I normally use ewg style hooks for my soft plastics. Is there a benefit to using straight shanks over ewg's and vice versa? Thanks!

I think it depends on how thick your baits are. I tried using the straight shank with the offset eye with my Senkos and noticed that the shank wound up very close to the worm, so that if the fish took the bait, there was very little chance of the hook actually doing anything other than pulling straight back out the mouth. The offset EWG hooks have a much roundr profile and if the fish grabs the bait, the force will push the hook out of the worm much further and almost right into a hookset.

I also noticed the EWG hooks do the same withg with the Fat Ikas, so last night I changed the hook to one of the G Lock hooks. It has a wider profile and should pop out of the bait much further.

For me I use them interchangeably for the most part.  I do use EWG for fatter baits like the ika and topwater toads and such.  One thing I have noticed is that when fishing an EWG with a slender, smaller bodied bait, the gap in the hook catches and hooks onto branches really easily.

I never use EWG hooks perfering straight shank round bend or offset round bend

I never use EWG hooks perfering straight shank round bend or offset round bend

And I rarely use anything except EWG including jig hooks...........Al

Straight shanks give you a much better hook up ratio.  Some people will obviously argue this.  From what I understand, a lot of the pro anglers are going to the straight shank hooks as well.  The major drawback is having the lure slide down the shank.  That can be easily fixed with a toothpick or some heat shrink tubing.

I've become a big fan of Owner XXX wide gap straight shanks.  I can't remember, but I believe Catt recommends the Denny Brauer Mustad flippin hook.  Similar hooks, comes down to personal choice probably.

I still use Gammy EWG's for some stuff like plastic swim baits (flukes, swimmin senko's, etc etc).  But a good 90% of my plastics I fish with a straight shank now.

personal preference.

ewg is all i use anymore.

picked up a pack of straight shanks and lost one to a snag right away. im not sure if im rigging it right , but the hook point stays exposed and ready to get snagged. i went back to the EWGs and offsets.

We just had this discussion.

Straight shank hooks provide a better opportunity for hookups.  It's simple.

If you want to test it, tie on an EWG hook, put your hand around the hook with your fingers closing on the line and slowly pull the hook straight from your hand.  The point will not come into contact with your fingers.  Meaning those bites will be missed.

picked up a pack of straight shanks and lost one to a snag right away. im not sure if im rigging it right , but the hook point stays exposed and ready to get snagged. i went back to the EWGs and offsets.

Don't push the hook point all the way out of the plastic.  Leave it sitting just under the skin of the bait.

Ditto...

I never use EWG hooks perfering straight shank round bend or offset round bend

to me...you have better hookups with striat shanks, but no matter what people try to make you believe...they always waad up bumping cover....its frustrating to me.    What i do now is use a ewg hook and bend the point slightly out of line and tada!!! no more waad ups and higher hook up percintages...ewg for me

I like straight shanks. As some have said I think the hook up ratio is better.

Your really holding yourself back if you don't use all 3. Each one excels in certain situations. To say one is better than the other is wrong because each hook has it's own job.

I like straight shank for casting thin plastics or when im pitching around grass - tapertail, mag II, tiny brush hogs, baby rage craw. BTW, I think this hook gives you the best hook up ratio. The bite is way bigger than the other hooks and unfortunately it doesn't work with thicker plastics.

I like the offsets for carolina rigging and for plastics that are just a little too thick for the straight shank - baby or super brush hog, trick worm, rage craw, and sometimes the space monkey.

I like the EWG's for any plastic that is too thick for the other styles. I try not to throw the EWG style hooks because I don't like how small the bite is. I'm not gonna say I've noticed a big drop in missed fish, but I do know that I tend to get a lot more less than solid hook ups with EWG. The plastics I use the EWG for - senko, space monkey, fluke (any size), 10" ribbon tails, lizard, rage lobster, soft plastic toads

Thanks for all the answers guys, it has really given me something to consider.  I actually have a pack of 1/0 & 3/0 Rebarb hooks that I have not been using because I have been using EWGs. I think I'll try rigging some stuff on em and see how I do.  What do you guys think of the Rebarb hooks, the ones by roboworm?

As Senko77 said,

Thick plastics EWG thinner plastics straight shank.  Why limit yourself.

I used to use the EWG exclusively.  Now the only ones I buy are the g-lock, set lock, or super lock, I guess depending on the brand.  I use them on all my soft plastics.  I like them and haven't had any issues.  I almost never lose a fish once I set the hook using soft plastics.

+1 on using the hook based on the thickness of plastic. I would also say that the selection is based on type of cover you are fishing. I have been lucky enough to have only been able to fish from the bank and most ponds have lots of seaweed and fallen limbs or submerged trees. For that reason, anything I can use an EWG hook for I do in order to make it as weedless as possible.

All the bass I have caught this year so far have hit hard enough that the hook type didn't matter and I landed them all. I wish I could say I caught more then I have.

Your really holding yourself back if you don't use all 3. Each one excels in certain situations. To say one is better than the other is wrong because each hook has it's own job.

I like straight shank for casting thin plastics or when im pitching around grass - tapertail, mag II, tiny brush hogs, baby rage craw. BTW, I think this hook gives you the best hook up ratio. The bite is way bigger than the other hooks and unfortunately it doesn't work with thicker plastics.

I like the offsets for carolina rigging and for plastics that are just a little too thick for the straight shank - baby or super brush hog, trick worm, rage craw, and sometimes the space monkey.

I like the EWG's for any plastic that is too thick for the other styles. I try not to throw the EWG style hooks because I don't like how small the bite is. I'm not gonna say I've noticed a big drop in missed fish, but I do know that I tend to get a lot more less than solid hook ups with EWG. The plastics I use the EWG for - senko, space monkey, fluke (any size), 10" ribbon tails, lizard, rage lobster, soft plastic toads

X2

I use a straight shank or offset hook for everything but tubes.

I use the Mustad Big Mouth Tube Hook in 3/0 for 4" tubes and the 4/0 for 4 1/2" and 5" tubes.