Plastics - Hooks and Weights?

[IL_Bassman]

All right, I need some help on my terminal tackle. I normally fish all of my plastics on 2/0 and 3/0 Gammy EWG hooks and 1/8 oz bullet weights. This is because I'm not very good when it comes to hooks and weights.  I would like to know what types and sizes of hooks you use on your plastics.  Also I would like to if you fish them weightless or with a weight.  If you do fish them with a weight what size?  I realize everyone's answers may differ, but I need all the help I can get!  I will list the plastics I use most often use and everyone can add more if they want.

7" Ribbontail Worm

5" Senko

6" Senko

6" Lizard

6" Bungee Worm

4" Tubes

4" Frog

4.5 " Bush Hog (brush hog)

6" Bush Hog (brush hog)

5" Double Tail Grub

4" Craw

[IL_Bassman]

Forgot to put that I mostly fish Texas Rigged if that helps.

Thanks!

[Jig Man]

I don't get too precise with Trigged baits.  I either use a 3/0 or 4/0 depending on how I like the look of them on the bait.

[skillet]

 I probably use smaller hooks. IMHO you could get by with 2/0 or 3/0 EWG. With worms you may not even need EWG. The plastics you mentioned, I would try to stay with 1/8 to 3/16. That is unless you're fishing deep water. Go a little heavier, then, to get the bait down faster...

                                      As Ever,

                                       skillet

BTW when you go to the reg. Brush Hog or something that size, go up to a 4/0 hook . Hope this helped!

[Just_Old_Fisherman]

I generally use 3/0 hooks for soft plastics unless they are very small or very bulky.  I also like the Gamakatsu 3/0 Skip Gap hook, holds the bait well without tearing it up as bad as some offset hooks.  

As far as weights, I will use 1/4 oz down to about 10' and 3/8 oz deeper than that.  Unless I am fishing heavy grass and I may up it to 1/2 to 1 oz weight.  On occasion I will fish senko's weightless or with above weights depending on depth of fish and what they are wanting.  

I wacky rig at times using 1/4 or 3/8 oz weights and 3/0 Gamakatsu Finesse Wide Gap hook.  I also tie my own weedguard on these since I fish heavy salt cedar and the factory weedguard is worthless in the heavy brush.  I wacky Zoom Finesse & Trick worms and use o-rings I get a Lowes or Home Depot in the plumbing dept.  O-rings make the worms last longer.

[Raul]

Hook size selection isn 't that hard, use the biggest hook you can get away with depending upon the length and shape of the worm, 3/0 hooks fit most baits from 4 - 8 inches.

Worm weight selection varies depending upon several factors:

1.- Depth you pretend to fish.

2.- Wind speed.

3.- Rate of fall you wish to present.

I fish anywhere between a 1/16 oz up to 1 ounce. The most common weights I fish with most of the time are 1/8 th - 1/4 oz.

[garry77]

I fish a 3/0 or 4/0 on most of the plastic you mentioned.On the frogs I'll use a 5/0 usually the zoom horny toad hook or something similar.

I fish a lot of things weightless,senkos,trick worms,etc.

I'll normally use a 1/16 to 1/8 oz. weight on a ribbontail worm.Sometimes 1/4 or 3/8 depending on wind,current,water depth etc.

[BassFishingMachine]

1. 7" Ribbontail Worm: 3/0 EWG

2. 5" Senko: 3/0 EWG

3. 6" Senko: (Never used them, but I'd guess a 5/0)

4. 6" Lizard: 3/0 EWG

5. 6" Bungee Worm: (Never used them, not going to give a opinion)

6. 4" Tubes: 3/0 Tube Hook or 3/0 EWG

7. 4" Frog (Alot of guys use 5/0 EWG with them, but I prefer a 4/0 EWG)

8. 4.5 Baby Brush Hog: 2/0 EWG

9. 5" Double Tail Grub: (never used, I'd guess a 3/0 EWG)

10. 4" Craw: 2/0-3/0 EWG depending on thickness

On bulkier baits I prefer larger hooks, I'll often rig a GYCB Kreature with a size 4/0 when flipping. If I get a few missed strikes, and im pretty sure its not from setting the hook too early, I'll often upsize the hook by 1. But remember you can't always go by the length of the bait to determine the appropriate size of the hook to use, bulkyness is just as big a factor to take into consideration as length and the Fat Ika is a prime example of that.

[Catt]

Senko: don't fish em

Bungee worm: don't fish em

Tubes: don't fish em

7" Ribbontail Worm, 6" Lizard, 6" Bush Hog: 3/0 straight shank hook

4.5 " Baby Bush Hog & 4" Craw: 2/0 straight shank hook

5" Double Tail Grub; Jig Trailer

Stanley Ribbit Frog: 5/0 or 6/0 offset

Weights: 3/16 if the wind is under 10 mph, ¼ if the wind is over 10 mph