Octopus For Drop Shot Rigs Or Not?

[SENKOSAM]

Which has a better hook up ratio? Which is easier to set the hook?

[thehooligan]

I do better with a regular dropshot hook. Ive been using the gami swivelshot hooks lately, but my best hookups have been on the regular gami splitshot hooks...

[Felix77]

I prefer a regular drop shot hook.  Like thehooligan I have recently been using the VMC Swivelshot.  Love them.  Size 1.  Just begin reeling back and they are hooked.  Doesn't get easier that that.

[Koofy Smacker]

 Thats not a true octopus hook. That is a circle octopus which is about the worst hook you could use. If you set the hook, you will NEVER hook the fish. These hooks are designed to roll in the fishes mouth and into the corner, and with constant pressure hooks them. This is designed for bait fishing to help prevent gut hooking. Use the regular drop shot hook, circle hooks should only be used for bait. The top hook in your picture is in fact an octopus hook. Some people call them by different names but that is what it is. These you will have no problem with. Drop shot, Split Shot, G-Lock hooks all are quality contenders, and depending on personal preference these are what should be used

[Hyrule Bass]

 Thats not a true octopus hook. That is a circle octopus which is about the worst hook you could use. If you set the hook, you will NEVER hook the fish. These hooks are designed to roll in the fishes mouth and into the corner, and with constant pressure hooks them. This is designed for bait fishing to help prevent gut hooking. Use the regular drop shot hook, circle hooks should only be used for bait. The top hook in your picture is in fact an octopus hook. Some people call them by different names but that is what it is. These you will have no problem with. Drop shot, Split Shot, G-Lock hooks all are quality contenders, and depending on personal preference these are what should be used

 

this is correct. the hooks in the diagram are mislabeled. the top hook is an octopus hook and the bottom is an octopus circle hook.

 

i use the several hooks for drop shotting depending on what the fish want or what bait(artificial or live) i am fishing. sometimes they wont touch certain hooks but kill others in my experiences. mostly i use regular octopus hooks or the gamakatsu dropshot/splitshot hooks which are just tiny octopus hooks. i will also use worm hooks. on occasion i will also use the owner or eagle claw baitholder hooks, and gold abeerdeen hooks as well. the owner baitholders look just like the gamakatsu octopus hooks though...

[jhoffman]

owner wacky hook

[SENKOSAM]

True, both are Octopus hooks, the top one also called a Mosquito hook by Owner. Gamakatsu also sells a drop shot/split shot hook which looks like a Mosquito or Octopus hook but which is not labeled Octopus.

 

Thanks for the correction.

 

(Circle hooks don't do it for me.)

[georgeyew]

The above posts are correct, you should never set the hook when using a circle hook. However, if you just reel in and tighten the line, they are very effective. I use circle hooks for dropshotting and have no problem. They can be used for live bait and plastics. The only learning curve is to not set the hook like you would normally.

 

I switched to circle hooks after gut hooking a fish. Circle hooks have less chance of hurting a fish and most of the time will hook on the corner of the mouth.

[Wayne P.]

Gamakatsu has an Octopus hook and an Octopus Circle hook, they are shaped like the ones in the picture and are available in a wide range of sizes with the wire diameter being larger as the hook size increases.

Owner's Mosquito look is a smaller wire version of the Gammy's Octopus hook and is only available in sizes up to 2/0. Their version of the Octopus hook is called the SSW

I use the Mosquito and Octopus hooks for wacky rigging.

I use the Gammy Drop Shot/spit shot hook for drop shotting since the shank is slightly longer. Owner's version of that is the SSW Super needle point.

IMHO, I wouldn't have a circle hook, I don't live bait fish.

[J Francho]

Tried circle hooks as a way to prevent new anglers deep hooking fish.  Didn't really work too well.  I'd rather teach them to detect the strike, and pop them with a hookset, irrespective of hook style.  To me, a circle hook is something for live baiting, where you let the fish take the bait before getting the hook in them.

[flippin and pitchin]

Gammi wide gap finesse would be better

[SENKOSAM]

Thanks Wayne - I wondered the differences and similarities. The top hook in the picture may look like and Octopus hook but is actually from a tie flying company and the hook is called a San Juan Worm hook with upturned eye. I liked it because of the thin metal hook and the size that fits my hand pour finesse worms.

 

So I gather from what you posted was that not all Octopus looking hooks can be called Octopus hooks (depending on manufacturer), but that all circle hooks are Octopus hooks.

 

Dink Dawg - I just saw a video on You Tube where Marsten opened up the gap a bit on the drop shot hook he was using. What was confusing was his use of a uni-knot to tie on the hook. I've always thought the palomar was basic.

[Wayne P.]

