Fishing Hook Arsenal

[WillKirkgard]

Recently have noticed that I am running low on hooks and I have some christmas money to spend on fishing stuff. But with so many different kinds to buy, I was just wondering on advice to which ones/how many I should buy? What oughts? Which ones are used the most for you?

I use Texas rig more than anything that isn't pre-rigged like jigs and such.

Like always, anything helps and thanks in advance.

[EvanT123]

Great question. Everyone does things different. I just purchased.

25 3/0 ewg

25 1/0 offsett worm hook

25 1 drop shot hooks

Ball, football, tube and mushroom heads 1/8-1/4oz

Probably over 200 hooks.

I might loose 4-10 a trip but if I can't hook something. Help me.

[livewireksu]

VMC and Trokar 5/0 for 95% of my plastics. 1/0 for dropshot. Circle hooks for crappie and catfish

[Sam]

Great question. Everyone does things different. I just purchased.

25 3/0 ewg

25 1/0 offsett worm hook

25 1 drop shot hooks

Ball, football, tube and mushroom heads 1/8-1/4oz

Probably over 200 hooks.

I might loose 4-10 a trip but if I can't hook something. Help me.

 

You don't need any help.  The Bait Monkey loves you.

[Sam]

Will, what is your favorite technique?

 

I like to use the smallest hook possible and a weedless hook when flipping and pitching Senkos and finesse plastics.

 

I like the Extra Wide Gap for Carolina rigs and toads.

 

I go one size up for the front treble hook on some of my crankbaits.

 

I use a trailer hook on spinnerbaits, Chatterbaits and my Cavitrons.

 

As for brands, all name brands are excellent.  From the powerful and high priced Tokars to the Eagle Claws and Gammies you can't go wrong.

 

If you tie a Palomar knot you may want to check the hook's eye to make sure it is large enough so you will not have trouble with passing the line back through the eye.

 

And be careful when selecting hooks. There are "light weight" and 'heavy weight" hooks so take a close look at them in the package. Depending on the technique you will be using and the amount of " select the type of wire that will best serve your presentations.

 

Now go to the bank and cash a $100 check and head to your local tackle shop, meet the Bait Monkey, and load up on your favorite hooks!

[Sam]

.....using and the amount of "power setting the hook" select the type.......

 

Sorry, I accidently erased the above.

[RAMBLER]

For value/price my preference is Gamakatsu.  I use EWG, mainly 3/0, 4/0, and 5/0, and some 1/0 offset shank.  Others as I think I need them.  I found the best price to be the 25 count economy packs at Gander Mountain.

Once in a while, at different Wal-Marts, I can find the economy packs for a better price.

[PAGreg]

Fyi, you can buy 100 packs directly frm Gamakatsu. Check their website.

[WIGuide]

If you primarily fish Texas rigs, I'd recommend using a EWG style hook. Although size is not an industry standard on hook size between manufactures, sizes 3/0, 4/0, and 5/0 should cover most baits you throw. As far as quantity, only you can decide on that. It all depends on how many you use. If you like the guy who loses 4-10 each time he fishes then you're going to go through more hooks than someone who might lose one every few trips. If you're looking for brand suggestions, most name brand hooks will do the job. I'm really partial to Trokars though since they penetrate so easily, are super tough, and are also made in the USA.

[Alpha Male]

I fish a lot of plastics as well.

 

I try too keep all sizes of both the EWG and offset hooks. I have to say that I use the 4/0 EWG the most.

 

the first row are the offset 1/0 to 5/0

the second row are the EWG 1/0 to 5/0

above that are the twistlock and weighted hooks then above those are the dropshot and shakeyhead hooks and the last row are my trailer and treble hooks.

 

I have more hooks coming from tackle warehouse so I will be re-arranging them again. and these are just the hooks for my plastics.

 

I have no brand loyalty as far as hooks go. Some are trokar, eagle claw, gamakatsu, owner, VMC, and I have a bunch of decoy hooks (on sale at ***) coming.

