For plastic swimbaits do you like the belly weighted hooks or the regular head weighted swimbait jigs? Just want some opinions on what hook you think is better or have a better hookup ratio with. 

Currently my favorite swimbait hooks are : Gamakatsu EWG (screw in) 3/0 to 5/0  sizes in 1/16th oz. to 3/16th oz.  weights . A good swimbait hook found at places such as TW that won't break the bank ...

Mister Twister keeper hook.

 

 

I use the Owner keel weighted screw in hook with the centering pin. Tried different ones but keep coming back to these. 

For a standard sized Big EZ or Skinny Dipper I use a 5/0 with a glass bullet on the nose.

 

Mike 

Well they are for different applications. One is for open water fishing and the other is for fishing in cover. 

If you're in a canyon reservoir or open water with a rocky bottom the jig head will be easier to fish and the hookup percentage is obviously better with an exposed hook. 

If you're in wood, grass, etc the weighted hook will give it a weedless presentation. Your favorite should match the water you are fishing as they are tailored for those situations.

I would normally say and use Gama 3/0-5/0 twistlock ewg weighted hook but thanks Mike L for reminding me about Owner keel weighted with centering pin. They will definitely go into the nose better and are almost always straight. I also just got a pack of the Berkeley fusion 19 or whatever their new hook line up is . It cam in this nice lil clamshell package that was labeled which I thought was nice of them to include for my convenience. 

Edited March 20, 201610 yr by ErikmonBillsfon

On March 19, 2016 at 10:36 AM, Mike L said:

I use the Owner keel weighted screw in hook with the centering pin. Tried different ones but keep coming back to these. 

For a standard sized Big EZ or Skinny Dipper I use a 5/0 with a glass bullet on the nose.

 

Mike 

Mike do u peg that bullet weight?

I use the 6/0 Owner Beast hook

Has anyone here tried the Vmc spring lock hooks? I've seen them at DSG but haven't got any yet.

35 minutes ago, IDUTBass said:

Has anyone here tried the Vmc spring lock hooks? I've seen them at DSG but haven't got any yet.

I tried the one with movable weight, good stout hook, but just wasnt wide enough for me. If you use slim swimbaits, its a good hook

19 minutes ago, bigturtle said:

I tried the one with movable weight, good stout hook, but just wasnt wide enough for me. If you use slim swimbaits, its a good hook

Thank you. I'll give them a try. I just havent heard many people talk about them. 

I like the Trokar swim bait hooks in 4/0 and 5/0. Both weighted and unweaighted. I use them for the Berkeley hollow bodied swim baits. 

13 hours ago, MemphisFF said:

Mike do u peg that bullet weight?

No Sir I don't.

I guess you could but there's really no need as it's kept moving through the water column which keeps that light glass pinned by itself. Even when dropping into holes it doesn't move. 

 

 

 

Mike 

I've Texas rigged my Senkos and the Zoom Super Flukes and was not happy with how well they stayed on the hook.  So I'm wondering if a swimbait hook with the screw would be a good idea for both and increase the number of baits I retain rather than lose.

If so, which would you suggest?  I've seen some that have a blade that goes along underneath but don't recall what kind it was.

Thanks!

I use the Owner twistlok hooks, weightless, most of the time. If I want to be deeper I will use the weighted Beast twistlok, or the Owner round Ultrahead. 

Pas far as hookup ratios, I get really good hookups on all these. Maybe a slight edge to the weightless. 

On Saturday, March 19, 2016 at 0:38 PM, Mosster47 said:

Well they are for different applications. One is for open water fishing and the other is for fishing in cover.

If you're in a canyon reservoir or open water with a rocky bottom the jig head will be easier to fish and the hookup percentage is obviously better with an exposed hook.

If you're in wood, grass, etc the weighted hook will give it a weedless presentation. Your favorite should match the water you are fishing as they are tailored for those situations.

Mosster47 has covered both applications I agree 100%...

Reaction strike hooks are great

Bit disappointed in Walmart - closest thing I could find to a swimbait hook was a football head jig.  Also tried my local outdoors store and they didn't have any either.

Going to check a store in the next town over tomorrow before we go out and see if they've got 'em.

Eagle Claw Lazer Sharp Weighted Swimbait 60 Degree Hook.

Owner or Moaner keel weighted hooks.

On September 21, 2016 at 8:04 PM, CybrSlydr said:

I've Texas rigged my Senkos and the Zoom Super Flukes and was not happy with how well they stayed on the hook.  So I'm wondering if a swimbait hook with the screw would be a good idea for both and increase the number of baits I retain rather than lose.

If so, which would you suggest?  I've seen some that have a blade that goes along underneath but don't recall what kind it was.

Thanks!

I use the Owner twist lock hooks with Super Flukes and they rock.  They stay centered well, the hooks don't slice up soft plastics like the Trokars do, and they stay Texposed well, even if you're skipping them across the surface, banging them off of cover, etc.   They're currently my favorite keel weighted hooks.

On 9/23/2016 at 1:45 AM, Turkey sandwich said:

I use the Owner twist lock hooks with Super Flukes and they rock.  They stay centered well, the hooks don't slice up soft plastics like the Trokars do, and they stay Texposed well, even if you're skipping them across the surface, banging them off of cover, etc.   They're currently my favorite keel weighted hooks.

My local shop had the Owner #4/0 hooks, unweighted.  So I bought a pack and really, REALLY like the pin/screw setup!  I fished both a 5" Senko and a Zoom Super Fluke and they didn't budge.  However, I did lose half a Senko - tore off during cast right where the hook comes through the bait.  The top stayed on great.  lol

Hot Rod sent me some Senko rigging info on PM too, appreciate the help folks!

Yeah, Senkos will do that.  I don't fish them as often as a lot of forum members, but when I do, I typically fish them wacky/weedless wacky with crossed rubber bands holding the wacky/circle/octopus/mosquito hook and while they may last an extra fish or two, they still get shredded. I'm pretty sure there's just no way to keep them from getting destroyed.  

If you're throwing into cover, use the weedless style, with the belly weight.  If you dragging or bumping bottom, use the open hook jig style.

On Wednesday, September 21, 2016 at 7:04 PM, CybrSlydr said:

I've Texas rigged my Senkos and the Zoom Super Flukes and was not happy with how well they stayed on the hook.  So I'm wondering if a swimbait hook with the screw would be a good idea for both and increase the number of baits I retain rather than lose.

If so, which would you suggest?  I've seen some that have a blade that goes along underneath but don't recall what kind it was.

Thanks!

I believe the one with the blade underneath is called an underspin hook...I think it just won a big tournament too...well someone won it...but that's what he used