Gamakatsu Weighted Hooks

[FishingMastah1]

I heard that the eyes on gamakatsu weighted hooks are larger than normal, and that they can tear soft plastics. Is this true, and does anyone make weighted hooks that have normal size eyes?

[deaknh03]

If your talking about swimbait hooks, I use the owner twistlocks. The bait never slips, and they are nice and sharp.

[FishingMastah1]

If your talking about swimbait hooks, I use the owner twistlocks. The bait never slips, and they are nice and sharp.

I'm talking about the wide gaps that have a 1/16th or 1/8th weight on the shank, not sure if those are swimbait hooks or not.

[deaknh03]

I'm talking about the wide gaps that have a 1/16th or 1/8th weight on the shank, not sure if those are swimbait hooks or not.

yes, those are the ones, look at the owners, good price for the quality.

[MarkH024]

I'm talking about the wide gaps that have a 1/16th or 1/8th weight on the shank, not sure if those are swimbait hooks or not.

Those are called Superline hooks. They work well if you want to add a little weightto a Rage Frog/Shad, or Stanley Ribbit...things like that. If you pass the plastic through the keel weighted portion, of course it's going to tear it up a bit more. 

 

Eyes seem to be the same to me as a regular EWG. I can double check when i get home.

[FishingMastah1]

I'm trying to keep my zoom super flukes and horny toads under the surface, what weight would I need to do that the best? I would like to get away with 1/16th, would 1/16th do it?

[MarkH024]

Either weight would work.  I don't see how the eyes of the hook would be a negative impact on what you're trying to accomplish so get away from that fear.  Also if you want those plastics to stay sub surface, try fishing with your rod tip down by the water, that will help as well.

 

SK Caffeine shad can be fished sub surface with no weight.  Awesome soft plastic jerk bait. 

[deaknh03]

I am confused, it doesnt take much. Are you talking about the weight up by the hook eye, or closer to the belly of the hook?

[MarkH024]

I am confused, it doesnt take much. Are you talking about the weight up by the hook eye, or closer to the belly of the hook?

He's referring to the superline Gammys. THey only come in those two weights, from what I've seen. They work great for what I've described already.  Other things to consider are line type, line size, and retrieval speed. All play a part in keeping a soft plastic like a fluke down subsurface.

[FishingMastah1]

I am confused, it doesnt take much. Are you talking about the weight up by the hook eye, or closer to the belly of the hook?

  the weight on the shank

[deaknh03]

  the weight on the shank

I thought so, check out the owners, plenty of choices plus the springlock. I really dont like the offset on the gammys.

[Shane J]

OOORRRRR. You could buy the best one at an even better price at Moaner. Get the Stick'R. All I use.

[deaknh03]

OOORRRRR. You could buy the best one at an even better price at Moaner. Get the Stick'R. All I use.

you are correct, they are cheaper and just as tacky.

[Shane J]

That's a rig I use a lot (Rage Rig). I do usually paint the weight black with a sharpie, though. 

[Jrob78]

I heard that the eyes on gamakatsu weighted hooks are larger than normal, and that they can tear soft plastics. Is this true, and does anyone make weighted hooks that have normal size eyes?

Those hooks will work fine, you just can't run the entire weight through the plastic.  You have to rig the bait before you tie on the hook.  Use the hook point to make the hole in the bait, like you normally would.  Then, run the eye of the hook into the belly of the bait and out through the head.  That way you don't risk tearing the bait by running the weight through it.

[Wayne P.]

Those hooks will work fine, you just can't run the entire weight through the plastic.  You have to rig the bait before you tie on the hook.  Use the hook point to make the hole in the bait, like you normally would.  Then, run the eye of the hook into the belly of the bait and out through the head.  That way you don't risk tearing the bait by running the weight through it.

I do somewhat the same with the weighted EWG style hook--I use the Falcon brand 3/32 weight.

I use a #10 crochet needle, push it from the belly slot through the nose, hook the line and pull the line through, then tie on the hook, and pull the hook eye into the nose--less plastic damage.

I also open the hook bend to have the point parallel with the line of pull for more positive hookups.

 

Sometimes I use the Owner swimbait hooks with the spring lock on the eye, faster rigging when the bass are schooling. I add weight if needed using the rubber core sinkers without the rubber core.

[CWB]

Take a look at the Damiki D-Hold line. Super easy to rig and hold the bait better for me than any other type. Never cared for the twist on type. Maybe I set the hook too hard but I seem to get the bait coming back with a big hole in the head where the spring was. Reaper Keepers by Kumho work good too if you use a rubbercore or similar weight as Wayne suggested. A tad pricey though.