Need a 4/0 straight shank recommendation

[pauldconyers]

I've always used a 4/0 EWG (usually a Gammy) for T-rigging a worm or something. Going to experiment with a straight shank this year. Anyone got a recommendation?

[Bluebasser86]

What type of worm? I've had good luck with the Eagle Claw straight shanks for flipping grass but I never use them with worms and I'm always using braid and a heavy rod. If it's just your typical ribbontail worm, you'll probably want something a little thinner, especially if you're using something other than braid. 

[pauldconyers]

Probably a senko, a trick worm or a Mann's Jelly? Was hoping the type I tried didn't "care" whether it was fluoro or braid that I was using as I could see me possibly using both at times.

[A-Jay]

Check out - Gamakatsu Finesse Heavy Cover Hook

And  ~ Gamakatsu Aaron Martens G-Finesse Heavy Cover Hook

 

If you're a fan of the regular Gamakastu EWG (Like I am) then either of those might be your cup of tea as well.

A-Jay

[pauldconyers]

You both have mentioned something a bit thinner/more finesse for this application. What is the the thought process behind this?

[A-Jay]

3 minutes ago, pauldconyers said:

You both have mentioned something a bit thinner/more finesse for this application. What is the the thought process behind this?

If you're looking for a straight shank replacement of that Gammy EWG, one that has a similar wire size - these are that.

Forget about the name or the advertised description.

 I am a HUGE FAN of a regular 4/0 Gammy EWG.

That one hook has accounted for a ton of great fish for me; over a wide array of applications.

But since trying these hooks - they might just be a little better.

YMMV

A-Jay

[Jrob78]

My favorite non-flipping straight shank for smaller worms is the Roboworm Rebarb hooks.

[Mike L]

I tried a straight shank hook a while back. Other than useing them for thin plastic.. trick worms, speed craws etc.

I went back to the gammy ewg and never looked back. 

 

You said you want to use them on Jelly Worms and Senkos also, for stick baits I use the skip gap style and Jelly Worms I use Trokar's. 

 

Point is for me there isn't a one style fits all.

 

The recommendations you got above are right on imho 

 

 

 

 

Mike

[Brad Reid]

5 hours ago, Jrob78 said:

My favorite non-flipping straight shank for smaller worms is the Roboworm Rebarb hooks.

Jrob78 (hello, Jrob!!!) and I think alike!

 

The Roboworm Rebarb hooks would be my first choice. If I recall, they come in a light wire and one that is a bit heavier, the latter though not super heavy.

 

Moving from a EWG to a straight shank should greatly improve your hook up ratio. The hook tip can be left just under the plastic ready to pop up in a direction towards mouth tissue, not more laterally as with an EWG. When you T-Rig that worm, be certain to go through the nose at a strong angle not pushed in straight down. 

 

See little image below for a "compare."

 

Brad

 

 

 

 

 

 

[pauldconyers]

This is all great info but I still do not understand why I would need a light wire for this? Again, not saying you guys are wrong I am just trying to understand the reasoning. Looking at these Roboworms it looks like the light wires are only available in a 1/0 why is that?

 

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Roboworm_Rebarb_Hooks/descpage-RWRBH.html

[thinkingredneck]

I may be simple minded but for braid use a heavy hook  i.e., superline.   For mono  and fluro, I lighten up.  I mostly fish braid in the slop.

[Mike L]

On 3/14/2019 at 7:34 AM, pauldconyers said:

This is all great info but I still do not understand why I would need a light wire for this? Again, not saying you guys are wrong I am just trying to understand the reasoning. Looking at these Roboworms it looks like the light wires are only available in a 1/0 why is that?

 

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Roboworm_Rebarb_Hooks/descpage-RWRBH.html

If I understand your question correctly, It's because like everything else....

You're trying to match what you're throwing with what you're throwing it with. 

Lite wire hook's are made for light thin plastics useing light line with a light weight. 

 

 

 

Mike

[WRB]

I use Gamakatsu #484 or Owner #5103, 4/0 & 5/0.

Tom

[The Maestro]

Strike King Hack Attack on my punch rod.

 

VMC Heavy Duty IKE hooks for most everything else.

 

I have some Mustads that are a bit thinner wire that I'll run on my MH jig rod.

[Fishingmickey]

17 hours ago, pauldconyers said:

I've always used a 4/0 EWG (usually a Gammy) for T-rigging a worm or something. Going to experiment with a straight shank this year. Anyone got a recommendation?

Hi Paul,

     My favorite straight shank hooks for worm fishing are the Gamakatsu round bend worm hooks. Owner makes a good straight shank round bend too. For the 7" worms I like the 3/0 and for the 10" and up (the thicker plastic worms) I go 5/0. The bronze gammy worm hooks are needle sharp too and work great for finesse T-rigged worm fishing.

     The reason I like the lighter wire hooks for "thin" worm fishing is because the force needed to penetrate the fishes mouth much less then with a thicker wire hook. Basically less force required to "set" the hook. 

