Which do you prefer ?  Do straight shanks hook better ? I'd really like to hear from those who have used both extensively .

 

 

Edited: Of course Im referring to Texas rigs .

Never mind. I used the search function and found some satisfactory answers.

Used straight shanks all my life..then they made offsets i tried um and sold um i dont use bulky plastics so offsets didnt di much for me .try this simple test put a offset on some string and drag it across your carpet then do the same with a straight shank.id rather have infinity between my hook point and hook eye ,were as a offset u got only a 1/4 opening or less between the point and the bend .no room for mistakes.

I sincerely thank you   Maxximus for a honest informative answer. Ive been using offsets since eagle Claw came out with the 295jb but recently been thinking about that little offset partially getting in the way.

I only use offset ewg hooks, and then only with bulky thick plastic's like Brush hogs etc.

Straight shanks work better for me with thinner plastic's and in heavy cover.

Your results may vary.

Mike

If you know how to snell a hook, straight shank hooks are superior because they have a cam action when you set the hook that provides better hook-up percentages.  If you are too lazy to snell the hook, there's no advantage and an offset hook will work better since they typically hold the bait up on the hook shank better.  JMHO

I use offset ewg hooks for everything and have never had a problem. They almost always hook the fish in the side of the mouth and that makes for easy removal without harming the fish. Since these hooks are a larger bend fish won't normally swallow or get gut hooked. Kahle hooks kind of work the same way, but are hard to rig plastics. I am sure straight hooks work well in thinner plastics, but I like that offset so you are able to skin hook the bait. You can't really skin hook a bait with a straight hook.

Straight shank round bend on plastics up to the diameter of a Senko then it's round bend offset. I only use EWG for Flukes!

The only time I've found that I prefer straight shank is flipping with straight braid, otherwise it's all EWG hooks for me. 

I find straight shank best for finesse texas rigs like on a 4" trick worm or any small thin bait. I only use them on lighter line and in lighter gauges, but will sometimes use a straight shank if punching and I will snell the hook to get the bait to land in the water properly which is something a guy showed me 2 years ago and it is a fantastic trick if you snell the hook and stop the bait at right time before it enters the water...I am sure they have videos doing this, I know the guy who showed me did not invent the way to punch or flip but it has helped me get more strikes, land more fish, but now I am going van d**n approach, power shotting with 25 lb fluoro since fish are way to pressured and they are not hitting small creatures like they were when Crews won with the BB Cricket in Florida years back, Fish learn for sure...Power Shotting is awesome if you know the bottom composition and how deep it is under the mat, key is heavy weight I am learning as it kicks up little crustaceans etc and gets a frenzy going, I just let a trick worm sit suspended off the bottom or simply use a floating 2.5" gulp minnow and 1 ounce drop shot sinker with 18" leader seems to be best but I am a long way from being proficient at this method still.....I will use it every time instead of punching now or sure, I see the potential as a drop shot never fails to catch fish.