Gammy FInesse Wide Gap hooks

[jwo1124]

I was going to pick some of these up for wacky rigging, I used to use a #1 baitholder hook for this app since I thought anything larger 1/0+ was too big for a finesse presentation. ANy reccommendations for sizes for this app?

[Wayne P.]

Don't buy them, get the Octopus hooks instead. Been there done that, threw them all away.

[BUCKEYEone]

Don't buy them, get the Octopus hooks instead. Been there done that, threw them all away.

X2

[Muddy]

Don't buy them, get the Octopus hooks instead. Been there done that, threw them all away.

Hey Wayne: I switched up from Octupus to Circle Hooks, less gill/ hook problems that way. Have you tried this?

[Wayne P.]

Muddy, yes I tried the circle hooks when I was going thru the process of developing the ideal weedless wacky rig. The only time I would recommend that hook is when tournament practicing and my goal was to not catch bass or for using live bait (which I don't do). A gullet hooked fish with a circle hook (it happens) is almost impossible to remove without a lot of damage to the fish.

In function, the finesse wide gap hook has to be used kind of like a circle hook and let the fish swim directly away or at least perpendicular to the rod to get consistant hookups.

Thanks for that question.

edited: more than 3/4 of the bass I catch wacky rigging are hooked in the throat because they just take it in so deliberately. With a de-barbed Octopus hook and a pair of curved jaw hemostats, once the hook is gripped, a gentle twist is all it takes to remove it. I've done it thousands of times.

[Muddy]

THANKS WAYNE: How do you pinch the barbon the octupus hooks? Where on the hook do you pinch them down?  I want to try this. I get a lot of deep hooked wacky rigged trick stik bass. I have a good release and dehooking method but I really would like to have a chance at handeling them less than i do.

[senko_77]

Man I am shocked by the negative opinions on this hook.  

The Gamakatsu Finesse Wide Gap is the only hook I use for wacky rigging.  I like the #1 or 1/0 in red or if I'm fishing heavy grass, the weedless wide gap is what I go with.  I have NEVER had a problem with fish not hooking up and they never shake off during the fight.  My favorite part of the hook is that it gets the fish in the roof of the mouth EVERYTIME.  

It's cheaply priced, high quality, and consistent for me.  I would strongly suggest it.  Decide for yourself.  It's only like $2/pack.  Heck, if you send me your address, I'll ship a pack to you so you can see for yourself.

[Jake.]

It's my favorite hook for wacky rigging as well. I always seem to get great hooksets with it.

[Wayne P.]

Muddy, I just take a pair on needle nose pliers and hold it perpendicular to the hook, grab it where the barb is and squeeze. Most of the time it snaps off and if it doesn't, I rotate the plies a couple of times around the hook shank so it will fall off. I don't want that little piece of hard sharp metal coming off and sticking into my finger at some random point (been there done that and it hurts)

senko77, my critizism of the finesse wide gap hook comes from my experiences and from several fishing partners missing fish and then catching them after using the Octopus hook that I gave them. The weedless finesse wide gap hook is even worse for missed fish. If you are hooking them in the roof of the mouth every time, that means you are missing a lot of fish when the hook is turned in another direction in the fish's mouth. I have tried the 1/0, 2/0, 3/0 and 4/0 in the finesse wide gap and the 1/0 and 2/0 in the weedless finesse wide gap. I've given them every chance to perform and they have failed too many times for me and others. I'm glad they work for you.

[senko_77]

Wayne, I could be taking it wrong, but it seems to me that you think I was attacking you somehow.  If it seemed that way, I apologize.  I respect your opinion, and you gotta use what works for you.  I was just stating that it has been flawless for me since LBH turned me onto it 2 years ago.  The guy asked a question and I was answering it.  Again, I'm sorry if it sounded like I was attacking you.  I simply just disagree.  I could count on one hand the number of fish I've missed on this hook.  Maybe I've been lucky and the hook point is up when they hit, or maybe, when you pull on your line, it rights itself?  All I know is it works for me and he asked for our opinions.    

[Wayne P.]

senko77, no I didn't think you were rebutting me personally, no offence taken. I was just qualifying my opinion of the hooks and their lack of performance based on every case I am familiar with and not knowing your degree of experience in their use. Lots of people must use them because Walmart sells them and they are constantly out of stock. Thanks for the reply.

[ww2farmer]

I also like them, I use the 1/0 weedless  for wacky rigging 4" Senkos, and the 2/0 for 5" Senkos. The weedguard is pretty flimsy but it is surprisingly weedless. I toss them any where with no fear. I do have a new favorite hook for wacky rigging, but I'll keep that to myself for now

[J Francho]

I like the #1 or 1/0 in red or if I'm fishing heavy grass, the weedless wide gap is what I go with.  I have NEVER had a problem with fish not hooking up and they never shake off during the fight.  My favorite part of the hook is that it gets the fish in the roof of the mouth EVERYTIME.

