setting hooks on wacky rigged senkos

[Gr8wall]

hey guys.  i was looking through the senko faq and didnt see a topic for this so maybe this can be added.  if not, could someone point me in the direction oh which topic it might be found under?  

Basically i am wacky rigging a senko using an o-ring and a gamakatsu finnese w.g. weedless hook (the largest one you can get).  i was practicing with this rig and felt a couple fish take the bait.  upon setting the hook, i reel it in only to find the senko gone, o-ring intact, and no fish.

What would you guys do?  after sensing the fish took the bait wait a tad bit so it could take the bait in more?  try to cross its eyes on a killer hook set?  put pressure on the hook and reel it in?  

I sarted thinking about it and also questioned if the size of the hook and the way it is parallel with the worm would impede the hook set.  what do you guys think?  Thanks.  

[basser89]

Hey Gr8wall,

I use the gammy finnese wide gap hooks too (although mine are not the weedless version). When I feel a fish hit, I move the rod in the opposite direction the fish is going and start reeling. The fish will hook itself. It took me about a half a day to get this drilled into my thick head! I was trying to cross their eyes too and was coming back with just a hook and no fish! If you wait too long to set the hook, you'll risk gut hooking the bass and those EWG finnese hooks are not the easiest to try to remove when they're hooked deep.

[S I G M A]

Once i feel the hit, i drop the tip, reel the slack and set the hook right away. Perhaps your O-ring is too big?

[bass wrangler569]

I watch the line very closely and as soon as I see a twitch or feel a hit I reel in the slack line and set the hook.

 

 

[Brad_Coovert]

Most of the time, if you're wacky rigging with Orings and come back with no bait upon a hookset, the fish only had one end of the bait and it tore off when you set the hook.  I use the 2/0 Gammy wide gap weedless hook quite a bit with 5" Senkos and Orings and seldom do I miss or lose fish.

As for a hookset, I set the hook the same as if I was using a Trig.  Works 99% of time.

Brad

[Gr8wall]

thanks guys, i guess i jsut need to keep practicing with it.  i figured they only grabbed one end and it just slid off.  

hey Brad, i am using the same hooks, when you go to engaged the wire for the weedless hook, you hook it onto the barb right?  jsut wondering.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

First off, Use brands that don't require an O-ring.

THESE are wacky rig hook sets

[Gr8wall]

lol, so what are these magical brands that dont use o-rings lol?

[fishfordollars]

OEM worms. I fish Zoom, Senkos, & Tiki Sticks. Nothing else. I have no problem with any of them coming apart. The more hardware you put on a lure the more chance a fish will recognise it as a fake. An o-ring will certainly cut into a worm on a stout hookset. I use a 1/0 straight shank Mustad worm hook on my trick worms. It has worked for years.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

lol, so what are these magical brands that dont use o-rings lol?

Nothing magical, just brands that don't use med sized salt grains.  Try an ***, same amount of salt as "you know who",  but it's fine grain.  You won't be let down, you'll catch the same fish and lose a lot less baits and save a ton of cash.

[Brad_Coovert]

Yep, I hook the weedguard over the barb.  Does not get in the way of the hookset and helps it stay in place in cover.

As for Orings, they help with any stickworm on a Wacky rig IMO.  I've used one Senko for hours rigged this way and caught a lot of fish on it.

Brad

[IDbasser]

When I use senko style worms wacky rigged, I use an o-ring with a circle hook.  You DO NOT set the hook, just start reeling, the fish will hook itself.

[basser89]

When I use senko style worms wacky rigged, I use an o-ring with a circle hook. You DO NOT set the hook, just start reeling, the fish will hook itself.

Yeah, what am I missing here? Isn't the Gammy EWG Finnese hook basically a modified circle hook? When I first started fishing with these hooks, I tried setting the hook just like LBH demonstrates in his video and all that happened was I was loosing the bait and coming up with a bare hook. Once I started just reeling and letting the bass load the rod, my hook up ratio improved drastically.  :-?

[Gr8wall]

thanks for the suggestion guys.  i guess all that is left is to just practice on a local lake till i find something that works.  

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

Yeah, what am I missing here? Isn't the Gammy EWG Finnese hook basically a modified circle hook? When I first started fishing with these hooks, I tried setting the hook just like LBH demonstrates in his video and all that happened was I was loosing the bait and coming up with a bare hook. Once I started just reeling and letting the bass load the rod, my hook up ratio improved drastically.  :-?

Circle- no hook set, let fish load rod.

Octopus or finesse wise gap--SET the hook

EWG- SET the hook (not for wacky rigging but will work in a pinch)

[George Welcome]

lol, so what are these magical brands that dont use o-rings lol?

Nothing magical, just brands that don't use med sized salt grains. Try an ***, same amount of salt as "you know who", but it's fine grain. You won't be let down, you'll catch the same fish and lose a lot less baits and save a ton of cash.

Wrong on the salt deal -

[Crestliner2008]

I've had a great deal of success using a circle hook. Mine is the red Gamakatsu Oct Inline Circle, #221311, size 1/0 (smallest size made). I wacky rig using "Goodys" and when the fish starts off with it, I just start to reel normally. They're hooked in the top lip 90% of the time. Rarely have I ever had a fish come unbuttoned.

I also pinch down the barb on these hooks. Facilitates hook removal; in the fish as well as your hand!

[basser89]

Yeah, what am I missing here? Isn't the Gammy EWG Finnese hook basically a modified circle hook? When I first started fishing with these hooks, I tried setting the hook just like LBH demonstrates in his video and all that happened was I was loosing the bait and coming up with a bare hook. Once I started just reeling and letting the bass load the rod, my hook up ratio improved drastically. :-?

Circle- no hook set, let fish load rod.

Octopus or finesse wise gap--SET the hook

EWG- SET the hook (not for wacky rigging but will work in a pinch)

Thanks LBH! I'll give it another shot setting the hook properly and see what happens.

[Ellesar]

I've been using the Gammy weedless finesse hook as well. I've started using some yum dingers instead of senkos because they don't tear up nearly as easy. With the senko's I was losing the worm after about 20 casts. The hook just tore it in half. The dinger goes all day without tearing and I've been catching as many fish.

I've ordered some sticks from *** and am anxious to try those as well. I love the senko's but they just don't seem very durable.

[Tokyo Tony]

If you like Dingers, you'll like *** just the same  

After one of LBH's posts I started wacky rigging my stick baits, and have had no problem missing bites. Set the hook normally if you're using the Gammy finesse hooks. Those hooks are tremendous.

Is it possible that you're feeling panfish bites?

[tritz18]

Just a thought I stopped using o rings when my dad got me onto using zip ties. They are alot cheaper and they hold the worm tighter. As for a hook set I agree with almost everyone else

[Micro]

Anyone try a straight shank Kahle hook? I've used them on occassion and I've gotten way better hookups than with the Gammy Finesse. I've used the Gammy Finesse - don't care for them. The weedguard is weak and pulls completely off the hook after short useage.