How Do You Keep Tx Rigged Hooks In Place When Skipping?

[jonnyblazex]

  Hi guys!  I have been skipping a lot of docks and low over hanging trees lately with some good results.  The only problem Im having is that the hook always comes out of the bait.  Im using a texas rig, 3/16 or 1/4 bullet weight and soft plastic, be it a worm or craw/creature bait.  It seems every other cast the hook will come completely out of the plastic, leaving it for easy snag for any obstacle it comes across.  I have tried screw lock hooks (owners) and gamakatsu ewg  hooks as well as the worm hooks, and they also come out.  I then tried the VMC and Trokar flippin hooks, and had the same issue.  I tried gluing the bait on the flipping hooks plastic keeper, but still had the hook come out.  It wouldn't be such a problem, but when I'm skipping into heavy brush, or a dock with nasty snags that are very hard to retrieve your lure, it gets frustrating when you hang up and have to snap off time and time again.  I can skip with jigs quite a bit, and 80% of the time it comes out, even if I think I have a nasty snag.  I like throwing jigs and all, but lets face it, sometimes texas rigs are more effective, and you have a lot more options.  Thanks for any and all input!!

[Kidflex]

Are you pegging the weight? That might help with the extra swinging of the bait vs the weight. Also try skip gap hooks. I just started using them and it seems to help a bit.

[junyer357]

Get some cheap toothpicks. Push the worm a lil deeper in over the hook eye so it covers the front of hook and line knot. Take toothpick and push through worm n eye of hook and break off flush with worm body. Also keep hook all the way in body over texposed. Its not a cure all but it does help tremendously

[Shanes7614]

Before you tie up heat the hook eyelet with a lighter and then slide bait into desired position and then ad you drop of super glue. Makes them almost invincible.

[Shanes7614]

I have to sometime year and scrape them off with a small pocket knife to rebait.

[Angry John]

I use the mustad flipping hooks and they have the best bait keeper I have found.  They came out with a finesse model with the same keeper that I have just bought so I will give it some time before I go and recommend them.

[buzzed bait]

skip gap hooks work well for me to keep the bait in place

[21farms]

gamakatsu makes the skip gap hook exactly for that application:

[Felix77]

gamakatsu makes the skip gap hook exactly for that application:

FWIW .... this is what I use as well.

[rippin-lips]

Skip gaps are nice. I use them a good bit, but sometimes you need a stouter hook. They also aren't the end all hook. I still have baits that will slide down after catching some fish. The mustads are nice too. Though they can really tear up the bait just pulling it over the keeper. There's a little gadget called a parasite clip. They work very well. The toothpick trick is alright too. You can also take a piece of heavy mono #80. Push it through the bait and the eye of the hook. Trim it flush after you insert it. It won't rub the line like the toothpick will. I use stout thin wire I bought from a surplus store. A roll was like $3. I cut a bunch into 1" pieces and keep them in my terminal box. Been doing it like that for years with no issues.