 

Also keep in mind that the red hooks are not that bright its a trick if the camera.

 

[Jaderose]

I use the VMC Drop Dead Hooks for a lot of my T-Rig presentations.  Check em out on TW.  Other than that, Gammy 3/0, 4/0, 5/0 EWG's.  A few other drop shot and shaky head and wacky specialty hooks.

[Catt]

Straight shank round bend

[Choporoz]

Until I found BR, I thought I was good with terminal tackle selection of 3/0 EWG and offset worm hooks and an assortment bag of worm weights.

 

Now I need a suitcase.....and a bigger boat.

[fisherrw]

I use vmc hooks what I have is

Size 1 dropshot

1 ot dropshot

2 and 3 ot worm hooks

1 ot wacky hooks

[CDMeyer]

I fish a lot of plastics as well.

I try too keep all sizes of both the EWG and offset hooks. I have to say that I use the 4/0 EWG the most.

the first row are the offset 1/0 to 5/0

the second row are the EWG 1/0 to 5/0

above that are the twistlock and weighted hooks then above those are the dropshot and shakeyhead hooks and the last row are my trailer and treble hooks.

I have more hooks coming from tackle warehouse so I will be re-arranging them again. and these are just the hooks for my plastics.

I have no brand loyalty as far as hooks go. Some are trokar, eagle claw, gamakatsu, owner, VMC, and I have a bunch of decoy hooks (on sale at ***) coming.

Also keep in mind that the red hooks are not that bright its a trick if the camera.

I love that box , what brand is it?

[CDMeyer]

I use VMC hooks and I. If you mostly t-rig I would buy some worm hooks 2/0 and 3/0 and some flippin' hook with the size you need

[Alpha Male]

I love that box , what brand is it?

Plano 3771. I love it too. I got it at tackle warehouse. This is the 1 3/8" thick box. They also have a 2" thick box that's the 3770 and a smaller 3670. Its great to have that much customizability.

[Senko lover]

I don't have a ton of hooks, just some 3/0 strait shanks, 2/0 EWGs, and some baitholder hooks I use for wacky rigging.

[KDW96]

I fish a lot of plastics as well.

 

I try too keep all sizes of both the EWG and offset hooks. I have to say that I use the 4/0 EWG the most.

 

the first row are the offset 1/0 to 5/0

the second row are the EWG 1/0 to 5/0

above that are the twistlock and weighted hooks then above those are the dropshot and shakeyhead hooks and the last row are my trailer and treble hooks.

 

I have more hooks coming from tackle warehouse so I will be re-arranging them again. and these are just the hooks for my plastics.

 

I have no brand loyalty as far as hooks go. Some are trokar, eagle claw, gamakatsu, owner, VMC, and I have a bunch of decoy hooks (on sale at ***) coming.

 

Also keep in mind that the red hooks are not that bright its a trick if the camera.

 

 

Do you have alot of trouble with the hooks getting into the other compartments?

[Darren.]

I'm pretty much a round bend guy. Was sold on 

them when a tournament fisherman helped me 

get setup one day years back.

 

But since then, I've come to prefer O'Shaughnessy

style hooks. Like the round bend, but not as "round".

 

Call me picky, but it seems to me that I get better 

hookups with the O'Shaugnessy than I did with the 

round, or EWG, for that matter.

 

I do have some EWG that I use, but not very often.

[Alpha Male]

Do you have alot of trouble with the hooks getting into the other compartments?

No I do not. And I store it on it's side in my tackle bag.

[RoLo]

There's a wide variety of hooks available for Texas-rigging soft-plastics.

I personally find the Z-shank keepers the most convenient for T-rigging,

and since we're dealing with Florida-strain bass, I prefer heavy wire hooks to standard wire.

Gamakatsu EWG Superline (sku: 74)

 

The size of the hook should hinge on the bulk of the T-rigged plastic,

which will normally range between 3/0 & 5/0

 

Roger