Any pointers on hook to plastic bait size?

[Nattyboh74]

Is there a chart or the link on what size worm to hook? Or wide gap hook? What about on grubs or Kreatures/lizards?

[IndianaFinesse]

Are you talking about Texas rigging, wacky rigging, or using a straight shank hook?

I'll see if I can help you out if I can get a little more info on what you're asking.

[WRB]

No, there isn't any data available on the diameter of the plastic worms or creatures to make up a chart. The basic rule of thumb is the hook gap should be about 2X minimum the diameter of the soft plastic when weedless rigging. Nose or wacky hooking where the hook point is exposed the hook gap can be equal to the soft plastic body diameter.

What I do is look at the soft plastic and hold the hook against the body diameter and it's about 2X and I feel the soft plastic will not slide down filling the hook gap during a hook set, it's the hook size to start with.

Tom

[Catt]

Like most of the fishing industry there ain't even a standard for hook sizes!

[scaleface]

I want the hook gap twice the diameter of the lure . Usually I will be using a smaller hook than most . I see no advantage in using a 4.0  wide gap hook on say  a Trick worm .  

[primetime]

If you visit the main BR website page, you can find articles that break down all the different types of hooks, guage, size etc.

 

Glenn Has a video he put out a few years ago about choosing hooks for Flukes, Senko's and other plastic baits which will help you out.

 

My only advice with hooks is to buy quality, You don't "Need" the higher end hooks, but I find that you get what you pay for when it comes to hooks, and in reality, the hook is the most important part of the equation.

 

I tend to use 3/0 4/0 Hooks for most of my soft baits in standard sizes, I match the guage of the hook to the line I am fishing. Thinner hooks penetrate easier, and quality hooks can bend if you have the wrong hook on heavy braid.

 

If you are looking for value the BPS Magna Lock hooks are good hooks. I would just advise you to stay away from Matzuo hooks. Had them bend in the past and points do not stay sharp from my experience.

[Nattyboh74]

Thank guys

[Choporoz]

Twice the width will get you to a good place most of the time.  You will find certain plastics will work better with certain hooks....so, don't hesitate to fine tune to what works for you.  For example, for me, Rage Tail Cut R's are pretty close to most stickworm thickness; but I find I get much better hook up ratio using a wider gap than I would with a senko....not sure why....flukes are another bait that people will develop different preferences.

 

But, my only real advice is two things:

1- consider Owner for every application.  They don't make the perfect hook for every presentation....BUT, for me, they make the better hook for most

2- don't underestimate the differences in the gauge, or thickness of the hooks...it took me a long time to really get it, but thicker hooks generally DO need firmer hooksets

[WRB]

4 hours ago, Catt said:

Like most of the fishing industry there ain't even a standard for hook sizes!

Back before wide gap or extra wide EWG worm hooks we had hook size charts to compare sizes. The term wide gap or EWG eliminates any standard because the size was measured by the gap, the distance between the hook point and hook shank. Today no worm hook size standard exists, each mfr has their own sizes that vary widely.

Tom

 

[Nattyboh74]

Yeah this is crazy... Now what about wacky senkos?

[J Francho]

Ragetail Baits has rigging diagrams: http://www.ragetail.com/news/rigging-info/rigging-diagrams/

 

These were established by the inventor, @Big-O while fishing the baits himself.

[mllrtm79]

29 minutes ago, Nattyboh74 said:

Yeah this is crazy... Now what about wacky senkos?

I've used sizes 2-2/0 for wacky senkos, (mainly gamakatsu weedless finesse wide gap) I have not seen a verifiable difference in hookups across that range.