Hook Sizes.

[coots]

I throw a texas rig worm A LOT. I just recently started thinking about hook size. I've also bought quality hooks, but never gave to much thought to hook size.

 

So do you guys have a method for what size hooks you prefer? 

 

7" ribbon tail worm you throw a ________?

10" worm 

etc

 

Reason I was really wondering is, can you throw to big of a hook?

 

Say a 7/0 on a 10" worm? Is that to big? Last year I was getting some hits on the big 10 and 13" worms.. but it seems like they were hitting the tail not getting the hooker in their mouth.

 

Largest hooks I've got are Gamakatsu 7/0 ... should I try those or stick to the 5/0

[Raul]

Can you throw too big of a hook ? ----> yes

 

When the hook deforms, alters the action of the bait or it´s evident that it´s too large then it´s too big. Length is less important than shape, let´s take an Augertail worm  6", a 2/0 hook is about as big as you can use because from those 6" 4 are tail and the remaining length is body.

 

You could have used a 7/0 hook on those 10-13" worms and I seriously doubt it would have made any difference vs a 5/0 hook. 

[smalljaw67]

I see a lot of anglers using bigger hooks than are really necessary for the technique or bait they are using. I like a 3/0 hook on a 7" to 7.5" worm and a 4/0 on a 8" worm and 10" worms, well I used to thing 8/0 was the magic size until I got beat but a guy using a 5/0 hook for the same 10" worm and that was the day I learned about hook size. I fish a 5" Senko with a 3/0 hook, my buddy use a 4/0, not much different but I feel the 4/0 takes away more of the quiver the bait has on the fall. The only exception I have when it comes to using larger hooks is on certain creature baits, specifically Beaver type soft plastics and on the Sweet beaver, I will use a 4/0 Straight shank flipping hook because it is going into cover most of the time and the other reason is I don't hurt the action with the bigger hook on that bait because there isn't a lot of action, it has the flappers on the back and some on the side that are unaffected by the hook size. I guess the best answer for what size hook would fall under what the bait is going to be doing and where it is going to get the size best suited, if I'm using a 4" fluke and I need the bait to have a lot of action to get the fish to strike, well I'll probably use a #1 or 1/0 octopus hook and nose hook the fluke. If I need it to just glide and dart as normal I'll use a 2/0 or 3/0 offset shank hook so using different techniques can play a role as well but in the end personal preference plays a part as some lean to the larger sizes while others lean to the smaller size but in the end if it works then stick with it.

[War Eagle 44]

Just a suggestion for you here, try the Owner oversized worm hooks on the 10 & 13 inch baits. It's made so that the hook point rides farther back in the bait while not making you go to a hook that's to big.

[bigbill]

Can you use a bigger hook, yes

Can you get by with a smaller hook? No

I lost a new state record because my hook was too small. I watched her eye ball to eye ball up close and personal praying she wouldn't spit my 7 1/4" BPS stik o worm out of her mouth. I only seen my line in her mouth. Then on the hook set my hopes and dream was shattered for that moment when I got my worm back.

It is not ment to be yet. The PB of 10# made it look to easy. I will never go with a small hook again.

[Tony L.]

I have always used this rule of thumb when rigging most soft plastics:

4" use 1/0 - 2/0

6" use 2/0-3/0

8" use 4/0 - 5/0

10" use 5/0 -6/0

If there is somewhat of a pattern to be seen here, it almost seems that you just divide the length of the worm in half and you have your _/0 hook size? Haven't figured out a good rule for odd length plastics yet, but it seems safe to say that you can round up when it doesn't divide cleanly??? It's a work in progress....

[A-Jay]

Hook size for me encompasses 3 things - the hooks length, the hooks gap or bite, and the gauge wire of the hook.

Brand & type of hook point becomes a personal preference and has a lot to do with having confidence &/or positive results.

 

Unfortunately manufactures all interpret hooks sizes a little different making choosing hooks interesting.

Most companies hooks of the same size differ a bit in length, gap, and wire size.

In order to fit a hook properly to a bait, there are a few things I look for once it's rigged.

The hook can not hinder the baits intended action.

The hook needs to be of sufficient size where the baits bulk does not impede a solid hook set.

