Rigging Trick Worms

[B-Gee]

Today I was looking through some older posts where folks were asking about what kind of hooks to use for Texas rigging Zoom Trick Worms. I was surprised to see that there were several recommendations for straight shank hooks instead of the skipgap hooks with the bend up near the eye. I would think that the worm would slide down the shank if there wasn’t a bend near the eye to hold it in place. I would appreciate it if anyone who uses straight shank hooks for Trick Worms or similar baits could explain if there are some tricks they use to keep the worm from sliding down.

[BrianMDTX]

I use 3/0 round offset worm hooks. The worm only slides down when I get a good strike!

[Holetail]

2 hours ago, BrianMDTX said:

I use 3/0 round offset worm hooks. The worm only slides down when I get a good strike!

Yep, this…

[Log Catcher]

I also use the Gamma offset round bend hooks. I usually go with a 4/0 size. Trick Worms aren't thick enough to require an EWG hook.

[Kenny Yi]

those straight shank hooks probably have some plastic keeper on them. 

 

I don't usually Texas rig my trick worms (prefer to Neko rig), but I would imagine a 3/0 or 4/0 round bend hook would work. 

 

I think @Glenn had a "trick" for keeping stickbaits on the shank; the worm is Texas rigged where it slides over the eye of the hook, then use a thick mono to go in the plastic-eye-plastic, then trim the ends. 

[PressuredFishing]

9 hours ago, Robert C. Gates said:

Today I was looking through some older posts where folks were asking about what kind of hooks to use for Texas rigging Zoom Trick Worms. I was surprised to see that there were several recommendations for straight shank hooks instead of the skipgap hooks with the bend up near the eye. I would think that the worm would slide down the shank if there wasn’t a bend near the eye to hold it in place. I would appreciate it if anyone who uses straight shank hooks for Trick Worms or similar baits could explain if there are some tricks they use to keep the worm from sliding down.

I use whatever I have, grass ill fish some worm hook, and open water ill fish a small mosquito hook. I also have been loving the 1/0 owner twist lock for smaller 5inch plastic trick worms, prevents it from sliding but not good on dropshot, only weightless or splitshot r somthing like that

[Bluebasser86]

I like the straight shank, Owner Cover Shot to be specific. They have a plastic keeper that keeps the worm from sliding down the hook shank. Some will have little metal barbs, other's have mono loops, but plastic barbs are the main bait keeper on straight shank hooks. 

[Catt]

I throw almost all plastics on straight shank hooks even a Senko.

 

For Trick Worms it's a Mustad Grip-Pin Edge Finesse Hook or Damiki Viper Straight Shank Hook.

 

If rigged properly you shouldn't have an issue with straight shank hooks. When you reinsert the hook point into the worm be sure not to pull down any on the plastic. Between the hook eye & the bend of the hook there should be a small amount of slack. 

[NoShoes]

I Texas rig on gama 3/0 EWG and 1/4 oz sinker. Never had any trouble with hook up ratio. 

[B-Gee]

I guess the only straight shank, non offset hooks recommended here for Trick Worms are those that have a gripper or keeper built in like the Owner Twist Lock or Cover Shot hooks or Mustad Grip-Pin Edge hooks.

[galyonj]

2 minutes ago, Robert C. Gates said:

I guess the only straight shank, non offset hooks recommended here for Trick Worms are those that have a gripper or keeper built in like the Owner Twist Lock or Cover Shot hooks or Mustad Grip-Pin Edge hooks.

 

One other useful trick for rigging on a straight shank hook (or any other shape hook, really, if one is terribly worried about the worm sliding or being pulled down the hook) is to pull the head of the worm up past the eye of the hook a little bit, then running a piece of heavy-ish mono through the head of the worm and the eye of the hook.

 

Clip the mono flush with the soft plastic, and you've got yourself a worm that's not gonna go anywhere without a fight.

[Glenn]

12 hours ago, Kenny Yi said:

I think @Glenn had a "trick" for keeping stickbaits on the shank; the worm is Texas rigged where it slides over the eye of the hook, then use a thick mono to go in the plastic-eye-plastic, then trim the ends. 

 

Yup! Sure do! Here's a quick video that shows how to do it:

 

 

[river-rat]

 

I try to always use a straight shank hook for plastics. Like CATT I mainly use the Mustad Grip - Pin hook for most applications.

 

About the only thing I use a wide gap hook for is when I'm using a flipping tube or a standard Brush Hog. For those I like the Mustad Big Mouth Tube Hook.

[ironbjorn]

2-5/0 EWG for everything. I have zero problems with them despite the claims of poor hookups.