I Lose Fish On EWG Hooks

[LxVE Bassin]

Whenever I use an EWG hook on soft plastics like flukes, stick baits, and creature baits I get a lot bites but my hookup percentage is very low. I do well with offset worm hooks. I usually throw 3/0 hooks. How do you guys get those EWG hooks to work? 

[Darren.]

2 minutes ago, LxVE said:

Whenever I use an EWG hook on soft plastics like flukes, stick baits, and creature baits I get a lot bites but my hookup percentage is very low. I do well with offset worm hooks. I usually throw 3/0 hooks. How do you guys get those EWG hooks to work? 

Welcome aboard!

Never actually had an issue with EWG hooks and soft plastics.

But I mostly use O'shaughnessy round bend hooks...

[flyfisher]

don't use them anymore then....seems like a simple solution to me.  If something doesn't work for you and you have success using other equipment, then you should use what works for you.

[riverbasser]

Only have problems with the thicker plastic baits. For those I also like offset hooks. But for most worms I have no issues with ewg.

[Ski213]

As was said, do what works for you. Better to get bit five times and land five fish than get bit 10 and land 3. Excluding the creature baits, I'll only fish offset hooks with flukes and stick baits. 

Different strokes for different folks though. That's just me. 

If you are getting bit more on an EWG it's most likely due  how that hook effects the action of the bait. Pay attention to the action difference and figure out how to accomplish the action with the hook that gets the most fish landed. 

[JustJames]

If you do well with offset hook then use that, I dont see the reason why not. For fluke maybe you can up the size to 4/0 5/0 depend on size of platic.

[A-Jay]

Hello and Welcome to Bass Resource ~

If the hook is sharp & it matches the rest of your gear (including the proper hook size for the bait ) - it's hard to understand what the problem is.

Might not be the hook -

A-Jay

 

[dwh4784]

I lose bass on everything but EWG hooks. I use a 5/0 for largemouth with a 5" Senko. 3/0 for smallmouth w/ 4". Basic t-rig with the hook point just slightly buried is a staple for me no matter where I'm fishing.

[smalljaw67]

EWG and "J" style worm hooks both have offset shanks unless you are talking about straight shank worm hooks. I use to think not being able to land fish on EWG style hooks had something to do with just a mental block preventing a good hook set but there is more to it. I run across this a lot, a friend of mine doesn't have any luck with jigs that have an EWG style hook, I saw it myself, both fishing the same jig with the same weight and I'm landing my fish and he is losing every one. What I noticed is that anglers that use a 90 degree hook set, and I'm talking straight up and down, tend to have this problem more versus anglers like myself, who tend to set the hook on a little bit of an angle. I think what happens is the deeper bend in the hook causes it to lay flat when a fish grabs it and when you pull straight up just barely skin hooks the lip as it is being pulled almost completely out of the mouth. If you pull at an angle the hook seems to get caught on the corner of the mouth, and I believe this because I rarely get the fish in the very top of the mouth with an EWG hook, even with jigs, the jig is stuck in the mouth even with the left or right eye but never dead center like a regular "J" style hook. Now, this isn't 100% of the time but it is over 90% I'm sure, so my advise would be to try an set the hook on like a 45 degree angle and see if it helps at all, the reason you shouldn't give up on them is on tough bites, you can get away with using a size or two smaller hook than the "J" style because of the larger gap.

[Catt]

9 hours ago, LxVE said:

I do well with offset worm hooks. I usually throw 3/0 hooks. How do you guys get those EWG hooks to work? 

Welcome!

Why change?

If it aint broke quite trying to fix it!

[scaleface]

Theres less "bite" with the EWG . I dont know if bite is the correct term but compare the two . On a skinny worm I always use standard offset  hooks and bury the point inside the lure old school way . .Thats my preferred way to rig soft plastics , its  the most weedless and the hook exits easily . EWG's I use on thicker baits and dont bury the point , instead I skin hook them . The bait must  be perfectly straight so I lay the hook across the bait to see which way to rig each hook . I have some weird sickle shaped hooks that are sort of in between and they work best skin hooked .

[Mike L]

I've found that when I use a EWG hook on a smaller diameter plastic with a straight up hook set is when I struggle. I think the weight and shape of the hook with a smaller bait tends to let the whole thing rotate on the set and then I have nothing or just one jump and they're gone. 

Match your hook and set to the size of the bait and see if that helps. 

