How Is A Straight Shank Worm Hook Better Than An Offset Wide Gap Hook?

[Gunnerntyler619]

I recently read an article on how pro bass fisherman Ish Monroe said that straight shank work hooks have betting hooking percentages than offset wide gaps.when I Texas rig my worms on both of these hooks,I do not see a considerable difference in hook exposure we the worm is pressed on.i do not understand what makes a straight shank have a better hooking percentage than an offset

[Catch and Grease]

I like using straight shank hooks when I'm fishing more vertical like flipping and pitching grass, it seems to really launch the snelled hook into the bass jaw when you set the hook.

[PersicoTrotaVA]

I recently read an article on how pro bass fisherman Ish Monroe said that straight shank work hooks have betting hooking percentages than offset wide gaps.when I Texas rig my worms on both of these hooks,I do not see a considerable difference in hook exposure we the worm is pressed on.i do not understand what makes a straight shank have a better hooking percentage than an offset

 

Ish also likes to "drop bombs".  When you have a big punching weight, or a big bullet weight, you want a straight shank hook with a snell knot so the weight doesn't pop the fish's mouth open before the hook can dig in.  A straight shank snelled hook will pop out 90 degrees when it comes in contact with the weight letting it dig and penetrate better on a hookset.

[hatrix]

Ish also likes to "drop bombs". When you have a big punching weight, or a big bullet weight, you want a straight shank hook with a snell knot so the weight doesn't pop the fish's mouth open before the hook can dig in. A straight shank snelled hook will pop out 90 degrees when it comes in contact with the weight letting it dig and penetrate better on a hookset.

This ^^

[WRB]

When you look at a worm hook what is important to you?

Ask yourself why did off set worm hooks get invented?

Worm hooks originally were straight shank O' Shaugnesse style with barbs below the hook eye to hold the worm head onto the hook shank and the gap was standard height.

Eagle Claw came out with the first off set worm hooks, they were longer and had barbs plus wider gaps for fatter worms. They worked OK, however strike to hook up ratio wasn't as good as the straight shanks.

40 years later the same problem affects off set worm hooks. The reason is the hook point is in line with the hook eye and you can't change that simple fact.

Today's wide gap round bend straight shank worm hooks are very strong and still have issues holding worms onto the shank by using barbs.

The hook to strike ratio is better than off set hooks, you just need to improvise a technique to hold the worm head onto the hook eye. Roboworm's Rebarb works and using a a short piece of Peg-It through the hook eye works good and a short piece of heavy mono works.

Tom

[Maxximus Redneckus]

What Tom said .i dont use wide gaps anymore its straight shank or offset.do this test take a wide gap tine lline to it and slide it over your carpet then do the same with a straight shank.you will sell or give away your wide gaps.and not look back

[Bluebasser86]

I tried straight shank flipping hooks and couldn't hook a fish to save my life. Went back to my EWG hooks and started boating fish again. What works for some doesn't always work for everyone.

[Slade House]

What tom said, Roboworm straight shank 4/0 are some of the best hooks.  I don't like Trokar flipping hooks beacuse they have a huge tip, but not much of a barb to keep the fish from spitting the hook.  

 

The one thing i noticed using straight shank vs. EWG is with a straight shank you have a much slimmer profile to a t-Rigged bait. while with a EWG you have this big hump sticking out.  

[smalljaw67]

If I use heavy braid it means I'm in real heavy cover with a heavy power flipping stick and for that the straight shank flipping style hooks work fantastic and much better than offset worm hooks. The problem for me is when I'm not in super heavy cover and I'm using 14# to 17# copolymer in moderate cover, even with Gamakatsu, Trokar, and Owner straight shank hooks, my hook up percentage goes down but if I use a offset EWG style hook I don't miss fish, even the Gamakatsu super line hooks with the copolymer work better for me than straight shank and it is probably due to the line stretch. Most of the time I use an offset EWG style hook, and if it isn't it will be a light wire Owner twist lock with no weight, there is no better fluke hook made, if you use a soft plastic jerkbait with a hook slot, you owe it to yourself to try these.

[Mike L]

I've been useing the Skip Gap style hooks for the past year and they work better than any other style Ive used, including EWG.

They really shine with flukes and stick baits.

Mike

[WRB]

You can't compare specialty hooks for like keel weighted EWG or Owner CPS used for Flukes or swimbaits to straight shank hooks for standard worms.

The bottom line is use what works for you! I use straight shank worm hooks for for worm, they work for me.

Tom

[CWB]

I use EWG hooks for Worms, Senko's etc with no problems at all. It is not really a true statement that EWG hooks have the hook point in line with the hook eye. There are a couple that do but most hook points are parallel to the hook eye but slightly above it to allow for better hooksets. You can even bend the point up a smidge if you please. Never found the need. I've been using Ikes VMC EWG hooks lately and cant remember the last swing and miss I've had. The point is on a very slight angle to the shank which seems to help. But again, as others have said, use what you feel confident with. Make sure your hook is sharp. I'm sure either style will work for you.

