Jim makes a good point.........although with the depth finder running I am less apt to remove the front hook gang since I typically hang up fairly infrequently. If you troll without a depth finder I am a big proponent of removing the front hooks ( less hangups). I do beef up the rear trebles by one size larger though.

During my August Basswood trip I was a little rough on the fish losing 2 walleyes over 6lbs. One  unexpectedly just up and died for no apparent reason and another had engulfed a muskie inline spinner and had the hooks lodged in her gills.......blood city. Bum deal. I also lost a dandy laker after taking great lengths to try and revive it. Another major bummer. The warm water of August can be hard on the fish or so I am surmising.