I have similar results, except I use the nickel hooks

I don't use the weed guard model either.  Sometimes weeds get caught, but more often than not, the worm itself pushes the weeds aside, and a quick pop off the weeds sometimes draws a strike.  I think its a "nothing there, then there it is" kind of thing.  I've thought of using the hook guard version in pads, just haven't gotten to that yet.

[Muddy]

Muddy, I just take a pair on needle nose pliers and hold it perpendicular to the hook, grab it where the barb is and squeeze. Most of the time it snaps off and if it doesn't, I rotate the plies a couple of times around the hook shank so it will fall off. I don't want that little piece of hard sharp metal coming off and sticking into my finger at some random point (been there done that and it hurts)

.

Thanks I am going to give this a shot

[VA BassHound]

I prefer the Octopus hook over the Wide Gap Finesse based on the geometry.  The Gammy Wide Gap hook has the hook point directly in-line with the eye of the hook.  The Octopus hook is more "J" shaped where the point rides above the eye of the hook.  

There is a good article on this site that talks about this entitled "Picking The Right Hook"

http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/hook-selection.html

[Tokyo Tony]

IMO, the owner wacky hooks are far superior to the Gamakatsu weedless ones. The weedguard is more effective and it doesn't get screwed up after each fish. Unfortunately, the biggest size they make is 1/0:

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0037619320392a&type=product&cmCat=SEARCHFEAT_all&returnPage=search-results1.jsp&Ntt=owner+wacky+finesse&Ntk=Products&sort=all&_D%3AhasJS=+&N=0&_D%3Asort=+&Nty=1&hasJS=true&_DARGS=%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Fcommon%2Fsearch%2Fsearch-box.jsp.form1&_dyncharset=ISO-8859-1

These are tremendous for fishing wacky senkos in deeper water:

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat20166-cat20291&id=0053798320411a&navCount=1&podId=0053798&parentId=cat20291&masterpathid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=IJ&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat601233&hasJS=true

[Tin]

Octopus over wide gap any day if I'm wacky rigging.

[Bobby Uhrig]

I have tried every hook there is for wacky riggn senkos-. Circle -Oct.ect. I lose way many fish with them. I know how to set a hook with them also-the time I lose them is right at the boat, sometimes it dosent get a good bite into the jaw or roof of the mouth. Sometimes its just a skin hook. I have tried the wide gap hooks also-they were OK but didnt wow me. They kinda stuck out like a sore thumb-werent natural looking in the clearer waters. I went back to the old EagleClaw #1 baitholder hook. When I set the hook I set the hook. *no wussy hooks sets.* I rarely miss or lose a fish on them. I can use any hook I want cause I see every one of them at the stores. I want results. The EagleClaw hooks are about $1.99 for 10 hooks. Ya cant beat them. I have gone out with pro's as well as weekenders and showed them that hook and changed their way of w-riggn

[Muddy]

My fishing partner also uses those Eagle Claw  hooks ,  he keeps asking when I am going to break down and ask him for one ;D

[Wayne P.]

Bobby, I agree with you about the baitholder hook style and have tried it. When I was trying them, I mashed down the shank barbs to save my fingers from getting cut up. I prefer the Octopus hook for the same reasons plus the bend where the hook eye is just works better for weedless wacky rigging.

[fivesixone]

These are tremendous for fishing wacky senkos in deeper water:

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat20166-cat20291&id=0053798320411a&navCount=1&podId=0053798&parentId=cat20291&masterpathid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=IJ&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat601233&hasJS=true

Is that a weight at the top of that hook?? :-?

[TrippyJai]

I've never fished wacky for my senkos before because I do pretty well with it t-rigged.

http://www.***.com/descpage-GFWH.html

I don't get the difference between the 2 and the 2/0.

If I wanted to buy this for 5 inch senkos, which one should i be buying?

weedless? or non-weedless? octopus or finesse wide gap. which one performs better and is easier for someone who has never fished wacky style.

[Muddy]

Hey Trippy I started just with T rigs, but i have found the Wacky Rig to be deadly! I use 2/0 black Circle hooks, but I am definitley going to try Waynes deal with the Octupus hooks.

I dont like red hooks, because no matter what brand I have tried they wind up to be gold hooks!

I use *** Trick Stiks and I just put the hook in the slot.

For t Rigs I hook em weightless and my favorite color is Watermellon/purple swirl.

For LMB on the Chunk,  Wacky Rigged I use the same stick just rig it slighlty to the top of the slot

For smallies 4 inch Shimmer Shad, wacky rigged:my hottest smallie bait for this year

The thing aobout the t rig vs wacky on my favorite lake is some days the weightless t rig is hot, some days the wacky is the deal. Somedays both work The Trig seems to attract the bigger fish