Best hook for soft plastics

[livemusic]

Haven't bass fished as much last couple of years and can't recall a lot of what I came to glean from this forum, which is a great resource. I seem to recall coming to the conclusion, from comments on here and also my own experience, that a straight shaft hook gives a better hookset than an Extra Wide Gap (EWG) hook. I can't stand missing strikes, lol. I mean for Texas rig (lots of brush/logs here) for plastic worm, super fluke, creature baits. I would think that the EWG is designed, specifically, for being the ultimate soft plastic hook but the above is what I recall. What say you? Maybe I can also luck up and find an old thread.

 

Lastly, do you guys sharpen your hooks? Good hooks come new awfully sharp, just curious.

[Catt]

3 minutes ago, livemusic said:

I would think that the EWG is designed, specifically, for being the ultimate soft plastic hook

 

Yeah! No!

 

EWG is my last choice in hooks

[Spankey]

Though I use them on certain baits because I think they match the bait to be better seedless, and how I perceive the way a bass strikes it, and majority of these plastics are thicker. I do use more often and feel a straight shank worm hook works better for me in most applications. My worm fishing is done with all straight shank hooks or drop shot hooks. 

[jbrew73]

No ewg hooks for me. 

 

[galyonj]

27 minutes ago, livemusic said:

Lastly, do you guys sharpen your hooks? Good hooks come new awfully sharp, just curious.

 

In my (admittedly limited) experience, good hooks don't generally need sharpening out of the pack, but with use and misadventure the cutting edges on even the best hooks will need touched up from time to time.

[BrianMDTX]

Standard-sized plastics I use a round offset hook. Normally a 3/0. Fattter plastics I’ll use a EWG. 

 

Question: does anyone make an offset EWG hook? If not, why? 

[Catt]

19 minutes ago, BrianMDTX said:

Question: does anyone make an offset EWG hook?

 

Not a EWG but Mustad's Grip-Pin Big Bite Hook has an extra deep, wide round bend. 

 

The metal Grip-Pin is by far the best keeper on the market.

[BrianMDTX]

Intriguing. But from what I’ve seen, every EWG point is in line with the eye. Many anglers complain of poorer hooksets with EWG’s over round offset hooks. Ergo, one would think a hook maker would offer an offset EWG to give one a bigger gap and a better hookset. 

 

Thoughts?

[Deleted account]

1 hour ago, jbrew73 said:

No ewg hooks for me. 

 

jbrew 2024!

[Ski]

Depends on what thickness plastic you throw and what  technique. I use Gamakatsu hooks. Round bend worm hooks for lizards and worms, EWG when using creature baits and flipping hooks when pitching heavy cover.

[bulldog1935]

Inshore, I fish this neutral-density TSL Grasswalker ad infinitude.  On the expanse shallow flats, it finds the zone, right on top of the grass, and dog-walks with any retrieve.  

Also weedless, and fishes right through the grass.  

I've tried Owner, VMC, and stuck with Trokar 140.  

My buddy Tobin designed this lure after 1000 prototypes, and per his recommendation, I bend every hook so the point aims at the eye.  

On his website, some guys are also reporting bass catches, especially using weighted swimbait hooks.  

 

[Deleted account]

1 hour ago, BrianMDTX said:

Intriguing. But from what I’ve seen, every EWG point is in line with the eye. Many anglers complain of poorer hooksets with EWG’s over round offset hooks. Ergo, one would think a hook maker would offer an offset EWG to give one a bigger gap and a better hookset. 

 

Thoughts?

You would think. I bend an offset round bend hook to have a shorter shank and bigger bend. Essentially to what you are describing above. 

[Mr. Aquarium]

Senkos and worms I use a regular worm hook, but I love EWG for flukes, creatures and craws.  

[BrianMDTX]

18 minutes ago, BassWhole! said:

You would think. I bend an offset round bend hook to have a shorter shank and bigger bend. Essentially to what you are describing above. 

I may try that. I also used to have some worm hooks where the point was not parallel to the shank (slightly offset to the side). I think they may have been Eagle Claw hooks. They always had a positive hookset. 

[RDB]

Some refer to offset as the z-bend below the eye.  Others refer to the angle of the hook point relative to the shank below the eye.  Typically I think most manufacturers use offset to refer to the z-bend (I.e. many Gamakatsu EWG’s listed as offset).  You also see different EWG point angles...some in line with shank below the eye, some point inward, and some extend beyond.  Because point angles vary, I look at worm hooks as either straight shank or offset and styles as EWG, round bend, O’Shaughnessy, etc.

 

All have their place.  EWG work well if you have bulkier baits that can ball up in the throat.  Round bend for reasons stated above.  If you are just looking for the best hookup ratio, I don’t think anything can beat a straight shank flippin’ style hook with a bait keeper and tied with a Snell knot (critical).  They don’t have to be for just heavy cover as they make heavy wire, light wire, finesse, etc.  Because the point faces out and the hook kicks up on the set, hookup percentages are excellent.

