hello,

im sure this has been covered more than a few times but i cant seem to get the search function to produce any results.

the fat ika is one of my favorite soft plastic baits but I have never been satisfied with the hooks I have been using.

what hook do you use for weightless texas rigging with the skirt up? i have been reading about Owner Rig-N-Hook worm hooks and am thinking about trying them. what size rig-n-hook is ideal for the fat ika?

thanks in advance,

-z

4/0 EWG Offset Worm Hook. I fish Gamakatsu, Trokar and  XPoint.

 

If you did a search you would see this exact bait has been discussed for at least 9 years. 

In your defense tho. My first two posts (is lucky craft worth it, and favorite rapala. ) Both have been asked exactly the same way. Again.. 9 years ago. Alot of information . It's cool how things change . I've been finding myself not even reading the new threads but picking up where I left off on the old ones. It's funny to see people's go to plastics change. Like here lately it's all about the rage series. But go back to those old threads. They were still catching the bass......but on something different. And Just as well. 

I'd say it's still a bait has its following but it's not as exciting as the new stuff. I fish it on a super line 3/0 Gamakatsu EWG rigged forwards with a weighty and backwards depending on the application. After it gets ripped enough that you can't t- rig it, it works great on a dropshot ?

On 8/17/2016 at 7:21 AM, bigfruits said:

hello,

im sure this has been covered more than a few times but i cant seem to get the search function to produce any results.

the fat ika is one of my favorite soft plastic baits but I have never been satisfied with the hooks I have been using.

what hook do you use for weightless texas rigging with the skirt up? i have been reading about Owner Rig-N-Hook worm hooks and am thinking about trying them. what size rig-n-hook is ideal for the fat ika?

thanks in advance,

-z

Dont waste your money/time with those, been there not good.

Get some Gamakatsu Deep Throat 4/0 hooks

If you want a touch more glide, step up to a Gamakatsu Superline.  Hook is a bit heavier and gets the bait a bit more horizontal.

Check out Gary Yamamoto's video's.

Tom

On ‎9‎/‎4‎/‎2016 at 5:59 PM, Yeajray231 said:

If you did a search you would see this exact bait has been discussed for at least 9 years. 

and I have been fishing this bait for about as long and am still not happy with my hook.

 

On ‎9‎/‎4‎/‎2016 at 8:29 PM, ec1 said:

I'd say it's still a bait has its following but it's not as exciting as the new stuff. I fish it on a super line 3/0 Gamakatsu EWG rigged forwards with a weighty and backwards depending on the application. After it gets ripped enough that you can't t- rig it, it works great on a dropshot ?

I have been using a Gamakatsu EWG and I am not satisfied. Im looking for a wider gap but not a heavy wire.

On ‎9‎/‎4‎/‎2016 at 6:23 PM, Yeajray231 said:

In your defense tho. My first two posts (is lucky craft worth it, and favorite rapala. ) Both have been asked exactly the same way. Again.. 9 years ago. Alot of information . It's cool how things change . I've been finding myself not even reading the new threads but picking up where I left off on the old ones. It's funny to see people's go to plastics change. Like here lately it's all about the rage series. But go back to those old threads. They were still catching the bass......but on something different. And Just as well. 

what are you talking about?

41 minutes ago, bigfruits said:

and I have been fishing this bait for about as long and am still not happy with my hook.

 

I have been using a Gamakatsu EWG and I am not satisfied. Im looking for a wider gap but not a heavy wire.

The owner hook is just as thick as the gammy, unless you are using the super line hooks. I don't know of any much thinner than the standard ewg hooks, and I've used gammy, owner, trokar, Eagle claw, daichi, mustad, and vmc, and probably a lot more I can't think of right now. What lb test line are you using

I'm not looking for anything thinner than the EWG, just something with a bigger gap and not too thick of a hook.

I use spinning gear and 8lb flouro for most weightless plastics. I think I am going to try the Owner Wide Gap Plus and Gamakatsu Deep Throat.

