Hook slots in plastics.

[Comfortably Numb]

Does anyone like hook slots in craw or beaver type baits? I prefer the beefier without and skin hook.

[J Francho]

I like the ones on the bottom, like Ragetail baits.  They help me line up the center for feeding the hook back through.  I do also think the belly slots on super flukes and swimbaits help on hook sets.

[scaleface]

I was hoping this was about does the  slot go on top or on bottom . I still havent figured that out .

 

 

[J Francho]

4 minutes ago, scaleface said:

I was hoping this was about does the  slot go on top or on bottom . I still havent figured that out .

 

 

 

I flip my bait when one side wears out.

[senile1]

1 hour ago, Comfortably Numb said:

Does anyone like hook slots in craw or beaver type baits? I prefer the beefier without and skin hook.

It sounds like you are talking about the slot on the top of the bait.  Like you, I prefer baits without the slot where I can place the hook just under the skin.  If the hook is left sitting in the slot and the worm/bait moves on the hook while in the water, it is much easier for the hook point to become exposed and hang on something.  On baits with a slot, you can insert the hook just under the skin in the slot as well.  

[Montanaro]

Gambler ez have hook slots.

 

I never have to skin hook them and I run them through spatterdock fields!  Sometimes they get snagged but not at a higher rate than skin hooking them!

 

Just depends on design of the soft plastic lure

[BuzzHudson19c]

In general I prefer no hook slot on any plastics. If the bait is the same color top and bottom, I purposely flip the bait over the first time I rig it.

[Comfortably Numb]

I always thought the point of the hook was supposed to rest in the slot. I found it wont stay there long as the bait is used/worn.

 

Hook slots on fluke and swimbaits are fine but they go on the belly side.

[Ktho]

Doesn't really matter that much to me. The channel can be nice just as a reference point for lining it up but I'll skin hook it no matter what. 

[Bluebasser86]

I'm not a fan, but I can understand why some are. 

[TOXIC]

Anything to cut down on the amount of plastic to get a hookset is a good thing!!  I get frustrated with the Yamamoto Shad Shape Worm because using it as my primary dropshot bait, it's a half-moon style with the initial hook placement in the rounded side.  You have to be very careful to get it rigged right or you will get massive line twist.  

[NYWayfarer]

I like the slot as I am not a fan of skin hooking.

 

I fish a lot of open water so I don't have to worry about getting hung up too much.

 

[primetime]

The main reason I like the EZ series is the hook slots so you can easily get the hook in the middle and if you screw it up it is an easy fix to get it straight.

 

If you rig em on a Weighted hook, I find if I don't screw the head all the way, I leave 2 turns from the eye and you can get the bait perfect and the hook point rides just below the top of the bait. You can throw it in grass all day and rarely adjust, and Hook sets seem much easier especially for a bait that has dense plastic and alot of it giving it tons of action.

 

You can still skin hook the bait if you want, you just put the hook back a bit further down, then burry the point and it is impossible to snag. 

 

I don't like hook slots on some baits because they move around too much. Hook slots on bottom help get the point on straight which I think really matters. If you have a fluke rigged off center it never seems to work nearly as good, can't get a cadence, it will pull to one side, same with swimbait or any soft bait really.

 

If a bait is too soft, screw locks and making an error on first attempt can ruin the bait for good unless you melt it or glue it which is time consuming. 

 

The Castaic Jerky J baits were the first baits I ever really noticed how awesome a hook slot could be, same with the Bass Assassin Sluggos. Good thing about a sluggo is you can fish it upside down and doesn't make a difference. Once you get a bait on right, Crazy glue can help especially  around pads no matter what you are fishing. For punching, the only reason I use the BB Cricket is because it never moves on the Hook, same with the Havoc Punch craw, I am not sure the bait really matters most of the time, but I hate alot of popular baits cause you have to adjust them and Barbed FLipping Hooks tear up plastics, Hook Slots are good but for craw style baits I doubt I would like them cause you always get snagged and have to adjust your baits, a slot makes the point come out for better hook sets. 

[Comfortably Numb]

Not alot of meat putting a craw with a hook slot on a jig as a trailer too.