I gave the Neko Cover hook a honest try.  good hook, but they themselves destroyed a Senko by how they went thru the worm.  

 

I used the MotoHook in the past.  the family that made them retired.  the Dad made them.  Son, passed.  RIP.   never met the son, but I work with the brother.  Dad showed me how to tie them.  so I tried. the OG shiner hook was not available local, so I will mail order some.  I tried with a 1/0 Owner hook.

 

I kinda suck, but since these are for just myself, they are perfectly serviceable.  

 

the DIY MOTO HOOK!!

 

 

For me I think a 1/0 shiner hook is perfect.  Maybe a 2/0 if I’m feeling spunky. 
I am thrilled to not be a fly fisherman because I’m all thumbs. 

What is the benefit of that? I assume it’s something lol. 

@BrianMDTX-  t’s weedless. Very weedless

 

D’oh! I thought you tied your line to that lol. 😂 

I started using barbless hooks for wacky rigs. Its easier to remove the deep hooks

I use circle octopus hooks. It’s rare that I guthook a bass and just raise the rod and reel it in to set the hook. 
 

 But yeah, it does happen on occasion. Learning to remove the hook through the gills has been a godsend. 

3 hours ago, Darth-Baiter said:

good hook, but they themselves destroyed a Senko by how they went thru the worm

Doesn’t really matter what kind of hook you use. As soon as you insert any hook into a soft plastic stick bait, the life of that stick bait is very minimal.

 

Try using o rings or crossover rings or another type of band on the stick bait instead. It will greatly increase the life of the stick bait.

3 hours ago, gim said:

Doesn’t really matter what kind of hook you use. As soon as you insert any hook into a soft plastic stick bait, the life of that stick bait is very minimal.

 

Try using o rings or crossover rings or another type of band on the stick bait instead. It will greatly increase the life of the stick bait.

The cover Neko is next level destructive.  The bait keeper prong is rough on a SENKO.   And I do  use silicone tubing (normally).    When my usual hook went AWOL, I was exploring options. 
 

 

 

5 hours ago, PaulVE64 said:

I started using barbless hooks for wacky rigs. Its easier to remove the deep hooks

That's my biggest complaint with Wacky.

While it's an extremely effective way to catch bass here, you must pay attention to line and line tension or you invite the increaseed chance of deep hooking.

 

I carry wire cutters and limit the usage of Wacky in wind, bass have thanked me.

4 hours ago, gim said:

Try using o rings or crossover rings or another type of band on the stick bait instead. It will greatly increase the life of the stick bait.

I have literally caught over a dozen bass on a single wacky worm using VMC crossover rings.

Once I discovered their efficiency, ordered them in bulk. 

11 hours ago, Bird said:

I have literally caught over a dozen bass on a single wacky worm using VMC crossover rings

 

I mostly have used the o rings in the past but I did buy a pack of those crossover rings to try this season.

 

Have you found that you need the specialized pliers to get them on or can you do it properly without it?

On 5/18/2025 at 10:25 AM, Darth-Baiter said:

I gave the Neko Cover hook a honest try.  good hook, but they themselves destroyed a Senko by how they went thru the worm.  

 

I used the MotoHook in the past.  the family that made them retired.  the Dad made them.  Son, passed.  RIP.   never met the son, but I work with the brother.  Dad showed me how to tie them.  so I tried. the OG shiner hook was not available local, so I will mail order some.  I tried with a 1/0 Owner hook.

 

I kinda suck, but since these are for just myself, they are perfectly serviceable.  

 

the DIY MOTO HOOK!!

 

 

For me I think a 1/0 shiner hook is perfect.  Maybe a 2/0 if I’m feeling spunky. 
I am thrilled to not be a fly fisherman because I’m all thumbs. 

 

You know, Berkley makes that hook already and you can just buy them if you want:

 

 

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Berkley_Fusion19_Hooks_Weedless_Wide_Gap_Wacky_Hook/descpage-SFWW.html?from=basres

 

@gim

You can get by with simple fishing/needle nose pliers.

Just push the tail through and drag the ring where you want it.

24 minutes ago, casts_by_fly said:

 

You know, Berkley makes that hook already and you can just buy them if you want:

 

 

 

Gamakatsu makes one too.

16 hours ago, gim said:

Try using o rings or crossover rings or another type of band on the stick bait instead. It will greatly increase the life of the stick bait.

Length of vinyl tubing of proper diameter cut into 1/2"-2/3" lengths, 'nasal speculum' - way to duplicate the G7 or Arsenal rigging bands and tools.....at a fraction of the cost.

 

How come when someone puts 'Fishing' in front of inexpensive and easily obtainable items....they can charge 3x-4x the price - and people pay it 'happily'?

On 5/18/2025 at 5:04 PM, Darth-Baiter said:

 

 

16 hours ago, casts_by_fly said:

 

You know, Berkley makes that hook already and you can just buy them if you want:

 

 

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Berkley_Fusion19_Hooks_Weedless_Wide_Gap_Wacky_Hook/descpage-SFWW.html?from=basres

 

Yea. I heard I could pay someone to change my car oil too.  

 

I wanted to try to make them.   And not cuz I’m cheap.

1 hour ago, Darth-Baiter said:

Yea. I heard I could pay someone to change my car oil too.  

 

I wanted to try to make them.   And not cuz I’m cheap.

Fair enough.  I've got enough fly tying gear in the basement that I could outfit a shop and keep their shelves stocked with flies for a couple seasons.  As you've found, if you have a vice, some tying thread, and some heavy mono they aren't hard to make.  Then again, for the time and effort for me to dig out the gear to do it and for all the more I need of them I just bought a pack instead.  And i AM cheap.  

4 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

Length of vinyl tubing of proper diameter cut into 1/2"-2/3" lengths, 'nasal speculum' - way to duplicate the G7 or Arsenal rigging bands and tools.....at a fraction of the cost.

 

How come when someone puts 'Fishing' in front of inexpensive and easily obtainable items....they can charge 3x-4x the price - and people pay it 'happily'?

You ever shop for baby products? Makes fishing items seem like they are on blowout pricing. 

4 minutes ago, Functional said:

You ever shop for baby products?

Can't say that I have - wife and I never had kids....

1 hour ago, MN Fisher said:

Can't say that I have - wife and I never had kids....

It was an eye opening experience. 

 

 

EDIT: To stay on topic, looks a lot like the Berkly Fusion 19 hooks. 

 

What material did you use for the weedless part?