Best hook for wacky-rigged 5” Senko Worm

[B-Gee]

I've been fishing for Largemouth Bass with the wacky rigged Senko on #1 Gama Octopus Circle Hooks. I have no complaints about the effectiveness of this for hooking fish. It usually catches them in the jaw and very few are hooked deep. But, I find it very difficult to extract these hooks from the fish because of the tips which are bent over at nearly a 90-degree angle. Also, I can’t get the hooks out with my fingers and I have to use so much pressure with the pliers that I damage the fish.

 

I would appreciate any recommendations for a hook style and size to replace my Gama Octopus Circle Hooks. I want to be able to hook ‘em, but I’d like something easier to extract and not as hard on the fish.

[FishTank]

Gamakatsu wicked wacky weedless.  I have been using the 3/0 and 2/0.  They have worked great.  

 

https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/gamakatsu-wicked-wacky-hooks

[rtwvumtneer6]

Gamakatsu G-Finesse Stinger Wacky/Neko.

 

If you like a shorter shank and weed guard the Owner Weedless Wacky is good.  

 

 

[Ski]

[B-Gee]

4 minutes ago, rtwvumtneer6 said:

Gamakatsu G-Finesse Stinger Wacky/Neko.

 

If you like a shorter shank and weed guard the Owner Weedless Wacky is good.  

 

 

Thank you. What size would you recommend?

1 minute ago, Ski said:

Thanks very much. What size would you recommend?

[Ski]

3 minutes ago, Robert C. Gates said:

Thank you. What size would you recommend?

Thanks very much. What size would you recommend?

2/0

 

[B-Gee]

I forgot to mention that I use 0 rings with the Senko 5" worms. This might affect the choice of hook style and size.

[ErieCan]

I normally like Owner and Gama for most hooks, but the Berkley Fusion weedless wacky hook has been great. I use #1 or 1/0

[kdubracing]

25 minutes ago, ErieCan said:

I normally like Owner and Gama for most hooks, but the Berkley Fusion weedless wacky hook has been great. I use #1 or 1/0

This. I have some Owner and Gama for open hooks. I like the Owner better as I lose more fish on the Gama. I recently bought some Fusion weedless wacky jig heads when I want a bit of weight but don't want to Neko rig or want a little more weedless. I like them a lot also. All in 1/0 and I always use an o-ring.

[Fishes in trees]

I like the Falcon weedless wacky hooks in the 3/0 size.  I've had better luck with the weighted ones ( 1/16 or 3/32).  If you can find them, Strike King used to make some Lightning Strike Hooks.   They were 3/0 with a mouse trap style weedguard, and a longer hook shank.   They were marketed to be used with the pork-o - which gives you an idea of when they hit the market.   When I first became aware of senkos - 2000 or so, definitely by 2002 when I bought my Lowe, these were the only hook I could find that I liked to fish wacky senkos with an o-ring.

[WRB]

Owner weedless Jungle Wacky hook size 1.

Tom

[gim]

VMC Neko hook.  It has a longer shank and seems to always hook fish in the upper jaw.  Size 2 is ideal (not 2/0) but I have accidentally bought the wrong size before and still had success with them.

[NHBull]

^^^^^this

[Bubba 460]

 

There are some great suggestions that have been given, particularly on the weedless hooks for a wacky.  But it you don't want to spend $8 to $10 for 4 hooks and you don't really need weedless... 95% of the time I don't, then check this out.  Here is a hook that I have been using on 5" wacky rigs for over ten years with ZERO complaints. It's the "Eagle Claw size 4, # LO42". It is a slightly off-set hook, comes in steel or brass and you can get a pack of ONE HUNDRED for under $10 bucks. If I can save money and still get a great product, I'm down with that. 90% of the time the bass will be hooked in the top or side of the mouth if just one O ring is used.  I've never had one break or bend, Hook-up ratio is EXCELLENT.

[MGF]

4 hours ago, Ski said:

I have a perfect record with these hooks. I have NEVER hooked a fish without first cutting off the weed guard. It might be ok with an o-ring but when hooking straight through a stick bait there doesn't seem to be room for the weed guard to move out of the way....using a 1/0.

[Aaron_H]

I used to use 3/0 Owner Demon Perfect circle hooks, and landed several great fish on it (biggest went 8lb 7oz) but found that there were too many times where that circle hook wouldn't grab when it should have and missed some big fish as a result. Ended up switching to a 2/0 Gamakatsu Wide Gap Finesse hook and have had zero issues so far.

[BrianMDTX]

6 hours ago, Robert C. Gates said:

I've been fishing for Largemouth Bass with the wacky rigged Senko on #1 Gama Octopus Circle Hooks.

A 1/0 Gamakutsu octopus circle hook is my wacky rig hook. Unless I gut hook a bass (which is a rarity), I don’t have any issues removing the hook. And on the occasion I do, going through the gills normally gets the hook out and saves the bass. 

[BrianMDTX]

6 hours ago, Robert C. Gates said:

I've been fishing for Largemouth Bass with the wacky rigged Senko on #1 Gama Octopus Circle Hooks.

A 1/0 Gamakutsu octopus circle hook is my wacky rig hook. Unless I gut hook a bass (which is a rarity), I don’t have any issues removing the hook. And on the occasion I do, going through the gills normally gets the hook out and saves the bass. 

[rtwvumtneer6]

5 hours ago, Fishes in trees said:

I've had better luck with the weighted ones

In this scenario I add a bead and a 1/16 oz weight above the hook.  

 

7 hours ago, Robert C. Gates said:

Thank you. What size would you recommend?

#1 and 1/0 is what I use most often, depending on the worm and of I'm using an O ring.  For a standard 5" Senko that should be fine.  

[Catt]

VMC Ike Approved Weedless Neko Hook 

 

Don't know where y'all are fishing but I got weeds everywhere & the bass often swallow the whole thing.

 

Long shanked hook & pair of needle nose pliers problem solved.

[NHBull]

6 minutes ago, Catt said:

VMC Ike Approved Weedless Neko Hook 

 

Don't know where y'all are fishing but I got weeds everywhere & the bass often swallow the whole thing.

 

Long shanked hook & pair of needle nose pliers problem solved.

^^^. If I don't get a roof of the mouth set, I end up going through the gills to get it oit ?

[Ski]

20 hours ago, MGF said:

I have a perfect record with these hooks. I have NEVER hooked a fish without first cutting off the weed guard. It might be ok with an o-ring but when hooking straight through a stick bait there doesn't seem to be room for the weed guard to move out of the way....using a 1/0.

I need the weed guard, and ya have to have a larger hook throat vs the diameter of the bait. Thats why I use 2/0 and could even use 3/0 with a chubby stick bait.

 

[desmobob]

20 hours ago, MGF said:

I have a perfect record with these hooks. I have NEVER hooked a fish without first cutting off the weed guard. It might be ok with an o-ring but when hooking straight through a stick bait there doesn't seem to be room for the weed guard to move out of the way....using a 1/0.

They didn't work for me with an O-ring, either.  The usual problem was somewhat unusual to me... the fish would take the Senko, I'd fight them to, or almost to, the boat, then they'd come off at the end of the fight.  It happened too many times to be coincidence.

 

I use the Owner weedless wacky hooks now, but aren't really all that "weedless."

[JoePhish]

Trokar Neko Weedless hook

Size 2. 
I like the way the o-ring sits in the “v” of the hook.

[NorthernBasser]

Very happy with these. Usually size 1, sometimes 1/0.