[Jolly Green]

do this test take a wide gap tine lline to it and slide it over your carpet then do the same with a straight shank.you will sell or give away your wide gaps.and not look back

 

I will not. I like your illustration, but what about this test: rig a worm on an EWG hook on your worm rod. Give said worm rod to a friend and ask him or her to execute a cross-their-eyes hookset while you hold the hook/bait firmly in a closed hand.  I have used straight shank hooks and caught fish but I can't for the life of me rig a worm on one Tex-posed without having a worm (or fluke, or whatever) that isn't rigged straight.  I don't care for offset worm hooks much for the same reason. The fact that EWG hook points are right in line with their eyes covers both bases easily for me, and I miss very, very few fish with them.

[hatrix]

I will not. I like your illustration, but what about this test: rig a worm on an EWG hook on your worm rod. Give said worm rod to a friend and ask him or her to execute a cross-their-eyes hookset while you hold the hook/bait firmly in a closed hand.  I have used straight shank hooks and caught fish but I can't for the life of me rig a worm on one Tex-posed without having a worm (or fluke, or whatever) that isn't rigged straight.  I don't care for offset worm hooks much for the same reason. The fact that EWG hook points are right in line with their eyes covers both bases easily for me, and I miss very, very few fish with them.

Straight shanks are not good for worms. It is more of a creature tube bait type thing. You can use one I suppose but your worm will be destroyed after almost every hook set. It is also difficult to skin hook them since generally your point will not run parallel with the plastic. I don't know what knot you personally tie for a straight shank but I would recommend a snell. There are a few other knots you can tie like for example a snell or a snell and if you don't like a snell knots then you could always tie a snell.

[papajoe222]

Straight shanks are not good for worms. It is more of a creature tube bait type thing. You can use one I suppose but your worm will be destroyed after almost every hook set. It is also difficult to skin hook them since generally your point will not run parallel with the plastic. I don't know what knot you personally tie for a straight shank but I would recommend a snell. There are a few other knots you can tie like for example a snell or a snell and if you don't like a snell knots then you could always tie a snell.

Rigging a worm or other soft plastic on a straight shank hook is done differently than with an EWG. If you attempt to use the same method, you'll never get the plastic straight. With an EWG you go straight into the nose and exit, then find the point where the plastic would meet the bend of the hook and come through the plastic at a right angle.  For a straight shank, you need to enter the nose with a downward angle, thread the plastic up over the eye, and hook the plastic using the opposite angle you did on the nose stopping just before the hook point emerges.  On most plastics, you'll need to scrunch up the worm slightly before doing the last step.  A toothpick through the plastic and hook's eye, will keep your worm from sliding down or you can use a number of other methods to acomplish that task.

With a sliding bullet or egg sinker, you'll have the original Texas rigged worm. Peg the sinker and you'll have what was called a Florida rig.  So, saying a straight shank isn't good for worms is misinforming readers.

[WRB]

If the hook works better with the point above the hook eye, then a straight shank hook should be the ultimate, the entire hook is above the eye, a true statement.

If the hook gap isn't at least 2X the plastic worm body diameter, the gap is too small. The problem with extra wide gap EWG off set hook gap bend acts like a bail cam when the bass bites down rotating the hook sideways in it's mouth. When you hook set a sideways hook it misses the mouth tissue. If the bass has the hook down it's throat, no problem as you hook the bass in the throat. If the bass turns away or swims away from you the hook will make contact in the side of the mouth regardless of the hook style.

Straight shank hooks give you a higher % strike to hook set than Off set hooks.

Been doing this over 50 years and tried every hook style, nothing works better than a straight shank hook.

Yes it take some skill to rig a worm straight and skin hook the point, it's not difficult.

Tom

[CWB]

Not as old as you Tom but been at it around 40 years. I don't think worms are a problem with either style hook but pretty sure with a straight shank they will act as a cam as described also. I think the straight shank hooks shine with thicker body baits like Beavers etc. The only baits I use straight shank hooks on are the baits I use for flipping and I snell them on. Everything else gets an EWG. Rigs easier, keeps bait from sliding down shank, and as I've said, I have no problems at all with hooksets. Shakey Heads are a good example of straight shank hooks. A bit harder to rig worm straight and after several casts, the point will not stay skin hooked and pokes through the worm making it pick up more debris. But as always, everyone will have their own preference so by all means use what you feel works best for you. Maybe a study will be done on % strike to hook set, which might shed some light on this. Right now just opinion, but a valued one. Tough to argue with that monster in Toms picture. Must be doing something right.

[WRB]

When you look at how many different styles of off set worm hooks on the market it's mind boggling. Straight shank hooks only a few; standard, heavy and light wire. This should tell you something!

Most bass anglers tend to rig worm hooks too deep into the head of the worm, the eye should be flush and not inserted more than 1/16" into the head. Off set hooks are more fore giving with rigging than straight shank hooks and that may be a problem for some anglers.

I fish a lot of both finesse 4" to 6" worms on light wire Gamakatsu light wire (#49410) hooks and 9" to 16" worms (use Owner #5103). However I also use Owner #5133 off set down shot hook for weedless drop shot.

I haven't caught any giant bass using worms*, about 14 lbs., lots of DD's, but can't remember losing a bass on a worm in decades from hooks pulling out.

Use premium hooks, not cheap hooks!

Tom

* my giant bass are all jig fish (#114, 5/0 Gamakatsu jig hook).