Except when using hollow tube baits, I'm wanting a hook gap of twice the bait thickness.  Other opinions?

Assuming you're talking a texas rigged bait and not open hook, it seems excessive to me.  1:1 is more than enough for me.  For instance, an EWG 4/0 on a standard rage bug gives about 1:1 and that's caught a bunch of fish for me with no issues.  If its softer plastic (like elaztech) I'm happy to go less.

 

I'm more concerned with the length of the hook matching the bait so that its not too long out of the back of the lure.  I'll take a smaller gap to get a shorter hook if that means it doesn't impinge on the action of the tail/rear body.

Here ya go!

 

 

6 hours ago, OkobojiEagle said:

I'm wanting a hook gap of twice the bait thickness.

I think that's a pretty good rule of thumb, but it wouldn't stop me from going 1.5X or 2.5X the thickness. Softness of plastic, design of bait (is there a hook knockout?) and wire diameter play into it too. And if you're skinning the hook off the side of a worm, you could go down to the same width as the worm.

As much gap as possible. I'm a big fan of straight shanks for Trigs, and 28/30 degree jigs.