Darren.

Welcome aboard, George!

Hi Mike, welcome aboard!

I've used the camo 2/0, not the 3/0 mosquito. the 2/0 is a good hook, but the one and only thing I don't like about these is the slightly bent "beak" of the hook. I've caught with the camo, and each bas has been fairly well hooked, either in the jaw, or in the skin of the upper mouth/lip. I have found the gamakatsu wide gap finesse and the split shot/drop shot hooks have (in my experience) a better hook up ratio. 2 cents.

3/8" is what you want for a Senko. You can also take one to a local hardware store and eye it up there - like if you wacky rig Zoom Trick worms, etc., you'll obviously go smaller diameter. The strips don't need to be cut really thick (wide). I go with maybe the same size as the diameter, or even smaller. Again, I do not hook midway through the shrink and worm, I hook just through the top (the hook does go through the top of the worm) and expose more hook than otherwise. Have gone through a number of fish before needing to swap out. Good stuff if you choose to use it. I picked up a little box of heat shrink tubing with multiple sizes at Harbor Freight for cheap.

I think if I go out before I get a MH rod, I'll make sure to give a few extra HOOO-AH hooksets to drive that puppy home moreso than I would ever do. And sharpening the hook an extra bit wouldn't be a bad idea, either.

And with that, I bid you a good night! May our paths cross some day on the water!

You know how to make a guy feel better about his mishaps with big bass, don't you. HA! <wags finger> I'll show you! </wags finger> My wife might will make me wait for a Mexico bassresource trip until all our boys are out of the house. That's quite a few years from now...perhaps a lottery win?

But first I'll prove to you and the rest of the Mexico Bass Contingent that Virginia has beasties in her waters!!! Consider the arm twisted.

Oh now that was funny. I appreciate good humor! We need to have a beer some day. Maybe in Mexico, my friend.

You had to bring up Mexico, didn't you! LOL And yes, every hook has been sharp, checked each one with blood! The fish I have landed, the smaller ones, did swallow the baits. So I know they're good to go. Freak day(s) plural. If it happens a third time, I will officially do or say something I shouldn't.

Someone did mention, if memory serves, using electrical tape. Like Tony, I wish I could remember who for proper credit. Haven't tried it myself, if I use anything it is heat shrink, unshrunk... The ones I did shrink - marine heat shrink with the glue - have not held well to the worms. I like to puncture the heat shrink in the top of the worm, not through the middle, thereby leaving a larger portion of the hook exposed.

Do you think it's too small a bait to cut the single hook and tie on a treble hook with one hook buried into the back along the dorsal fin? I've seen the big ones hooked that way after the single hook is cut off.

No it isn't. I was present at The Ralph for a few of the games in the early 90s when on break from college in TX, including an AFC conference win. Those were great years. We should'a won against the Giants that first SB. I sure hope things improve with EJ-to-Sammy, and I hope Marcel doesn't screw up again. Oops, too late for that. Kid needs a break.

Everything helps about now, A-Jay I'm with you on experience fighting fish from canoe/kayak, and I feel I've done everything correctly. I will say, one of the six fish was a complete fluke where I reeled in with my Chronarch and the lanyard on my iPhone Lifeproof lifejacket got caught in the handle a couple wraps, and I helplessly watched as the bass jumped at that precise time. I could do nothing but stare and jaw drop at the stupid occurrence. I've since removed the lanyard, LOL. Each successive fish has been, I've thought, solidly fought to the yak. Rod bent, sometimes almost at a 90 degree angle. I thought if I were quicker on the net, I'd have landed them. Perhaps true. Some I was perpendicular to the fish (kayak perpendicular), in no cases was I anchored, but I did use my trolling motor to maintain pressure in a couple cases. Don't think I've got anything to lose adding a MH spinning rod to the mix. And at the inexpensive price for a Lightning rod I won't have broken any bank account. The Shimano Spirex I'll put on it has plenty of heft, my hand is always on the handle ready for the fight. Perhaps MH is the missing link in this situation. Only time will tell.

As hard as I set the hook on those bass, I was super surprised when they spit it out at the boat. I can see how a stouter rod would provide more oomph on a hookset, so that's probably what I'll try, cheaply...

Hey Brad, welcome aboard! Bills fan?! Used to live near Rochester, and life-long Bills fan.

Great catch, and welcome to the forums!

I will guess you are using a much stouter rod than I have been using? Medium Moderate Fast - Fast is what I've used. Every time I thought I drove the hook home. Hoping a MH spinning rod will help here.

Thanks for asking this. I've often wondered the same thing. Great answers all.

You had me thinking it was a largie!! Great haul, though. Caught my first striper ever this year - 14 lbs even, where they don't even stock 'em. Fun fight!

Thanks, Jeff. I'll make that change and hope for the best.

I've been curious about the white. No local shops carry it around here. Was interesting to read Gary Yamamoto started switching from white PP to yellow a while back for better visibility....

I really lost my mind after the 3rd fish off - each of the days it happened. So I don't have much $$ to spend for this setup (all spent on Chronarchs), I think I'll opt for a Berkley Lightning rod - spinning - MH 6'. I like the shorter rod for kayak fishing, and I fish in tight areas often, so longer rods get in the way too much. I'm going spinning because of the ability to launch the swim baits side handed - skipping - under the tight spots I like to throw 'em. My casting setup - and I have a MH casting rod will work for wide open areas. So I'm covered there. Thanks for all your help - and everyone else, too! I hope to return with a new PB (next time I'm able to get out, that is, and hopefully with a new setup).

I'll leave others to the answer, let me just say: Welcome to the forums!

I did exactly that, perhaps my rods are just too soft. I thought I had them stuck good. Dadgummit, it's making me upset again, LOL...or CryOL.... I also think I'll look at getting a MH spinning rod as I like how my Spirex 2500 works the bait - that plus I can skip it a mile under bridges and such.