Hooksets with ewg on a t-rig

[midnighthrasher]

I've been using 4/0 gamakatsu ewg's for t-rigging everything from hula grubs to 10" powerworms and tubes. They work great but i find that i lose alot of fish on the hooksets. Would i lose less by using a smaller ewg like a 1/0 or a 2/0 when using smaller baits?

[The_Natural]

You can improve your hookup ratio with an offset or straight shank hook.  However, with thicker plastics....an EWG is your best bet.  

[DINK WHISPERER]

I find that whenever i lose a fish on the hook set either the fish didn't have it all in it's mouth or i am setting like a little girl! Unless of course i set the hook into a lily pad or something, LOL! You really have to hit them hard to penetrate their bony mouths.

[Big-O]

You can improve your hookup ratio with an offset or straight shank hook. However, with thicker plastics....an EWG is your best bet.

X2......The EWG's hook point on most hook brands are basically in line with the hook eye which impedes the point from always finding the fish's jaw. The offset straight shank round bend hooks are designed with a different angle and have more opportunity to hook up for you  

Big O

www.ragetail.com

[Maxximus Redneckus]

I have a lot of EWG i dont use any more straight shanks for me =the best hookset .Drag a EWG around on ur floor it may get lucky and hook ur carpet drag a straight shank and u got a mess too undo

[Catt]

It's simple geometry

Wide gap hooks have the hook point directly in line with the eye of the hook or slightly above the line eye on extra wide gap hooks. When you set the hook, the sinker and the front of the lure clear a path for the hook point to escape a bass's mouth without imbedding. On straight shank hooks the point rides substantially above the eye of the hook and aims for the roof of the bass's mouth, resulting in a more hook-ups. The extra wide gap hooks do an excellent job of holding fish if you manage to get the hook through the bass's mouth on the hook set. There are plenty of times when a bass completely takes the bait and even on a short pitch with braided line, the hook flies cleanly out of the bass's mouth on the hook set. Missing an extra fish every once in a while doesn't sound like a big deal, but if that fish is the Lunker of a lifetime, losing it is a huge deal.

I use straight shank round bend for lures up to the thickness of a 6 Senko at which time I switch to a round bend offset of no less than 5/0.

[bilgerat]

I had the exact same situation. Then I went back to these http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/pod/standard-pod-wrapped.jsp?id=0018472&navCount=2&parentId=cat20291&masterpathid=&navAction=push&cmCat=MainCatcat20166-cat20291&parentType=index&indexId=cat20291&rid= I'm done with EWG's for worm hooks

[BriBass]

After reading this i feel dumb... but very willing to change...

I unfortunately ALWAYS use an ewg on my plastics... Im very open to switching to increase my hookups but the reason i have always loved them is because i love when u rig a senko, worm, lizard, or w/e that you can get them to lay perfectly flat with hook while being texposed.

I feel if you used an offset that any of those baits would have a "kink" in them and not be straight? Can someone show me how you rig these with the offset maybe it is just me...

Thanks

BB

[Maxximus Redneckus]

I always rig mine with just the slightest hint of a point sticking out u should be feeeling that point if u run ur finger down the worm,this is what works best for me,some baits require it skin hooked this is when ur point comes out and you barely hook it under the plastic on top   BTW i have over 120 EWGS size 1/0 to 5/0 for sale 10 bucks takes all

[Steven Ladner]

It's simple geometry

Wide gap hooks have the hook point directly in line with the eye of the hook or slightly above the line eye on extra wide gap hooks. When you set the hook, the sinker and the front of the lure clear a path for the hook point to escape a bass's mouth without imbedding. On straight shank hooks the point rides substantially above the eye of the hook and aims for the roof of the bass's mouth, resulting in a more hook-ups. The extra wide gap hooks do an excellent job of holding fish if you manage to get the hook through the bass's mouth on the hook set. There are plenty of times when a bass completely takes the bait and even on a short pitch with braided line, the hook flies cleanly out of the bass's mouth on the hook set. Missing an extra fish every once in a while doesn't sound like a big deal, but if that fish is the Lunker of a lifetime, losing it is a huge deal.

