I found this site this past winter and have been experimenting with this hook and set-up now for about 3 months. I've hooked into several nice LM bass; biggest being 5.5 lbs. (nothing really big - yet!). I've concluded that this set-up flat works! Not sure yet if it's better than standard Texas rigging, but I enjoy trying new things.

Some of you may be aware and have tried this set-up already; but for those of you who haven't, here's the link to tying this hook and rigging plastics on it. I've used it with 5" Senkos, Sweet Beavers (as in the video) and Fat Ikas. So far, no complaints. I'm just not convinced it's "better" than an EWG worm hook. This is the link:

http://www.burniehaney.com/blank.html

Very interesting indeed, I know for a fact straight shank hooks offer a more solid hook up the EWG and an Octopus offers easier hook penetration.

I'm just not sold on the whole Snell rig yet

I think I'm going to try that. I like how the snelled knot wraps around the shank eliminating a pivot point like an improved clinch knot would and to some degree a palomar knot. It does seem like you would get a much more solid hookset with that setup.

Good post Crestliner. 

Add the Uni-Knot to the list of knots for snelling. That is what I use. It is similar to the demo knot #2 but the line loop is reversed and the tag end is towards  the hook eye and offers a little more bait holding friction.

Another benefit of snelling is keeping the slip sinker from damaging the knot when Tx rigging.

very interesting indeed. might have to give this a try!

Good Post - I am going to give this a try. I have faith in that hook and snell. I have fished that rig as a live bait hook with a live eel as bait for striped bass (salt water version). The hook does have a slight turn in to it. I am concerned that it may cause the bait to spin. Not so much on a short flip but on the retrieve of a longer pitch which would not be desirable. We'll see.

A-Jay

Like A-Jay said, the Octopus hook is great for live bait rigging. I'm certainly going to give them a try.

Falcon