Gammi wide gap finesse would be better

 

I disagree. With my testing under actual fishing conditions, the Gammy Finesse Wide Gap hook is similar to a Circle hook in performance. The hook eye and hook point are too close together. Only after you get to the 4/0 size is it somewhat useful. I have fished with some that were using that look and after they missed a few hook sets, I gave them an Octopus hook and they had no misses after that.

[Wayne P.]

Thanks Wayne - I wondered the differences and similarities. The top hook in the picture may look like and Octopus hook but is actually from a tie flying company and the hook is called a San Juan Worm hook with upturned eye. I liked it because of the thin metal hook and the size that fits my hand pour finesse worms.

 

So I gather from what you posted was that not all Octopus looking hooks can be called Octopus hooks (depending on manufacturer), but that all circle hooks are Octopus hooks.

 

Dink Dawg - I just saw a video on You Tube where Marsten opened up the gap a bit on the drop shot hook he was using. What was confusing was his use of a uni-knot to tie on the hook. I've always thought the palomar was basic.

I think some companies just call a Circle hook a Circle hook. Each mfg has their own terminology and copies of other's hooks.

[Darren.]

I disagree. With my testing under actual fishing conditions, the Gammy Finesse Wide Gap hook is similar to a Circle hook in performance. The hook eye and hook point are too close together. Only after you get to the 4/0 size is it somewhat useful. I have fished with some that were using that look and after they missed a few hook sets, I gave them an Octopus hook and they had no misses after that.

Assume you're just talking drop shot here? The WGF hook has become my main hook for wacky, and certain split shot situations. I haven't found it to be like a circle hook in performance -- also in actual fishing conditions.... And I use size 4, 2, and 1.

[Crestliner2008]

After over ten seasons drop shotting, I'll refer back to the drop shot guru himself - RichZ. He advocates using only the Gamakatsu Split Shot/Drop Shot hook, size #2, for consistent hooking reliability. And after trying those (and many others), I'm still a fan of those hooks today. It's the point of the hook that is most important. As RichZ would say, It HAS to be a STRAIGHT point, not beaked or curved inward. 

 

I've never done well with circle hooks on the drop shot, but I use them for a lot of other fishing presentations - especially wacky rigging Senkos. However, you are denying yourself the full potential of the circle hook design, if you get them with an off-set point. True circle hooks are "in-line" with the eye of the hook, not curbed or off-set. And you do not "set" the hook with this critical design; rather just start reeling. The hook sets itself.

[WRB]

Both octopus and squid hooks have been around over a century , along with circle style hooks in kahle designs. West coast live crawdad anglers have been using the down-drop-stack rigs since the 60's and salt water anglers far longer. The Japanese popularized fresh water down shot rigs and western tournament anglers adopted it back in the early 80's. if there is a guru in tournament bass anglers it would be Aaron Martens, who learned how to fish this rig out west as a teenager.

Owners mosquito hook is a octopus hook, Gamakatsu drop shot hook is a octopus hook, both high strength light wire hooks. Circle point style hooks prevent gut hooking, but you need to give some slack line so the fish can get the worm completely inside the mouth before making a sweeping or lift and reel hook set....do not snap set a circle hook.

Tom

[Dave P]

If you feel the need to set the hook, don't use a circle type hook. If you can restrain yourself and just reel, you will find you have a VERY high hookup ratio. If you are teaching kids or the spouse to dropshot, there is no better hook to use IMO. I use both kinds. Right now, I'm on VMC spinshots but it's sure not because I couldn't hook fish with circle hooks. It's to help with the line twist. Come to think about it, I don't set them either.

[drew27c]

After over ten seasons drop shotting, I'll refer back to the drop shot guru himself - RichZ. He advocates using only the Gamakatsu Split Shot/Drop Shot hook, size #2, for consistent hooking reliability. And after trying those (and many others), I'm still a fan of those hooks today. It's the point of the hook that is most important. As RichZ would say, It HAS to be a STRAIGHT point, not beaked or curved inward. 

 

I've never done well with circle hooks on the drop shot, but I use them for a lot of other fishing presentations - especially wacky rigging Senkos. However, you are denying yourself the full potential of the circle hook design, if you get them with an off-set point. True circle hooks are "in-line" with the eye of the hook, not curbed or off-set. And you do not "set" the hook with this critical design; rather just start reeling. The hook sets itself.

 

I agree with this completely. I actually have a higher hook up percentage using a circle hook on a wacky rig. On top of that, once you learn to calm down and not set the the hook, the feeling is awesome knowing your bass is taking your bait for a 2-3 second ride before he hooks himself or you start reeling. The bonus is a corner mouth hookup, solid, yet easy to get out.

[eyedabassman]

For what it is worth! The only hook that i fish on the DS is the VMC Spinshot hooks. I love these hooks,they are sticky sharp and no line twist. And I fish a double DS and cover alot more water!!!!