Direction of Hook

[Mightymouse1119]

Hello everyone, I'm new to fishing and had a question that I can not seem to find an answer. I having trouble hook up ratio with wacky rig . when tying your hook should the point be towards you or away from you? Or does it really matter? In other words , with circle hooks should the opening of tbe hook be towards the angler or facing away .. Thank you 

[FrankN209]

I would think away from you, so the hook can go into the lip. 

[J Francho]

It doesn't matter.  You can't control what direction it will end up once cast into the water.

[Choporoz]

A more interesting discussion often results when it is asked whether the hook bend should be 'along the wacky worm' (parallel?), or perpendicular to it.  Not that there's ever a satisfactory consensus, but it is, at times, entertaining to hear the theories.

[ResoKP]

26 minutes ago, Choporoz said:

A more interesting discussion often results when it is asked whether the hook bend should be 'along the wacky worm' (parallel?), or perpendicular to it.  Not that there's ever a satisfactory consensus, but it is, at times, entertaining to hear the theories.

I double up on the o-rings so that the hook is perpendicular to the worm. I have zero proof that this increases hook up ratio but it does increase my confidence.

 

 

[J Francho]

38 minutes ago, Choporoz said:

A more interesting discussion often results when it is asked whether the hook bend should be 'along the wacky worm' (parallel?), or perpendicular to it.  Not that there's ever a satisfactory consensus, but it is, at times, entertaining to hear the theories.

I don't know why this would matter either.  On a weightless, weedless rigged bait, the hook is parallel to the bait, and hook up is no issue.  I do like the hook perpendicular, as @ResoKP shows because I find it to be a little more weedless in light weed cover.  The worm actually works to push weeds out of the way.

[moguy1973]

43 minutes ago, ResoKP said:

I double up on the o-rings so that the hook is perpendicular to the worm. I have zero proof that this increases hook up ratio but it does increase my confidence.

 

 

This is the way I rig my wacky worms, although I save a bit of money by using Goody hair bands from Walmart instead of the o-rings.  I've tried it with the hook parallel to the worm and my hookup ratio wasn't nearly as good as it is with the hook perpendicular.  90% of the time I'd say I hook the fish either in the top of the mouth or in the corner of the mouth with it like this. Never in the bottom lip.  This is using the Owner Mosquito hooks or the Fusion19 weedless wacky hooks.

[looking45]

4 hours ago, moguy1973 said:

This is the way I rig my wacky worms, although I save a bit of money by using Goody hair bands from Walmart instead of the o-rings.  I've tried it with the hook parallel to the worm and my hookup ratio wasn't nearly as good as it is with the hook perpendicular.  90% of the time I'd say I hook the fish either in the top of the mouth or in the corner of the mouth with it like this. Never in the bottom lip.  This is using the Owner Mosquito hooks or the Fusion19 weedless wacky hooks.

I'm sure I'm missing something but seeing that you put the hook thru the bait, what purpose do the O rings serve? Couldn't you fish the bait without the O rings?

[Choporoz]

3 minutes ago, looking45 said:

I'm sure I'm missing something but seeing that you put the hook thru the bait, what purpose do the O rings serve? Couldn't you fish the bait without the O rings?

You absolutely can fish it without the o-rings.  But the worm will last much longer this way.  One fish can shred a Senko without orings or shrink-wrap or hair ties or some other contraption

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

5 hours ago, J Francho said:

I don't know why this would matter either.  On a weightless, weedless rigged bait, the hook is parallel to the bait, and hook up is no issue.  I do like the hook perpendicular, as @ResoKP shows because I find it to be a little more weedless in light weed cover.  The worm actually works to push weeds out of the way.

The baits don’t torn up as quickly as spearing them as well. 

[J Francho]

I don’t typically use o-rings. They’re an inconvenience. I’m okay with using up baits. 

[drscholl14]

I have never thought that the hook direction really mattered.  I always hooked them perpendicular to the work.  Now I threw the wacky rig away for the Neko rig.  Then you hook it parallel with the worm.  I use an o ring.  Caught about 12 fish last time out on a single senko before it was to the point I needed to change it.  Doesn't take much effort to put it on either.

[islandbass]

The only time it will matter is if you are going to drop shot AND use the palomar knot.  Hold the hook with the point facing skyward and feed the line through the hook eye from sky to ground. 

 

Its converse is also true, so you could hold the hook facing toward the earth and feed the line through the eye from ground to sky.

 

If not, your hook will be pointing downward.

[Deleted account]

4 hours ago, looking45 said:

I'm sure I'm missing something but seeing that you put the hook thru the bait, what purpose do the O rings serve? Couldn't you fish the bait without the O rings?

If you are made of money...

[flyfisher]

20 minutes ago, BassWhole! said:

If you are made of money...

5" senkos cost about .75 a piece and a pack will run you around 7.50.  That isn't that much considering most people probably spent that much in gas getting to and from the water.  

I don't mind getting baits chewed up as long as it means i am catching fish.  

[moguy1973]

12 hours ago, flyfisher said:

5" senkos cost about .75 a piece and a pack will run you around 7.50.  That isn't that much considering most people probably spent that much in gas getting to and from the water.  

I don't mind getting baits chewed up as long as it means i am catching fish.  

But when you can change that 10 pack of senkos that may catch 10-12 fish into a pack of 10 senkos that will catch 30-40 fish it makes sense to get a pack of $1/100 hair bands to wrap around the worm.  I typically can get at least 4-5 fish off one senko using a hair band, sometimes more if I'm using the weedless hook as the weedguard helps to keep the worm from sliding up the line which is typically what cuts my worm in half.