Worm hooks through the years

[Mobasser]

My brother and I started out with Eagle Claw #95 worm hooks, way back in the early 80s. They were good, but you had to keep them sharp, and, they only came in one thickness.                                                     We missed fish with them, mainly because the rods we had weren't stiff enough, and couldn't drive these heavy hooks into a bass.                                                            Over the years, I've tried several different hooks, Tru Turn, Mr. Twister, and various Eagle Claw.                                                            These days, younger guys have got it made regarding hooks. With the hooks we have now, you can tailor your hook size and thickness perfectly, and the hooks come super sharp right out of the package.                             I'm sure it's helped novice anglers land more bass. We could argue about the biggest innovations in bass fishing for days on end, but I'll say the improvements in hooks have to be near the top of the list.                         The last several years, I've come full circle, and have gone back to straight shank worm hooks for t rigs. I believe the straight shank hooks help me land more fish. But it's all personal preference for us. It's hard to buy a bad hook these days, and we sure can't blame missing fish on the hooks were using.                                                           What's your choice for a t rig hook?

[Eric 26]

I used Eagle Claw lazer sharp z-bend worm hooks this past season and I was pretty happy with them.

[Phil77]

Gamakatsu 3/0 for creatures/7 inch worms, 4 or 5/0 for senkos. Been slim pickings to find locally since covid so I've had to use eagle claw which aren't bad but have more confidence in the gama's.

Forgot to mention EWG style.

[Jmurphy87]

Owner offset round bend with cps, preferably light wire, unless I am fishing heavier cover. Although I have never bent one of the light wire ones out yet, I have used braid and everything. Definitely my favorite brand by far.

[LrgmouthShad]

1 hour ago, Mobasser said:

hooks come super sharp right out of the package.                             I'm sure it's helped novice anglers land more bass

Agree. And this novice, me, still doesn’t know what he wants in t-rig hook

[WRB]

From the 60’s Basically 2 worm hook mfrs before the mid 80’s were Eagle Claw and Mustad O’Shanesse or sprout bend straight shank barbed and off set bend bronze. 

Then along came Daiichi, Gamakatsu and Owner with extremely sharp heat treated valaduim black nickel round bend straight barbed shank and off set bend worm hooks....game changers, no more need to sharpen every hook out of the box.

Both Eagle Claw and Mustad had to up grade the products to be completive in the bass worm hooks. Eagle Claw came out with Laser points and Tokar, Mustad introduced Ultra points, both in black nickel round, off set and EWG hooks. 

We all benefited from the Japanese hook innovation.

VMC along with Mustad was the off the shelf treble hook lure supplier back in the day. Treble hooks also benefited from competition.

Tom

 

[PhishLI]

3 hours ago, Mobasser said:

What's your choice for a t rig hook?

Owner CPS Twistlock, Twistlock Light, and Twistlock Weighted. Far less grief with tear out. GY Senkos, as well as most other plastics, last far longer rigged on these hooks compared to standard types.

[papajoe222]

For me, it depends on the application. I use straight shank hooks a lot more now, both light and heavy gauge. EWG and round bend worm hooks still have a place, but other than Flukes (round bend) and tubes (EWG), the majority of time I find myself reaching for a straight shank with some type of keeper under the line tie.

[BrianMDTX]

I pretty much use Gammy 3/0 EWG hooks. They are super sharp. At first, my hookups were not as good as with a standard offset hook, but with better rods and a learning curve it’s a rarity to miss a hookset on a good bite. 

[bowhunter63]

Really like Owner Twist locks 

[Boomstick]

I have been using the Owner Wide Gap Plus hooks this year. @A-Jay got me hooked on them.

[ironbjorn]

Gammy EWG 2/0-5/0 for basically everything regardless of thickness. I don't have a problem missing fish like some people claim they do with EWG hooks.

[DitchPanda]

For worm hooks the past several years I've been using the ike approved vmc worm hooks in regular and heavy wire...sizes from 2 to 5\0. What straight shanks you like for worm fishing? What the advantage?

[PressuredFishing]

7 hours ago, Mobasser said:

My brother and I started out with Eagle Claw #95 worm hooks, way back in the early 80s. They were good, but you had to keep them sharp, and, they only came in one thickness.                                                     We missed fish with them, mainly because the rods we had weren't stiff enough, and couldn't drive these heavy hooks into a bass.                                                            Over the years, I've tried several different hooks, Tru Turn, Mr. Twister, and various Eagle Claw.                                                            These days, younger guys have got it made regarding hooks. With the hooks we have now, you can tailor your hook size and thickness perfectly, and the hooks come super sharp right out of the package.                             I'm sure it's helped novice anglers land more bass. We could argue about the biggest innovations in bass fishing for days on end, but I'll say the improvements in hooks have to be near the top of the list.                         The last several years, I've come full circle, and have gone back to straight shank worm hooks for t rigs. I believe the straight shank hooks help me land more fish. But it's all personal preference for us. It's hard to buy a bad hook these days, and we sure can't blame missing fish on the hooks were using.                                                           What's your choice for a t rig hook?

