I'm tired if losing fish with offset hooks...

[islandbass]

When possible, I go straight shank vs offset. It just seems to give me not only more bites but a higher percentage on hook ups.

 

This is for most senko type lures. I do make an exception with brush hog type baits. I might use an offset including the ewg. I kind of like how the gap of the hook “guides” the hog like that thing on the bottom of a boat. 

[Darth-Baiter]

I don’t fish a lot of elastics. I haven’t in months.  

[scaleface]

11 hours ago, RRocket said:

Anyone else do the side skin? 

I go through the middle of a Dinger until  a hole  gets ripped    I then side skin . The problem I have with that is extreme line twist . After a few cast I  switch to the other side to untwist it.

[Mobasser]

I like the Roboworm straight shank rebarb hooks. I mostly use size 2/0. They are light wire, super sharp and easy to get a good hook set.

[TOXIC]

Another tip for keeping your Senko from ripping or scrunching on the ewg offset shank hooks is to make absolutely sure the bait is hanging perfectly straight and I mean perfectly.  Major tip #2 in my seminars.  If you don’t, in addition to the bait spinning and introducing a lot of line twist, when you get a bite the extra plastic will tear either on the hook bend or the hook eye. 

[huZZah]

I feel the need to also point out it could be how you fish. I don’t mean user error.   Some people “expect” or “want” more from their baits.  Or the cast may have a lot of whip and it exacerbates issues with the rig or weaknesses.  Or just don’t rig it perfectly every time. 
 

I mean like my son will drag his worm through razor wire followed by a mine field, get hung on spike traps, with barracudas ripping at before a slow drag through molten lava, and then come out with a fish and his bait barely left hanging by a thread.  
 

He thinks that’s cause the bait is designed for it and everyone is that dang lucky.  Boy rarely loses one even when it’s got barely anything holding it to the hook. 
 

I don’t care which hooks you use, I just kind of went though it myself and realized it was nearly so much the hook as how I was fishing he bait. Cause I had the same issue trying all different hooks. Now I’m back to offset and typically ewg. I just like how I can handle the bait with them.  And for vanity, I like how they look rigged…

[FishTank]

I tried multiple hooks over the years and my default answer usually is a Gamakatsu 4/0 EWG. Also, I don't recall really ever loosing fish on it but I can see where it has the potential. I have since switched to the Ryugi Infini. I order them from a JDM site anytime place an order. They are far cheaper and better made for senkos, in my opinion, than the Gamakatsu's. I do like the Gamakatsu G-Finesse hooks but not for the price compared to the Ryugi's . 

 

Below for comparison is what I use on a regular basis (there are others not pictured) in a 4/0 hook but not all for the same soft plastics (some I do swap around with more baits so this is just a general guideline).

 

 

Ryugi Infini -Senkos and creature baits

Owner Jungle Wide - General Purpose HD hook, Ikas, Cover Scat

Owner Offset Worm Wide Gap - Curly Tail Worms, Lizards

Gamakatsu EWG - Senkos (still), General Soft Plastic

Owner Cover Shot - Roboworms, Smaller Curly Tail Worms, Flat worms, Worms I skin hook

Owner G-Finesse - Also a good general purpose worm hook (lighter wire)

 

Here is just my opinion on why I use what for a Senko. The pics below show the Infini, the Cover Shot, and Offset Wide Gap. Notice the difference in the gap when the bait is bunched down. I want as much gap as possible to penetrate without giving the fish an opportunity to jump off, which is why I choose the Infini over the others. Also for me, the Jungle has too much gap, the Gamakatsu EWG has too small of a gap between the eye and the point and the eye bend is turned down, the G-finesse is too expensive, the Cover Shot regular and HD for me do not pull through as easy, and the Offset just doesn't hook up as well. Of course I say all this but all will catch fish on a Senko. It's just comes down to what you have the most confidence in. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[TnRiver46]

On 7/23/2023 at 5:30 AM, Darth-Baiter said:

I don’t fish a lot of elastics. I haven’t in months.  

I never use elaztech 

 

[Catt]

@FishTank Some fuel for thought 

 

The straight shank & the offset are not round bend hooks. That style hook has less gap than a round bend, both are to small for a Senko.

 

I don't pick hook sizes based on the length of the plastic but rather the thickness of the plastic. 

 

in most cases a straight shank hooks allows the plastic to slide up the line keeping that weight away from the hook. 

 

Look at the gap size of the Mustad hook.

3/0

Wire dia. .052 in

Gap 17 mm 

 

4/0

Wire dia .056in

Gap 18.7 mm 

 

5/0

Wire dia 0.06in 

Gap 20.4 mm

 

9 hours ago, FishTank said:

It's just comes down to what you have the most confidence in.

 

 

[scaleface]

Cover shot was mentioned several times, I'll look for that one 

[Catt]

They're a good quality hook, the issue I found with them is the little fiber bait keeper over time & number of fish caught flexes outward.  This allows it to catch grass, rendering it useless in any type vegetation. 

[txchaser]

Owner makes a specific hook for 'light hook on a stick bait'. I like the 3/0 for a 5" senko. 

 

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Owner_Twistlock_Light_Hook/descpage-OTLL.html

"Designed by bass fishing professional and world-famous lure designer, Gary Yamamoto, the Owner TwistLock Light Hook was created for rigging Senko-style baits and other thinner profile soft plastics. A lighter version of Owner's TwistLock Bass Hook, " blah blah