I use straight shank round bend for lures up to the thickness of a 6 Senko at which time I switch to a round bend offset of no less than 5/0.

Well put.   Never really thought about the sinker getting in the way with EWG hooks.

[fathom]

what rod are you using?

[Wayne P.]

When I need a wide gap hook for thick baits, I open the bend a little to expose the point more for surer hooksets. I also use the superline model because the wire is heavier and has less give which may be a cause for lost fish due to flex. The longer the total length of the hook wire, the more flex it will have.

[mattm]

Posted by: Maxximus Redneckus Posted on: Today at 8:21am

I have a lot of EWG i dont use any more straight shanks for me =the best hookset .Drag a EWG around on ur floor it may get lucky and hook ur carpet drag a straight shank and u got a mess too undo  

Lol.   44 words and one period.

[mattm]

Posted by: Maxximus Redneckus Posted on: Today at 10:12am

I always rig mine with just the slightest hint of a point sticking out u should be feeeling that point if u run ur finger down the worm,this is what works best for me,some baits require it skin hooked this is when ur point comes out and you barely hook it under the plastic on top   BTW i have over 120 EWGS size 1/0 to 5/0 for sale 10 bucks takes all  

Holy shnikes a new record so soon.  74 words.  Zero periods.

Seriously I don't mean to go all Long Mike on you, but thats a little overboard.

[dodgeguy]

never had a problem hooking fish on ewg hooks.maybe it's not a bass but a panfish tapping your bait.bass swallow the bait and it's almost impossible not to get a hook in when you set with an ewg.

[rubba bubba]

never had a problem hooking fish on ewg hooks.maybe it's not a bass but a panfish tapping your bait.bass swallow the bait and it's almost impossible not to get a hook in when you set with an ewg.

x2.  I only use ewg's for hooks.  Jigs - I prefer to be ewg's as well.

[skillet]

 There was another post on EWG's and someone brought up the idea about the eye being right in line with the sinker etc. etc. I started thinking about it and it sure made a lot of sense. The only thing is...I didn't start using EWG's until I read about them here. Maybe it's the power of suggestion or something :-/ but I feel my hook-up rate got better after using them...

skillet

[Red Bear]

sometimes its the operator more so than the equipment

[ToledoEF]

Ive only lost a few fish on hooksets with an ewg hook!

[DINK WHISPERER]

sometimes its the operator more so than the equipment

VERY TRUE!!!!!!!

[Randall]

Straight shank hook is what you need. I can't remember who it was but I remember an article in a magazine a few years back and they asked the top pros what one thing they had learned from another pro that had helped them the most in their career. Larry Nixon had told a pro that he was missing fish because he was using a Carolina rig hook (offset or wide gap) instead of a Texas rig hook (straight shank). The guy said that one tip had helped him more to stay a pro and be able to make a living than any other thing.

From that one point on I started paying attention to my missed hooksets and changed my hooks on many baits to straight shank hooks. It's made a huge difference in missed strikes when the pull on the hookset is more vertical than horizonal. Also, there are some straight shank hooks now made with wide gaps so amost bulky bait can be rigged with a straight shank hook now.

[midnighthrasher]

Anyone ever use the gamakatsu offset shank work hooks or the owner offset shank worm hooks? The owner ones seem alot thicker in diameter.

[Catt]

Have a look at Strike King's Saber Point Round Bend Offset & you will throw rocks at Owner/Gamakatsu

[Jake...]

just so I am clear

are you guys preferring this style hook

to the EWG below. cuz I have been using EWG since I read up on em here, but noticing less hookup's as well

[Hinkle2891]

let them hold onto it for a few seconds longer, then set it with a HARD side sweeping motion.