Any 3/0 ewg brand, they work great. 

[Mobasser]

48 minutes ago, DitchPanda said:

For worm hooks the past several years I've been using the ike approved vmc worm hooks in regular and heavy wire...sizes from 2 to 5\0. What straight shanks you like for worm fishing? What the advantage?

I mostly always use Gamma or Mustad. I only use EWG for thick fat plastics but not too much. Not sure if there's really an advantage to straight shank hooks for everyone, but I seem to hook more fish with them.

[T-Billy]

Straight shank, offset worm, or 30 degree EWG with a screw lock. Bait and cover dictate which one.

[Columbia Craw]

I can relate. The J95 offset round bend was all we had. The evolution of hooks is amazing. There really are no bad hooks.  The Owner with cutting point is a great hook as is the Gammi EWG Superline.  I started experimenting with the G-Finesse Hybrid for the slender baits and that appears to be an awesome hook.  We anglers have some incredible options for sure.

[Aaron_H]

Traditionally I have only used 3/0 and 50/ Gamakatsu Superline EWGs for weightless plastics and Texas rigs, a few years ago I switched over to the same hooks from H2O Xpress and have not had a single bad experience with them.

 

I've used straight shank flipping hooks (Trokar TK130) as well and I do like it, though the Trokar point is a bit overkill and usually rips larger holes in the fish's mouth, so I'll probably experiment with Gamakatsu's offering. The molded hook keepers on them are a godsend, in my opinion.

[Log Catcher]

It depends on the bait and the situation. It will be Gamakatsu hook. Either an EWG or an offset shank round bend. I have both types in several sizes. I still have some old Tru Turn hooks from years ago I need to donate to the trash as I will never use them again.

[papajoe222]

5 hours ago, DitchPanda said:

What straight shanks you like for worm fishing? What the advantage?

I really like TroKar finesse worm hooks. The advantage for me is a confidence thing as I started fishing with straight shank hooks back in the 70's and used them for years.  There is something to be said for the extra bite they have over EWG and even most offset worm hooks.

[Catt]

After playing around with Japanese hooks I returned home to the old school Mustad straight shank round bend,  formally the Denny Brauer Flipping Hook.

 

These hooks are not finesse or punch hooks, they're in between the two. The an additional length which puts the point farther back in the worm. 

 

With only barb/slices to hold the plastic some will complain they have an issue keeping they plastic in place...I don't.

 

[Captain Phil]

In the early days of plastic worm fishing, hook setting was a huge issue.   The hooks we had were horrible dull things with no point.  Even if you sharpened them, they would go dull in a heartbeat. This required pool cue stiff rods and Olympic style hook sets.  We were lucky if we landed two thirds of our fish.  I jerked the rod so hard on my hook sets I fell out of the boat twice.  I use Gamakatsu or Owner EWG 3/0-5/0 hooks for worm, fluke and Senko fishing.  For Flipping, I prefer round bend hooks. My favorite is Owner 5103-131 in 3/0 or 4/0.  These hooks will hook a fish by it's weight alone. 

[OkobojiEagle]

Hook material & coatings have improved all hooks...

 

oe

[FishTank]

I use EWG's for anything fat, senkos, creatures, ect. and offset shank hooks for anything skiny, ribbon tail worms and finesse.  I don't tend to like straight shank hooks.  I do use them on occasion but mainly the heavier wire versions for flipping and pitching. 

 

One of my new favorites is the Gamakatsu hybrid G-finesse.  It has super sharp barb and the coating is really slick.  Down side, they aren't worth the cost.

 

 

[J Francho]

I noticed some issues with penetration with some EWG style hooks.  I really think the geometry in the relationship between the point and the line tie, and the angle of the hook point during the pull plays a big part.  An offset worm hook or a hook like the one @Catt posted puts that point in a high success hook up location.  Some EWG hooks do not.  Others however, do.  Owner Rig'n Hooks and Wide Gap Plus are two I have great success with.   As always, you gotta have balance in your system between line break strength, hook size and diameter, power of the rod, and hook set style.  I'm going to assume were sticking to black bass species here, but the type of game can also have a factor as well.

 

All that rambling aside, I agree: hooks are better now.  There's so many choices though, it can be confusing for the beginner.  That's what this site is here for.