Straight shank vs. wide gaps

[5bass]

Anybody else get better hookups with the straight shank rather than the wide gap?I have been fishing the wide gaps pretty much exclusively for the previous 2 seasons but this past year,mid-way through,I swithced back to the straight shanks,which I've used all my life and my hooking ratio went up immediately.

I still use wide gaps on flukes and spider jigs(hula grubs) but with worms and other thin plastics,the straight shank in my opinion is better.

[basser89]

I'm not a huge plastics guy but the plastics I have the most confidence in are tubes, creature baits and Senkos so wide gap hooks and circle hooks are my mainstay for those. I may have to pick up some straight shank hooks to see if that helps my wormin success! Darn, now I'll have to make a trip to BPS! Thanks 5BL! LOL

[Catt]

I've used straight shank hooks with plastics for 35+ years; my hook ratio is some where above 90%.

My favorites are Mustad Denny Brauer Flipping Hooks

If you do what you've always done, you'll get what you always got

[CJ]

I agree.I only use wide gap hooks on tubes,toads,flukes,etc.I fish big worms with a 5/0 worm hook.I get better hookups and I believe,less lost fish with straight hooks.

[WhiteMike1018]

FibeBass, I was introduced to the straight shank as a kid and i still use them to this day. I like the hookup ratio with them a lot. Although i only had picked up some ewgs this year because of a new craze of creature baits etc, such as the fat ika, i havent got to use them pretty much yet. But this spring will definately prove which one i like more.

[roadwarrior]

I have been using EWG hooks for nearly ten years without any problems. I think I'll stick with them.

[Matt Fly]

Rarely do I use special hooks.        I have always used straight shanks for most plastics.

If it isn't broke, why try fixing it.        I like Owners.

Matt.

[flechero]

I like the owner offset wide gaps.  #5102/5302  the reason for me is that this particular hook has IMO the perfect blend of qualities from an offset and a straight shank.  They hold plastice like an offset but have the point way above the line of the eye, like a straight shank.  Look at the pic and see what I mean.  Then picture something like a gammy EWG and the line of the eye is about even with the line of the point.  Back in the 80's when I went to these owner hooks, I saw an immediate increase in my hookups, without an increase in snags (which I saw with a straight shank).

And they are sharp and have a tough point.

[earthworm77]

IMHO the straight shank only excels when you need a keel on the worm like with a split shot rig or maybe a Carolina rig other than those EWG all the way.

[MALTESE FALCON]

I ONLY USE GAMAKATSU EWG'S AND I'VE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH HOOK-UPS.

FALCON

[RoLo]

When I began worm fishing in the 50s, I used long straight-shank Eagle Claw hooks,

then I moved up to Tru-Turn hooks (cam-action) and finally to the Gamakatsu Z-bend hooks.

However, when I fished straight-shank hooks and tru-turn hooks I was also using monofilament line,

an elastic band that needs all the help it can get. Today I use PowerPro braid so the tables are turned.

With braided line (if I should be so bold), I believe you can drive home a bent rusty nail

My hook choice is largely dependent on DROP RATE, and changing the hook also changes the descent speed of the worm!!!

For instance, I use an unweighted plastic worm that produces "no" tail-action on the fall with a 3/0 Gamakatsu EWG standard wire,

but produces "fair" tail-action with a 4/0 Super Line (heavy wire) and "excellent" tail shimmy on the drop with a 5/0 Super Line hook.

With braided line, I have no problem driving the point of a 5/0 super line hook, beyond the barb.

One For The Road

The hook-point of the Gamakatsu Z-bend lies directly in the "line-of-pull" (line-eye and hook-point are in alignment).

With most straight-shank hooks though, the hook-point is pointing several degrees over the top of the line eye,

which tends to drag a "slot" rather than perforate a "hole".

Roger

[senile1]

I haven't had any problems with EWG hooks and hooking up with fish.  

[Guest the_muddy_man]

I just started using Wide Gaps on my Senko knock offs on Roadwarriors suggetion and although this was my first eason using them I did great but I have nothing to compare it to

I use different gauge wired traight shanks with Manns Jelly Worms and Zoom Tricks b/c the different wires help control the sinking rate and the wiggle. I have tried the wide gaps with these baits but I like the straight shank T rigs better for these Probablly b/c I have fished them sucessfully for so long

[jdw174]

When I'm pitching soft plastics, a big, straight-shanked Owner is the only one I'll use.  No problem with hookups.  

[Siebert Outdoors]

I have been using EWG hooks for nearly ten years without any problems. I think I'll stick with them.

same here, no problems that are hook related.

[Vyron]

I m bored 2 change hooks all the time, I use EWGs only with no problems.

[5bass]

Looks like its 50-50 so far,straights took off fast,then the WG's caught up in the second turn.

[Randall]

Each hook has its place. I use Owner Rig'n hook in thick plastics and horizonal hooksets like on a Carolina rig or splitshot. If you are seting the hook on a fish at more of an angle like when flipping or in deep water under the boat then I use the straight shank hook because it will hook more fish at that angle. The offset hook will blow the mouth of the fish open and cause a miss. I said this in an earlier post and someone sent me an email telling me to look at page 78 and 79 in KVD's book since most still insisted that the off-set hook doesn't cause a problem. KVD, Larry Nixon, Denny Brauer and a bunch more guys I have heard say this before who have made millions agree with this. ;)Quotes from  KVD book Secrects of a Champion:

Perhaps the most important trick I learned about worm fishing came from Larry Nixon, arguably the best worm fisherman in America. Larry says you will catch more fish with a straight shank hook than you will an off-set hook design, with the later being more popular among weekend anglers.

I've found that when a bass bites down on an offset hook and you jerk, the offset design can actually blow the fishes mouth open.

[The_Natural]

Straight shanks have a superior hook angle when compared to EWG's or offset round bends, which equates to a better hook up ratio.   In KVD's newest book, he said he used offset round bend hooks for worm fishing until he worm fished with the godfather of the worm,  Larry Nixon.  He said Nixon instructed him to use a straight shank, and KVD expressed that his hook up ratio "dramatically improved".  With the advent of the wide gap straight shank, you can get away with using a straight shank hook with some of the thicker baits as well.  I will use a straight shank as KVD says "anytime I can get away with it", but straight shank hooks are generally longer than EWG's of the same size, so some baits just aren't compatible.  I still use EWG's on tubes, speed craws, brush hogs, GYCB 8" grubs...baits that are too short or too thick for justifying a straight shank.  KVD also shared that straight shank hooks are not as weedless, and recommends an offset round bend hook versus an EWG when fishing carolina rigs.  Kevin also stated that the offset round bend hook "props you bait up off the bottom a little" when used on a carolina rig, which he believes provides better action and aids in bass inhaling your bait.   I love the experimentation aspect of our hobby, and you may find the straight shank will help you stick more bass.

[KU_Bassmaster.]

I did a similar experiment as 5BL. My hook up ratio wasn't bad with EWG, but I started reading the straight shank hook was the way to go when possible. My results were good, but really not significantly better. However, I will start using straight shank hooks whenever possible.