 

Mike 

[S. Sass]

Learning other hook uses is no different than lures, rods, reels, or just about any other fishing tools. It's nice to have more tools in your arsenal. Especially if you can make them work for you. 

I am not a fan of the EWG but in certain baits they are sometimes the better fit. Really thick baits seem to work better than a conventional style hook. Smaller soft plastics like a 7.5" worm the offset worm hooks do much better and a standard strait shank has the best hookups for me. I also set my hooks like Scaleface just said and have what I feel is a good hookup %. 

Just one other note if your using Zman baits the EWG can have even worse performance. The plastic being so elastic can keep the hook point from exposing. It is the side of the hook that has to push out of the bait with a EWG and it isn't sharp. So be extremely careful to only skin hook the bare minimum so it can come out as easy as possible. A big thick or deep skin hook will be hard to get the hook point out. The straight shank hook rigged the old school way the point of the hook leads the way out so it's works great. 

This is just my experience others may have different experience.

[MIbassyaker]

I hook up with EWGs better than regular offsets on everything but the thinnest plastics. But I don't use a massive hookset either, and it's almost always at an angle, or even to the side.  

[Glenn]

Here's the reason why you're losing fish:

 

[tcbass]

16 minutes ago, Glenn said:

Here's the reason why you're losing fish:

 

Thx Glen. Another great video!

I almost never use bullet sinkers but I have lost fish in the manner you're saying. I'll try dropping the rod tip next time.

[LxVE Bassin]

12 hours ago, smalljaw67 said:

EWG and "J" style worm hooks both have offset shanks unless you are talking about straight shank worm hooks. I use to think not being able to land fish on EWG style hooks had something to do with just a mental block preventing a good hook set but there is more to it. I run across this a lot, a friend of mine doesn't have any luck with jigs that have an EWG style hook, I saw it myself, both fishing the same jig with the same weight and I'm landing my fish and he is losing every one. What I noticed is that anglers that use a 90 degree hook set, and I'm talking straight up and down, tend to have this problem more versus anglers like myself, who tend to set the hook on a little bit of an angle. I think what happens is the deeper bend in the hook causes it to lay flat when a fish grabs it and when you pull straight up just barely skin hooks the lip as it is being pulled almost completely out of the mouth. If you pull at an angle the hook seems to get caught on the corner of the mouth, and I believe this because I rarely get the fish in the very top of the mouth with an EWG hook, even with jigs, the jig is stuck in the mouth even with the left or right eye but never dead center like a regular "J" style hook. Now, this isn't 100% of the time but it is over 90% I'm sure, so my advise would be to try an set the hook on like a 45 degree angle and see if it helps at all, the reason you shouldn't give up on them is on tough bites, you can get away with using a size or two smaller hook than the "J" style because of the larger gap.

I will try that, my hooksets are probably too close to 90 degrees. Thanks for the feedback 

 

[Raul]

22 hours ago, LxVE said:

Whenever I use an EWG hook on soft plastics like flukes, stick baits, and creature baits I get a lot bites but my hookup percentage is very low. I do well with offset worm hooks. I usually throw 3/0 hooks. How do you guys get those EWG hooks to work? 

I don't think is the hook but a flawed hook setting technique.

[jr231]

Echos . Echos everywhere 

[Catt]

So I gotta change my entire hookset technique to accommodate a hook that aint any better than a straight shank or offset!

Nah! Pass!

[scaleface]

49 minutes ago, Catt said:

So I gotta change my entire hookset technique to accommodate a hook that aint any better than a straight shank or offset!

Nah! Pass!

yep ,easier to switch hooks than to change the way one fishes .

[Glenn]

Well, you can either learn the right technique, or limit your tackle selection.  Up to you.

[Catt]

5 hours ago, Glenn said:

Well, you can either learn the right technique, or limit your tackle selection.  Up to you.

If your hookup ratio is 80% or higher then you are using the right technique & additional tackle is not required.

[Catt]

For those who asked, I only use EWG hooks for solid body frogs.

[primetime]

I lose the same amount of fish on EWG vs. Offset or straight...I lose probably 1/4 Bass I set the hook on for all kinds of reasons, some my fault, some the Fishes Fault. 

I find if you get a good hook set, sharp hook, good sized fish with the right reel and right line, If I play them properly, I still only get 80% of fish to boat? Y

Losing fish is part of landing fish. Bass can be really tough to hook some days, or tough to get out of cover without losing a good portion of them. Some Days they all seem to swim right at you which makes it harder. Best you can ask for is constant tension with a good drag.