Lower Hook Up Ratio

[LWD]

Hey,

I really missed a lot of bass today. I can count 4 times I had a bass on there good then got away. I think it was because my hook with a weed guard. I'd inspect it each time after I had a fish on and the guard would be tripped or open. One time I looked on the end of the hook it had a scale of the fish on there. You know it could of been other reasons but I'm just thinking it could of been 4 catches. Definitely going no weed guard next time. I'm not saying they don't work because I caught one using it. But I do believe they lower your hook up ratio. Thanks. Stories anyone?

LWD

[Siebert Outdoors]

what style hook is this? Is it one with the wire V?

[LWD]

It's a Gamakatsu 3/0 worm hook (wire guard).

[clayton86]

Iv had that a lot this year with every lure and hook I use almost idk if iv forgot how to fight a fish over winter or what it is just a lot of fish throwing my hooks this year. I know its not dull hooks or anything on my part some times its just the name of the game bad luck or something. I can count 3 diffrent quality bass in diffrent bodies of water that have came unbuttoned at the bank or edge of the canoe on a rage craw t rigged and the hook wasn't even exposed they just held on for the ride of there life.

[WRB]

Change hook style from the 65113 to the #11 or 484 worm hook.

Insert the hook point into the nose of the worm to the hook barb, rotate out (1/4"), rotate the hook so the point is towards the worm then pull the hook eye into the worm nose flush. Next place the hook bend next to the worm to determine where to place the worm hook point; is should go through the worm where the hook bend was.

Push the hook point though and out the opposite side of the worm. Now sqeeze the worm and cover the hook point (skin hooked).

You have a weedless worm, no weed guard.

I am sure there is an illustration for this on the site somewhere.

Tom

[LWD]

WRB, I knew how to rig a weedless worm or texas rig thanks. I like fishing wacky style though. No way to go weedless wacky without a guard.

[slonezp]

WRB, I knew how to rig a weedless worm or texas rig thanks. I like fishing wacky style though. No way to go weedless wacky without a guard.

Check out Wayne P's avatar pic.

[Crestliner2008]

I use the Gamakatsu Wide Gap Finesse Weedless hook a lot when wacky rigging in dense vegetation. I use the 1/0 size and have not had the problem you are experiencing. I would prefer to use an inline circle hook for most of my wacky rigging, but in some cases you just have to have some sort of weedguard protection.

I'm using a light action, 7' rod with 6# test Fireline Crystal as the main line with an 8# test fluorocarbon leader. Very little stretch. Hook sets are very positive, even with just a reel down action. I land more than 90% of my takes.

Are you using thick worms (i.e.: Senkos) and are you hooking the worms directly, vs. using a band of some sort? I use an elastic called a Goody, which was recommended to me by a Japanese fishing friend many years ago. Using these bands, you hook the band and not the worm. Keeps the hook out of the worm and increases the gap significantly. Just a thought.

[LWD]

Crestliner2008,

Hello sir. I am using a senko 5'. Are o-rings and elastic goodys the same? A small circular device that fits snug around the thick worm that you slide the hook under saving wear and tear on the worm right? What is the gap? I found the weed guard spring on the Gamakatsu 3/0 worm hook a tad rigid. Not sensitive enough. I will try the Wide Gap Finesse Weedless hook and see if it's better. Thanks and happy hunting.

LWD

[Catt]

Pretty dang weedless with an extremely high hook up ratio

[Crestliner2008]

Crestliner2008,

Hello sir. I am using a senko 5'. Are o-rings and elastic goodys the same? A small circular device that fits snug around the thick worm that you slide the hook under saving wear and tear on the worm right? What is the gap? I found the weed guard spring on the Gamakatsu 3/0 worm hook a tad rigid. Not sensitive enough. I will try the Wide Gap Finesse Weedless hook and see if it's better. Thanks and happy hunting.

LWD

No, Goodys are not the same as "O" rings. Here's a link to a previous post:

My Way

[Crestliner2008]

Pretty dang weedless with an extremely high hook up ratio

Looks like an excellent rigging technique. However, it appears that you are still hooking the body of the worm. Very few plastics - expecially Senkos - can withstand that kind of use for more than one or two fish. This rigging sould be ideal for something like the Zoom "Trick Worms". Thanks for posting.

[Catt]

Do you want fish in the live well or worms in the tackle box?

I pay $6.69 for 10 Senkos or 20 bass

I’ll happily accept 1 or 2 fish out of any piece of plastic

[WRB]

Details help to answer questions; o-ring rigged wacky rigged Senko.

Senko's look the same on both ends, however the head end is slightly thicker and the tail end slightly tapered. The tail end is designed to wiggle a little on the fall when the head end has a light added weight like a hook (you can turn it around and tail hook it). Just a reminder how Senko's work.

When you wacky rig a Senko the bass tends to grabs 1 of the ends or sometimes the whole Senko. Hook up ratio depends on the bass getting the hook in the mouth and it's hit and miss with a wacky rigged Senko. The larger size hook (round bend Gammy or Owner Senko hooks), the higher % of hook sets.

A Senko head (Texas) hooked slides through weeds better than wacky rigged, the bass tend to strike the end swimming down where the hook is.

I don't fish heavy weed cover very often with Senko's and prefer the head weighted (nail weight) and weedless Gammy wide gap finesse hook, o-ring rigged in open water or #484 round bend head hook (Texas style) in weedy areas.

2 bass per Senko is about as good as is gets!

Tom

[Fat-G]

Looks like an excellent rigging technique. However, it appears that you are still hooking the body of the worm. Very few plastics - expecially Senkos - can withstand that kind of use for more than one or two fish. This rigging sould be ideal for something like the Zoom "Trick Worms". Thanks for posting.

Agreed, I don't think that would work well with anything other than a Trick Worm.