their mouths.

When I fish for catfish in ponds where most of the fish are 1-3 pounds, I use a #6 treble. The main reason I use a treble is because I use dough bait and the bait forms a ball and sticks better on a treble. When I use chicken liver for bait, I use a #2 single hook.
I really cannot say that I hang more with the treble than with the single hook.

Artificial baits (crank baits) are a little different from live bait. With live bait the fish is trying to eat it, making it a little easier for the hook to be inside the mouth. With a crank bait the fish is hitting a moving target and is more likely to spit it out. One or more trebles makes it more likely that you will snag something when the fish makes the strike.

Answer depends on the size of your hook, the size of the fish, type of bait ....

I have very little experience with salt water fishing. That said, I would rather have 3 assorted size single hooks than one treble. Of course, I keep both in the tackle box.

Murphy's Law of Fishing: If you have only one hook, you will loose it on the first cast. <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />