Hook For Texas Rigs

[Bass all day]

What hook design and brand works best for Texas rigs?

[Darren.]

What hook design and brand works best for Texas rigs?

 

I was first sold on round-bend hooks by a tourney fisherman. Others swear by EWG, but I have since preferred O'Shaughnessy bend which is quite similar to the round, but has a slightly more angled hook bent.

 

Not recommending these specific hooks, just showing you what I'm talking about:

 

http://www.basspro.com/Bass-Pro-Shops-XPS-Magna-OShaughnessy-Hooks/product/74178/

[5fishlimit]

Sharp ones work best.

3/0 through 5/0 size EWG are very common. Gamakatsu, VMC, Owner, Trokar are good brands to consider if using bulkier creature baits.

A standard worm hook for slimmer profile baits.

[Darren.]

I was first sold on round-bend hooks by a tourney fisherman. Others swear by EWG, but I have since preferred O'Shaughnessy bend which is quite similar to the round, but has a slightly more angled hook bent.

 

Not recommending these specific hooks, just showing you what I'm talking about:

 

http://www.basspro.com/Bass-Pro-Shops-XPS-Magna-OShaughnessy-Hooks/product/74178/

 

I didn't recommend brand, so let me do so: Gamakatsu. When money is an object, I opt for Bass Pro's XPS brand. They are sharp out of the bag, but don't tend to stay that way in my experience. Gammys are by far my favorite here.

[ww2farmer]

Hard to beat a Gamakatsu EWG for me. I don't like straight shank hooks, nor have I ever had the mysterious hook up problems that seem to plauge people with EWG hooks. I use them in 1/0-3/0 in the "regular" wire, and the 2/0 -5/0 "superline" heavy wire.

[Arv]

A lot has to do with personal preference and which bait you are rigging. If I had to pick one I would use a Gamakatsu EWG hook like most have mentioned.

[Montanaro]

different hook for different techniques.

straight shank for heavy cover (really can use them anytime). snell knot helps hook them in meeaty part of upper mouth and keeps them on in cover.

offset shank for regular texas rigging. offset increases hookups since hook is exposed more.

extra wide gap for thicker bodied baits and swim baits. the ewg provides more room for the plastic to get it out of the way of hooksets. putting these thick baits on an offset and the plastic may ball up and you only set hook up to the barb and lose your fish.

[Catt]

Straight Shank Round Bend has a high hookup ratiio...pick a brand!

[A-Jay]

Sharp ones work best.

3/0 through 5/0 size EWG are very common. Gamakatsu, VMC, Owner, Trokar are good brands to consider if using bulkier creature baits.

A standard worm hook for slimmer profile baits.

 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

This about covers it - and quite well.

 

A-Jay

[bmlum415]

for a finesse texas rig i prefer the roboworm rebarb but on bigger rigs ill go with a gamakatsu ewg hook

[rippin-lips]

Gamakatsu offset and ewg for me.

[Bluebasser86]

I've had a lot of luck with the Academy H2O brand EWG hooks. Nice and sharp out of the package and at $5 for a 20 pack if I roll a point I just throw it away. I've started playing with the new VMC Ike approved EWG hooks too, wow are they sharp! I really like the Gamakatsu superline EWG's but they're getting so expensive anymore I can't hardly afford to fish them. I think the VMC Heavy Duty hooks will be a good substitute for them though.

I tried some of the straight shank flipping hooks this summer. I was really excited about them but after missing my first 6 bites on them I cut it off and went back to catching fish with my EWG's, if it ain't broke I guess. 

[ww2farmer]

I've had a lot of luck with the Academy H2O brand EWG hooks. Nice and sharp out of the package and at $5 for a 20 pack if I roll a point I just throw it away. I've started playing with the new VMC Ike approved EWG hooks too, wow are they sharp! I really like the Gamakatsu superline EWG's but they're getting so expensive anymore I can't hardly afford to fish them. I think the VMC Heavy Duty hooks will be a good substitute for them though.

I tried some of the straight shank flipping hooks this summer. I was really excited about them but after missing my first 6 bites on them I cut it off and went back to catching fish with my EWG's, if it ain't broke I guess. 

I hear you on the Gamakatsu's...................I have found the VMC's to be a very VERY effective replacment, that's not hurting the wallet too much. I am also with you on the straight shanks........

[papajoe222]

For me, it depends on what size worm and line I'll be using.  It's normally an EWG style hook, but if I'm using light line and smaller worms I'll almost always use a light wire hook as it penetrates the worm easier and gives a good hook-set.  I like Mustad for that situation and Gammys for most other situations. Either way, I'll choose the size depending on the thickness of the worm I'm choosing.

[Mike L]

Like a lot of folks I used the off set EWG style to T rigged plastics.

But now I use the Skip Gap style exclusivley. They hold better than any offset hook I've ever used..

 

Anyway,

I use the Owner Twist lock for any plastic with a fat enough end to hold..[brush hog's, fat senko type bait's etc.]

VMC for T rigged shakey heads

 

 

Mike

[Craiger12]

Straight Shank Round Bend has a high hookup ratiio...pick a brand!

Agreed. I prefer Owner.

[Deleted account]

Agreed. I prefer Owner.

 

Agreed, I use the cheapie eagle claws from Wally world, I even rebend them to pseudo EWG when using some bulkier baits, or need a larger hook with a shorter shank hook. I trust a straight or round bend much more than EWG on hook up ratios.

[Bankbeater]

I like Owner, Gamakatsu, and the ones from BPS.  I use #2, #3, or #4 EWG depending on what size plastic I am using.

[Shane J]

5/0 for most stuff.

 

http://www.moanerhooks.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=68_72&products_id=193

[tholmes]

I prefer round bend offset for most worms and EWG offset for bulky baits. I'm not particular as far as brand, I usually use H2O or Eagle Claw.

 

Tom

[.ghoti.]

Gammy EWG and Owner Rig-N hooks are about all I buy. You can keep your straight shank hooks. They don't work for me at all.

[ksboy]

I also like the Gam skip-gap. They really keep the bait on the hook nicely. A little pricey though.

Also use Gam g lock and EWG.

[joeyfishes]

I like Gama EWG 4/0. 3/0 seems too small and 5/0 seems too big for the standard creature bait. I use 4/0 for everything, from baby brush hogs to mag ol' monsters. 

[jiggz125]

Would I need to use gamakatsu superline hooks when fishing with Braid? Or will the regular EWG hooks work while Texas Rig fishing with braided line? Thanks

[mjseverson24]

if you are fishing braid use the superline hooks, otherwise the chance at bending the hook out is much greater.

 

Mitch