Hey guys, I am thinking of using straight shank hooks this upcoming season and I have never fished with them before. I have read that the hook up ratio is better with them. My question is what knot should I use with them? What other techniques would work with them, texas rig, flipping, wacky rig, etc...? I saw that robo worm makes some called rebarbed hooks they look good! Thanks in advance for the help!

Snell knot: http://www.animatedknots.com/snell/index.php

Straight shank worm hooks come in 2 basic types; sproat and round bend, 3 different wire styles light , standard and heavy, and in 2 basic finishes: black nickel or bronze. The next choice is what brand to use; premium hooks like Gamaktsu or Owner, or Mustad and Eagleclaw.

Gamakatsu worm hooks; #011 sproat light wire, #484 sproat medium wire, #464 heavy wire round bend. Owner #5100 light wire or 5103 heavy wire round bends are a few to look at.

When you get into knots, you should consider line type; mono a Palomar works good, FC line you get into a debate, my preference is the San Diego knot.

Straight hank worm hooks excell when rigged for soft plastic worms.

Roboworms rebarbs help keep the worm head on the hook shank..

Tom

So far sounds good. Anyone using them on a regular basis besides the regular offset worm hooks?

No...I don't think straight shank hooks work very well rigged weedless.

I've tie a modified snell for the past 3 years and have had 0 issues. It's quick and easy. I use this knot for Punching, flipping, pitching, and casting any kind of t-rigged bait with a straight shank hook. My hooking percentages increased greatly after switching to this knot. Also I use a hook with a welded eye when using this knot, that way you wont fray your line.

Here is a great video to explain how to tie it. (Skip to 1:47 if you don't want to hear him push his product lol)

Use something with a bait keeper, or make your own. I don't buy expensive shrink keepers, just go to a hardware store and buy 6 feet for $5. It will last you forever. Cut a piece about two inches long, then make a diagonal cut. There's a tutorial from paycheck baits somewhere on youtube. I always use a keeper on straight shank hooks, because without one your plastics will just ball up.

Thanks guys! Love the video!

I use the straight shank hooks that was suggested in my post and the knots suggested, very rarely miss hook sets or break off bass. How you rig a Texas rigged worm and your hook set technique is important. Most bass anglers prefer the J bend off set wide gap hooks and they work, however you miss hook sets more often because of the simple physics of line pull verses hook point direction being in a straight line with off set hooks. Straight shank hook the hook point is always above the hook eye and when you pull on the line with the hook point penetrates basses mouth, if' s not covered with plastic. The key is placing the hook point where it will easily contact the fishes mouth when you set your hook. Skin hook is a term for placing the hook point under the skin of the soft plast. One method is pushing the hook point through the worm passed the barb, then pulled back and pinching the worm and sliding the hook point just under the top surface or skin. Another method is placing the hook point into the side of the worm, just uner the skin. Both methods work, depending on the diameter of the worm and the size of the hook. The hook gap should always be at least 2X the worm body diameter.

Tom

So, let's be specific: When would you fish a straight shank?

So, let's be specific: When would you fish a straight shank?

flipping, and certain shaky heads.

The only time I use the straight shank hooks is when I am punching very thick mats, with a big tungsten sinker. I like the extra bite of the straight shank when that big sinker tends to pop there mouths open a little. And the big barbed bait keepers on the popular flipping hooks do help keep your bait put on the hook when your punching and crashing them into very very heavy cover. I don't snell them, waste of time IMHO, my hook up ratio is just fine with palomar knot. Other than that I use EWG offset hooks for the rest of my plastics fishing, no hook up problems for me there either.

So, let's be specific: When would you fish a straight shank?

Whenever i am punching, flipping, and pitching a t-rigged bait I for sure use a straight shank hook (ESPECIALLY if its pegged and in heavy cover). Any other kind of presentation utilizing plastic's i am using a uni knot.

I use straight shank hooks for all my Texas rigged worms. Texas rigged being a slinding bullet weight sinker and the hook placed into the front of the worm weedless. Casting the worm and retrieving back along the bottom, doddling or shaking the worm vertically or flipping or pitching it. I also use straight shank hooks for split shot, slip shot or Carolina rigs.

It is easier for me to say where I don't use a straight shank worm hook; drop shot, for drop shot use a octopus style hook in the worm nose and wacky rigs.

Tom

Looks good I am going to have to try it this year. The snell knot intrigues me because of how the hook pops up on the hookset. I skip a lot of senkos wacky style and the straight shank hook looks more streamline. Thanks for all the suggestions!

We'll see...

I just cannot picture this being the answer, but I will give it a try and report my personal results.

What are some of the particular hooks and sizes best suited to different techniques?