VMC weedless wacky hooks

[Dakota Stewart]

Anybody use em? Whatcha think. 

 

Dakota. 

[jr231]

I like VMC for almost all my specialty hook needs. And although I don't use these hooks. I have nothing but positive things to say about their hooks. So, I'm sure they're nice. 

[Darren.]

If you are talking the VMC hooks with the wire weedguard, no.

Hate 'em. I much prefer a stiffer plastic/mono weedguard for 
the weedless hook variety.

 

I now make my own weedless hooks.

[ww2farmer]

They are good hooks..................the trick with them is TO NOT hook the wire weed guard under the barb of the hook. If you do it will not pop open right and cost you fish. If you flex the weed guard a little to "loosen" it up out of the package then place it ever so slightly below the hook point, it will stay weedless, but pop open and stick the fish when you get bit.

 

You also DO NOT want to swing for the fences on the hook set with these types of hooks, it's more of a lift and pull set...........a little more aggressive than a circle hook set, about like a drop shot hook set when using a small hook and light line.............HTH.

 

I would venture to say that a majority of people who hate these hooks, use bad technique on the hook set, or don't know any better with placement of the weedguard or both..........often no fault of their own though. VMC would do themselves a favor by putting a little instruction on the package with these.

[bassguytom]

I don't use wacky hooks with weed guards. I use a Gamakatsu 1/0 octopus hook and drop it into weed pockets or on the edges of weeds. I bought a pack of these but my thought is I have a better hook up ratio without the weed guard. If it's too thick then I'm using somthing else. 

[RoLo]

 

Unlike the hooks I fished with 50 years ago, the hooks manufactured today

are virtually forced to be competitive, otherwise they'll fall by the wayside.

In any case, "VMC" is probably my least favorite hook of all,

one of the few brands I do not regard as premium.

 

Roger

[CrustyMono]

i like them but you should sharpen the hook with a knife sharpener and cut the weed guard slightly

[Dakota Stewart]

I've heard to bend the weed guard back and fourth and place it in front of the barb and there's no problem. 

1 hour ago, Darren. said:

If you are talking the VMC hooks with the wire weedguard, no.

Hate 'em. I much prefer a stiffer plastic/mono weedguard for 
the weedless hook variety.

 

I now make my own weedless hooks.

What do you prefer? 

I've used the gama finesse for wacky rigging but found a pond full of weeds. So wanted some opinions. 

[ww2farmer]

1 hour ago, RoLo said:

 

 

In any case, "VMC" is probably my least favorite hook of all,

one of the few brands I do not regard as premium.

 

Roger

Roger, I used to think so to, then they came out with their "Ike Approved" line of hooks, jig heads, etc.....they have really stepped their game up.

 

 I used to be a big Gamakatsu and Mustad guy, but now my two favorite brands of hooks are VMC and the Berkley Fusion's.

 

I never liked  Owner's , and thought Trokars were terrible.

[Darren.]

38 minutes ago, Dakota Stewart said:

I've heard to bend the weed guard back and fourth and place it in front of the barb and there's no problem. 

What do you prefer? 

I've used the gama finesse for wacky rigging but found a pond full of weeds. So wanted some opinions. 

 

I actually, now, prefer my own creations  

 

Using Gamakatsu Split Shot/Drop Shot hooks from 
2-2/0 and Gammy Finesse Wide Gap up to 3/0.

 

I was using Gamakatu weedless, Owner weedless, but
found issues with each. Making my own puts the onus
on me and I've been quite happy with my hooks of late.

 

Using 40# and on some hooks, 50# Ande leader line.

Using a cheap fly tying vice/setup I bought at BPS with
some thread, Sally Hansen Extreme nail polish (black)
and experiment with single and double guards.

 

Strangely, I cannot find my posts with pix and videos
of how to tie your own! I'll have to dig deeper tomorrow....

[RoLo]

29 minutes ago, ww2farmer said:

Roger, I used to think so to, then they came out with their "Ike Approved" line of hooks, jig heads, etc.....they have really stepped their game up.

 

 I used to be a big Gamakatsu and Mustad guy, but now my two favorite brands of hooks are VMC and the Berkley Fusion's.

 

I never liked  Owner's , and thought Trokars were terrible.

 

I'm glad to hear that farmer, it seems that all the hook manufacturers upped their game.

 

I'll bet you remember when your hook hone sat smack in front of your tackle box.

But with today's laser-sharpened & chemically-sharpened hooks,

I have to hunt for my hook file. It helps of course, that there are no rocks in Florida 

 

Roger

[slimjim1135]

The metal weed guard is extremely stiff and tends to lock itself under the barb, making it almost impossible for bass to trip the weed guard. Additionally, when throwing into thick cover, weeds would accumulate in the small divot between the ring and the weedguard, which kind of took the point out of weedless hooks in the first place. I disliked fishing with the weed guard so much I ended up clipping the guard off the last few. That actually increased my hook-up ratio a little. VMC makes decent hooks, but their weedless wacky is my least favorite weedless I've ever used. 

[Jaderose]

Not a fan.  The weed guard causes more problems than it solves.  Now I, too, use a Gammy octopus hook and don't worry about it being weedless.

[NYWayfarer]

19 hours ago, ww2farmer said:

I would venture to say that a majority of people who hate these hooks, use bad technique on the hook set, or don't know any better with placement of the weedguard or both..........often no fault of their own though. VMC would do themselves a favor by putting a little instruction on the package with these.

 

This describes me. I am a fan of VMC products just not this one.

 

I will give them another shot and use your advice on the guard and hooksets. Thanks for the info.

[Oklahoma Mike]

Whe I need to go weedless I use the Owner weedless wacky hook for weightless or the Owner wacky jighead if I want it weighted. They use a nylon weedguard and I have zero issues getting hookups with either version. 

[IndianaFinesse]

I haven't tried the VMC weedless wacky hooks, but I have tried several others including the owner weedless wacky hooks.  I haven't used any of them since I found an article (written by Wahne P.) about a better way to weedless wacky rig.  His method was to use a slightly larger than normal hook, wacky rig the worm like normal, and then push the hook a second time part way thru the bait a half inch or so to one side of where the hook came thru the first time, so that the hook point is just under the skin of the worm or just thru it.  The hooking percentage is much better than when using an actual weedless wacky hook, plus it's actually more weedless.

[jr231]

Yea saying VMC doesn't make premium hooks is absurd. Lots of quality brands use their hooks including lucky craft. 

 

Im a big fan of their stand up shaky head, spinshot hooks , sureset trebles for my top water and shallow cranks, and the swinging rugby head. They also have a nice shaky head and neko hook. 

 

I also don't care for turning the hook sideways into the bait. Although this method will work, I lose fish because of the hook position , and IMO hinders the action in stickbaits under 5" . .. 

 

If there are too many weeds , weightless t rig the darn thing and catch some bass. It works just as well if not better. 

[Last_Cast]

Purchased a bunch last year, love em.

[burrows]

Not a big fan of vmc. for weedles wacky rigging i use an owner circle hook seems to help a lot in the weeds.