Owner Riggin' Hook was practically made for butt rigging Ikas.

7 hours ago, bigfruits said:

I'm not looking for anything thinner than the EWG, just something with a bigger gap and not too thick of a hook.

I use spinning gear and 8lb flouro for most weightless plastics. I think I am going to try the Owner Wide Gap Plus and Gamakatsu Deep Throat.

If 8# fluoro is what you have been using thats your biggest issue right there. Not the right line for this application. I didnt even care for 10# or 12# Sniper Fc with my ikas too much stretch.

I took some pics for you to get an idea on the gap between the hooks you are thinking about and also mic them for thickness. Still thinking the Deep Throats are the best in my use which is nearly every outing I go on.

 

Owner wide gap plus 4/0 1.51mm

 

 

Deep Throat 4/0 1.16mm a bit thinner

 

 

wow. thanks, QUAKEnSHAKE! i will give those deep throats a try.

I use a 3/0 EWG.   Been very reliable.   I once even used a 1/0 straight shank worm hook, just because I had forgotten to bring more EWGs after I lost one to a hangup.  Had to slit the side of the bait to allow for hookset with such a small hook, but it still brought home the bacon.

4/0 EWGs, though I've used 3/0 if that's all I have on hand.

I'm cheap, so I've mainly used Eagle Claw's Lazer Sharp hooks for 90% of my fishing applications.  I do have a smattering of 'nicer' Gamakatsu and 'cheaper' BPS wide gaps that occasionally get employed.

You are looking for more gap in your hook for a better Hookup Percentage?

What I think you're needing is waiting a second longer before you set the hook. Bass don't let go of this bait... Either way, try what the others have suggested, and please report back to let me know which one you find is the bee's knees.

Use a "snap-set" and do it quickly. Otherwise, bass tend to swallow the Fat Ika.

• From a human perspective, they're like Twinkies.

 

Older thread, but didn't see a need to start a new one.

 

I've been experimenting with hooks to find a favorite for the Fat Ika. The regular EWG's just weren't doing it for me because the IKAs were getting wrecked pretty quickly. And the owner CPS hooks didn't have a lot of space for the IKA. Plus they really need to have the larger CPS installed.

 

I noticed the Hayabusa Swimbait hooks had a big wide gap in them, and a nice screwlock to boot. Coated too. Anyway I bought a pack of them and I found my new favorite. They are great. Hook isn't too thick so I can use lighter line, IKA fits well. And they are on sale right now too.

 

 

 

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Hayabusa_WRM958_Wide_Gap_Screw_Lock_Hooks/descpage-HFWSL.html

@txchaser you using the 4/0 ewg ? I almost always manage to get 2-5 fish per bait 

Owner Twist Lock Light is very popular...Hyubusa are under rated forged hooks and a good choice IMO.

Tom

Mine are fished on a 4/0 Gammie EWG weightless, up side down.

@txchaserif you fish a lot of Fat Ika, and if you cheap like me lol. I got alternative for you. 50pk Mustad 3/0 do it mold, plus 50 twisted lock total less than 20 bucks. I use this hook for weighted Fluke and Fat Ika, otherwise just 4/0 Gama EWG hook.

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Do-it_Mustad_Flipping_91768BLN_Jig_Hook_50pk/descpage-DOIT917.html

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07VSB2CV6/ref=sspa_mw_detail_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

On 8/17/2016 at 9:28 AM, roadwarrior said:

4/0 EWG Offset Worm Hook. I fish Gamakatsu, Trokar and  XPoint.

 

As what Roadwarrior posted above.

 

Make sure the hook is large, sharp, and strong.

 

I use a strong line, like braid or a heavy test fluorocarbon tied directly to the hook, for Fat Ikas and still hope to make the hook set.

 

You can rig the Fat Ika backwards, too.

 

I use a heavy bait casting rod for the presentation.

 

Missed more than I have caught on a Fat Ika but it is fun to throw.