FM

 

[pauldconyers]

10 minutes ago, Fishingmickey said:

Hi Paul,

     My favorite straight shank hooks for worm fishing are the Gamakatsu round bend worm hooks. Owner makes a good straight shank round bend too. For the 7" worms I like the 3/0 and for the 10" and up (the thicker plastic worms) I go 5/0. The bronze gammy worm hooks are needle sharp too and work great for finesse T-rigged worm fishing.

     The reason I like the lighter wire hooks for "thin" worm fishing is because the force needed to penetrate the fishes mouth much less then with a thicker wire hook. Basically less force required to "set" the hook. 

FM

 

In those examples why do you "skip" the 4/0?

[Fishingmickey]

There really isn't much difference in size "gap" wise in between 3/0 to 4/0.  When I size match a hook to the plastic I am using. I want to make sure there is enough gap behind the hook. Too small a hook means too much plastic on the hook before the shank.  With small robo or robo "like" finesse sized worms I'll drop down to a 2/0 or 1/0 hook.  That's because this thickness of the plastic is much less. So finesse sized worm is maybe 3/32 - 1/4" in diameter. a 7" worm is 1/4" - 5/16" in diameter a 10' worm is closer to 3/8"-1/2" in diameter. I hope this explains it better.

FM

[MassYak85]

2 hours ago, Fishingmickey said:

Hi Paul,

     My favorite straight shank hooks for worm fishing are the Gamakatsu round bend worm hooks. Owner makes a good straight shank round bend too. For the 7" worms I like the 3/0 and for the 10" and up (the thicker plastic worms) I go 5/0. The bronze gammy worm hooks are needle sharp too and work great for finesse T-rigged worm fishing.

     The reason I like the lighter wire hooks for "thin" worm fishing is because the force needed to penetrate the fishes mouth much less then with a thicker wire hook. Basically less force required to "set" the hook. 

FM

 

x2 to everything he said. 

 

I actually cut a small piece of shrink-wrap to make a plastic keeper like the ones on the roboworm re-barb hooks. 

[anderb54]

It's not a true straight shank, but the Owner Twistlock Light hooks are perfect for the applications you listed.

[Phil B]

I have had great success with Tru- Turn hooks. I fish a lot of super heavy vegetation and have never broken one. The shank is longer and has bait keeper barbs on it. 

[Brad Reid]

On 3/14/2019 at 9:34 AM, pauldconyers said:

This is all great info but I still do not understand why I would need a light wire for this? Again, not saying you guys are wrong I am just trying to understand the reasoning. Looking at these Roboworms it looks like the light wires are only available in a 1/0 why is that?

 

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Roboworm_Rebarb_Hooks/descpage-RWRBH.html

They even have a series of smaller Rebarb hooks, Aberdeen style hooks, then the light wires up to 1/0, then just a slightly heavier wire up to 4/0. 

 

You'd choose a hook based on the size of the plastic you are using. 

 

Even the 4/0 is not particularly heavy wire, but does a great job if you size up from what a traditional Drop Shot is.

 

Brad

[contium]

4/0 Roboworm Rebarb

5/0 Eagle Claw Finesse Worm

 

For a 5" Senko or 6" Jelly Worm, I think the 4/0 Rebarb is a little small. I would use a 5/0 Rebarb if they made them.

[pauldconyers]

On 3/14/2019 at 7:15 AM, Brad Reid said:

Jrob78 (hello, Jrob!!!) and I think alike!

 

The Roboworm Rebarb hooks would be my first choice. If I recall, they come in a light wire and one that is a bit heavier, the latter though not super heavy.

 

Moving from a EWG to a straight shank should greatly improve your hook up ratio. The hook tip can be left just under the plastic ready to pop up in a direction towards mouth tissue, not more laterally as with an EWG. When you T-Rig that worm, be certain to go through the nose at a strong angle not pushed in straight down. 

 

See little image below for a "compare."

 

Brad

 

 

 

 

 

 

This illustration is very helpful! From the look of things, though, would it be rougher on the plastic to where it would not last as long? Just looks like it would tear through it a lot more on a hook set.

 

[WRB]

Flipping hooks are shorter in length and heavier wire, the combination works good for vertical heavy cover using strong braid. The standard worm hooks are longer and easier to rig properly. I use a rubber Peg-It through the hook eye after it's tied on my line and cut the ends off so it sticks out about 1/8" on both sides. Rig the soft plastic weedless normally and pull the hook eye with the rubber ends into the wormor creature nose about 1/8" passed the hook eye. The rubber ends prevent the plastic fron sliding down.

Hooks with hard keeper pins can stop the hook in the basses mouth preventing a good hook set.

To repeat I use Gamakatsu #484 and Owner #5103 round bent straight shank worm hooks. Owners #5132 CPS worm hook also good on big soft plastics but it's a 30 degree hook, not a straight shank.

Tom