The hooks construction & design must match the tackle I'm fishing, meaning I won't use a thin wire hook flipping wood even if the hook satisfied all other requirements. 

Alternately, I wouldn't use a heavy wire hook using light spinning gear and a trick worm.

 

I rarely fish a standard jig, choosing instead to rig all my plastic Texas style with a weight, skirt, Plastic & EWG hook.

Having a decent assortment of hooks of different type & brand allows the flexibility needed to rig each up right.

I've resorted to labeling my ready bags of plastic with the size and brand hook that fits best.

Saves time on the water.

 

A-Jay

 

 

[jbsoonerfan]

Can you use a bigger hook, yes

Can you get by with a smaller hook? No

I lost a new state record because my hook was too small. I watched her eye ball to eye ball up close and personal praying she wouldn't spit my 7 1/4" BPS stik o worm out of her mouth. I only seen my line in her mouth. Then on the hook set my hopes and dream was shattered for that moment when I got my worm back.

It is not ment to be yet. The PB of 10# made it look to easy. I will never go with a small hook again.

 

 

I'm sorry, but if your entire bait was in her mouth, then your hook size probably didn't have much to do with it.

[A-Jay]

I'm sorry, but if your entire bait was in her mouth, then your hook size probably didn't have much to do with it.

 

I disagree -

 

A hook rigged in a bait where the hook size is insufficient to over come the bulk of the bait - meaning the plastic is interfering with the hooks ability to penetrate properly - there is a very good chance that on the hook set - the bait and plastic will avoid catching on anything as it slides right out of the fishes mouth - 

 

A-Jay

[jbsoonerfan]

I disagree -

 

A hook rigged in a bait where the hook size is insufficient to over come the bulk of the bait - meaning the plastic is interfering with the hooks ability to penetrate properly - there is a very good chance that on the hook set - the bait and plastic will avoid catching on anything as it slides right out of the fishes mouth - 

 

A-Jay

 

 

The bait was hooked improperly then. I hook every soft plastic tex-posed, as I feel it is the only way to ensure a quality hookset (unless I am wacky rigging). I could use a 7/0 hook on a baby brush hog and just barely put it in and may not get a good hookset. Or....I could use a 2/0 and hook it tex-posed and it will nail it everytime.

[WRB]

Hook sizes aren't standardized and worms don't have the same body diameters so length to hook size is meaningless.

Think about hook gap distance verses worm diameters; 2 to 1 is about right, 3 to 1 is max.

Tom

[A-Jay]

The bait was hooked improperly then. I hook every soft plastic tex-posed, as I feel it is the only way to ensure a quality hookset (unless I am wacky rigging). I could use a 7/0 hook on a baby brush hog and just barely put it in and may not get a good hookset. Or....I could use a 2/0 and hook it tex-posed and it will nail it everytime.

 

 Thank you ~ Your example illustrates my point quite well.

 

The bait you're rigging there - Brush hog - is by most standards a THIN bodied bait. One where a smaller (2/0) hook would still be able to accommodate the plastic and still have sufficient gap left to hook the bass.

 

When using a different bait which sports a thicker, bulkier area where the hook rides, there will be a hook size that is too small.  One could use any old hook you had lying around - but not effectively or with high percentage results.

 

A-Jay

[jbsoonerfan]

Thank you ~ Your example illustrates my point quite well.

The bait you're rigging there - Brush hog - is by most standards a THIN bodied bait. One where a smaller (2/0) hook would still be able to accommodate the plastic and still have sufficient gap left to hook the bass.

When using a different bait which sports a thicker, bulkier area where the hook rides, there will be a hook size that is too small. One could use any old hook you had lying around - but not effectively or with high percentage results.

A-Jay

I agree to an extent, but I have used a 2/0 on a sweet beaver and had good results. I just think that once a bait is inhaled, it is on the angler at that point.

[A-Jay]

I agree to an extent, but I have used a 2/0 on a sweet beaver and had good results. I just think that once a bait is inhaled, it is on the angler at that point.

 

It's on the angler the whole way -

 

And it starts and end with rigging ones baits effectively.

 

There's nothing wrong with using 2/0 hooks for everything, until it does work.

 

A-Jay

[coots]

Thanks for all the replies. Gives me some stuff to think about.