[PhishLI]

Owner Twist Lock Light in both weighted and un-weighted. I tried these and I'm done looking. Great in every way. If you fish 5" and 6" GY senkos your bait will last much longer with this hook, especially if you're bombing them out. Same with 4"-5" flukes and lizards/brush hogs. The 6/0 3/32 oz weighted version is perfect for most slim bodied 4.5"-5" swimmers. The 5/0 3/32 oz is perfect for many 4" swimmers.

 

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Owner_Twistlock_Light_Hook/descpage-OTLL.html?from=gshop&gclid=Cj0KCQjwutaCBhDfARIsAJHWnHs8iO3ymTVUdbDG5emNK0bMkdWCkZFOpvHG8pQZ69IQqcwr9yKlRIQaAmM-EALw_wcB

[Ben77]

3 hours ago, PhishLI said:

Owner Twist Lock Light in both weighted and un-weighted. I tried these and I'm done looking. Great in every way. If you fish 5" and 6" GY senkos your bait will last much longer with this hook, especially if you're bombing them out. Same with 4"-5" flukes and lizards/brush hogs. The 6/0 3/32 oz weighted version is perfect for most slim bodied 4.5"-5" swimmers. The 5/0 3/32 oz is perfect for many 4" swimmers.

 

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Owner_Twistlock_Light_Hook/descpage-OTLL.html?from=gshop&gclid=Cj0KCQjwutaCBhDfARIsAJHWnHs8iO3ymTVUdbDG5emNK0bMkdWCkZFOpvHG8pQZ69IQqcwr9yKlRIQaAmM-EALw_wcB

These look great I might have to give them a try thanks!

[lo n slo]

i like a Gamakatsu 3.0 offset round bend for my texas rigging and use it exclusively. i also like some of the VMC stuff for drop shotting. my cousin throws a Gamakatsu 3.0 straight shank worm hook and nothing else...ever. he gets hung up a little more than i do but when he pins the bass, he’s got ‘em.

[N Florida Mike]

I mostly use EWG gamakatsu hooks, esp. for fishing super flukes and creature baits ,but also like the Daiichi offset wide gap hook for fishing plastic worms. Sometimes when Im low on money I go back to Eagle claw EWG , but they need extra sharpening, because they come out of the package dull.

[NorthernBasser]

11 hours ago, Ski said:

Round bend worm hooks for lizards and worms, EWG when using creature baits and flipping hooks when pitching heavy cover.

 

Same.

[GetFishorDieTryin]

On 3/20/2021 at 7:15 AM, livemusic said:

I would think that the EWG is designed, specifically, for being the ultimate soft plastic hook but the above is what I recall. What say you? Maybe I can also luck up and find an old thread.

 

Lastly, do you guys sharpen your hooks? Good hooks come new awfully sharp, just curious.

For me it comes down to the bait, where Im throwing it and what Im throwing it with.  EWGs are good for short stocky baits like tubes and cover craws.  The extra room in the belly of hook gives you a bigger bite then a straight shank when the bait slides down the hook.  You can also texpose an EWG, so theres very little plastic you have to punch through which can be important if your using lighter gear.  I think baits can last a little longer with EWGs since there isnt a keeper to blow out the core of the bait.

I like straight shanks for fishing around heavier cover.  The smaller gap can come through wood or grass with less resistance.  The point of the hook is also buried so you dont have to worry about catching grass.  When you snell a straight shank on a T rig the hookset causes the weight to slide down to the hook and kicks it out on an angle which gives you a really good set.  

Matt from TB likes EWGs for flippin, but Tim likes straight shanks for the same bait.  So it comes to personal preference really.

The only time I sharpen hooks is if I blunt or roll the point.  Its awfully hard to get a hook as sharp as it was when it was brand new,  but as long as that point bites into your finger nail and doesn't slide its sharp enough. 

[MGF]

I like round bend and straight shank hooks for some applications but I always put off making online orders...just don't like to do it. These days it's hard to find anything but ewg in stores so I've been using them for just about everything...without any trouble. I will say that I'm not doing any punching using really large weights.

[TriStateBassin106]

I only use EWGs for senkos and thicker baits. I personally prefer offset round bends... One of my favorite baits to throw a offset round bend is a baby brush hog by zoom. 

[WRB]

Visualize the line pulling the hook forward with the point even with the eye and covered with plastic. Now visualize the hook point being above the line tie pull forward. Which hook will stick the basses mouth easier? The hook point above the line tie.

EWG hook have a extra deep bend wire hanging below the soft plates when rigged. The big bend tends to cam over inside the closed bass mouth laying sideways and easy to pull out when the bass opens it’s mouth.

Tom

[Catt]

54 minutes ago, WRB said:

Now visualize the hook point being above the line tie pull forward. Which hook will stick the basses mouth easier?

 

Y'all want the same thing in a jig!