Best Offset Hooks For Plastics?

[Brett Strohl]

I'm really new to fishing plastics, and I got some generic offset hooks from Wal-mart, and then some higher quality Gamakatsu hooks in a discount bin.  I don't have any trouble catching fish with the generics, but the Gamakatsus are pointed inward a little more and have absolutely no give to them at all.  I noticed since I started using one of those I'm not hooking the fish anymore unless they've had the lure in their mouth a long time.  

 

I was wondering if this might just be a matter of perception on my part, or if I should just stick with the generics that have a lot more give to them in the future? I think the "give" in the hook probably brings it up through the lip, while the rigid Gamakatsus are just getting pulled straight out of their mouths without finding anything to hook on.  

[atcoha]

tough one.

I prefer the gama hooks, less give, although I will use those light wire hooks sometimes.

Could be the timing on your hooksets? The power of your hooksets? The way you rig the hook in the bait?

[Brett Strohl]

I dunno, I just didn't have any problem hooking fish until I tried the gama hooks.  The only ones I hooked with the gamas were when the fish that had the lure in their mouth for a significant time before I set the hook. 

[Montanaro]

Lunker city appear to have nice ones. Haven't used them though as I have enough hooks at the moment.

[Kyle46N]

For what it's worth, I've been fishing with the Owner Z-Neck offset hooks (4/0) and weightless Strike King Cut-R, Fat Ika's, and Senko's, and haven't missed a fish in four trips.   Kid you not, it's a first for me....even on a good day it seems like a bass or two will shake a hook.   But I haven't had a single fish come unbottuned.   10 plus fish each trip.  Hooks are always punctured all the way through wherever they stuck the fish.  I'm sold on them. 

[papajoe222]

Are you sure those aren't circle hooks? They make an octopus circle hook Model-2214 that looks almost identical to their regular octopus hook.  With a circle hook you don't set the hook, but keeping your rod tip high, you just reel.  They are great for any plastic that the fish might swallow.

[jtharris3]

I use Gama hooks all of the time and have no issues hooking fish with them. Which model hook are you using?

[Brett Strohl]

it's these: 

 

http://fishfreakonline.com/gamakatsusuperlineewgwt50116.html?utm_source=googlepepla&utm_medium=adwords&id=60193252536&gclid=CLKEguq33sUCFQYzaQod7IkA8A

 

I got a tone of bites on plastic craws and my guess was the fish was either biting on the eye of the hook and I was pulling them straight out, or the plastic craw wasn't collapsing well enough.  (I switched to Yum craws since they seemed more flexible but haven't used them much yet so I don't know if that will help).  But I was using this hook with a big plastic worm thingy, and had the same issue.  (Although I did have less bites that day)

 

I dunno, I'm going to try the generics again next time I use plastic craws or swim plastics and see how it goes.  I just got the gamas b/c they were $2 in a discount bin so if they don't work out it's not really any loss.  

[Jon G]

Your using superline hooks. They are meant for superlines. Those hooks are a thicker gauge wire designed to prevent the hook from bending when using superlines that have little to no stretch.  I'm guessing you are using a spining rod or a medium powered baitcaster. The problem is your rod is not powerful enough to set the hook and penetrate the fish's mouth. 

 

Try using these instead:

 

http://www.basspro.com/Gamakatsu-EWG-Worm-Hook/product/53661/

 

These are a thinner gauge wire which will allow you to get a good hookset with lighter equipment

[Brett Strohl]

ah cool thanks!

[Shanes7614]

I'm gonna go out on a whim here and say the action of your baits with the lighter wired hooks may be key to who's making the fish strike in the first place. If you want to catch more fish do yourself a favor, stop listening to what you "should" or "should not" be using and just stick with what has been working for you in the past. If you have been catching hundreds of bass on a white worm while night fishing but tradition says to use something dark, what would you use???? I've used all types of hooks while using braided line but today's market says I should be using a "super line" hook so I will catch more fish. 90% of fishing lures and tackle are meant to catch FISHERMEN, not to catch fish!!!!

[Sea NaCl]

Owner offset light wire hooks are very good for using lighter tackle on soft plastics.

[greentrout]

For most of plastic fishing, especially worms, Tru Turn hooks. I've never had a gut hooked fish using them. All in the lip or near the jaw.

 

Old school basser...

 

[joeblowwwww]

Thats a Superline hook.

. I use the same Gam. hook without the weight and they work great!!  tried a bunch of different 1's till I found those. 

[Big Swimbait]

I've used them all. Gammy's & Owner's are top notch. But I tried these & have not looked back:

http://penhooks.com/products/f-hook

[the reel ess]

That looks like a plastic swimbait/fluke hook that came with a package deal I bought years ago. I think they're designed so that the hook is texposed on the back of the bait so when the fish chomps down the point is exposed. You don't bury the point in the bait.

 

I just look up the correct hook for each lure and size. Then I go get the Gamakatsu hook for that application. I have a lot of faith in them. One of the most effective changes I've ever made in my fishing was to start using quality hooks. The next was using braid on spinning.

[jcoffman55]

The first post after your picture nailed it. Those hooks are much stouter than a standard hook and are meant to be used with heavy rods with heavy test braid. If you use too light a rod with say 10 or 12 pound mono you likely will set the hook, but not have enough "power" to push past the barb and the fish will throw the hook. The Gama regular gauge offset hooks are the best of their type IMO. You can catch them at Dicks Sporting Goods every once in a while for two packs for five bucks. Give those a try. 

[Brett Strohl]

The first post after your picture nailed it. Those hooks are much stouter than a standard hook and are meant to be used with heavy rods with heavy test braid. If you use too light a rod with say 10 or 12 pound mono you likely will set the hook, but not have enough "power" to push past the barb and the fish will throw the hook. The Gama regular gauge offset hooks are the best of their type IMO. You can catch them at Dicks Sporting Goods every once in a while for two packs for five bucks. Give those a try. 

 

 

Yeah I just don't know anything about hooks and I've never really fished soft plastics before this year so I'm bound to make some mistakes.  I caught lots of largemouth today at the pond on plastic craws so I can tell a huge difference when I have the right hook  Maybe I'd have gotten a few more with a higher quality hook?  I lost at least 5 bites, possibly from either missing the hook set or something.  Could you link me what you'd recommend? 

[bankguy315]

  I lost at least 5 bites, possibly from either missing the hook set or something.

some of the misses could just be short strikes or bream