Hook size for 3" swim bait?

[cheezledzul]

Bought a ton of 3/0 heavy duty wide gap offset hooks for senkos. 

 

Just purchased 3" keitech easy shiners in bluegill flash. 

Do I need 1/0 or 2/0 hooks? Heavy duty or regular? 

 

Or stick with the 3/0 heavy duty? Worried theyll be too big and effect the action or too thick. 

[EGbassing]

3/0 just sounds too big for a 3"swimbait. I would go with a 1/0.

[cheezledzul]

14 hours ago, EGbassing said:

3/0 just sounds too big for a 3"swimbait. I would go with a 1/0.

1/0 worm hook? Heavy duty or regular?  Are 1/0 hooks used for anything else?

 

Since I just spent a decent amount on gear and rigs I'd prefer to get things with multiple uses. Aside from senkos and the swimbait I'm trying to figure out if my old roostertails will work to search them out or if I need spinners. Then the next is probably a deep dive crankbait since its end of summer. Since I'm new to this I'm trying to wait till I know what I'm doing to get more specific bait and rigs. 

[TOXIC]

Just for future reference, a 3.0 "heavy duty" hook will tear up a Senko pretty fast.  I prefer a 4.0 EWG Offset (thin wire) for a 5" Senko.  Gamakatsu is the brand I use but I realize there are others.  Their heavy duty is called a Superline hook.  I've never straightened or broke a regular one on Bass up to 8lbs, catfish up to 10lbs (not caught on purpose) and a Snakehead at 14lbs.  I've caught hundreds of 4-5lb hard charging Smallmouth on the thin wire as well.  

[J Francho]

2/0 EWG is what I'd use.

 

4 minutes ago, TOXIC said:

Just for future reference, a 3.0 "heavy duty" hook will tear up a Senko pretty fast.

 

Agreed, and the Keitech plastic is similarly fragile as GYCB's plastic.

[TOXIC]

3 minutes ago, J Francho said:

2/0 EWG is what I'd use.

 

 

Agreed, and the Keitech plastic is similarly fragile as GYCB's plastic.

Funny you mention that.  My buddy was fishing that swimbait for the first time on the Potomac last weekend and on the first cast something bit the paddle tail off.  I can't repeat what he said.......

[cheezledzul]

Actually bought Yum Dinger not GYCB. Gotta stop calling them senkos...

 

I actually bought 13 - VMC Fast grip wide gap 3/0 for $4.50 and 10 - VMC Heavy Duty Wide gap 3/0 for $10.

 

I guess I should pick up a 14 pack of the fast grip ones for $4.50?

I was planning on using the 3/0 Heavy duty for the yum dingers but your saying they will destroy the bait. Are they even worth keeping then?

 

Btw im buying VMC only because they seem slightly cheaper and some have the resin over the eye.. otherwise idk the difference.

[EGbassing]

1 hour ago, cheezledzul said:

1/0 worm hook? Heavy duty or regular?  Are 1/0 hooks used for anything else?

 

Since I just spent a decent amount on gear and rigs I'd prefer to get things with multiple uses. Aside from senkos and the swimbait I'm trying to figure out if my old roostertails will work to search them out or if I need spinners. Then the next is probably a deep dive crankbait since its end of summer. Since I'm new to this I'm trying to wait till I know what I'm doing to get more specific bait and rigs. 

A standard EWG (or round bend) worm hook should work. Heavy duty doesn't sound necessary. And yep, a 1/0 would be great for pretty much any other soft plastic under 4 inches or smaller. For a search bait, I love spinnerbaits and ned rigs. Once you find them, a dropshot rig can be deadly. Feel free to ask me if you have any more questions. 

[govallis]

1 to 1/0.

[Black Hawk Basser]

I go with the smallest and thinnest hook I can get away with, in an attempt to save from tearing plastics.  Doesn't much matter because the bass destroy then pretty quickly anyway.  The plus with senko type worms is that you can bite a little off of the ruined front end and make it a bit shorter and keep on fishing.   I go with 1/0 for anything around 3".