Yesterday I was fishing with 2 different Z Man baits on a Texas Rig, their Elaztech senko style worm and the ProCraw. In both cases, I had numerous times that the baits ended-up balled-up on the hook, the sort of way it tends to happen when a fish hits but you miss it. But I never felt any bites and it seemed to happen a LOT. 

Is this a thing that happens with Elaztech baits? We do have a lot of weeds on our lakes here, so I could see it getting caught up in the weeds and maybe that caused them to ball up. Weather has been very stormy here lately, so I could also imagine there being some curious but very picky fish.

First off, I am mostly unhappy with everything Elaztech.

Giant PIA to rig, so I don't.

However, any plastic can ball up onto the hook point and impede a solid hookup.

I use Parasite Clips when rigging anything soft plastic onto an EWG hook.

These little units virtually eliminate the dreaded balled-up plastic. 

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Parasite_Clips_Stainless_Bait_Keepers_10pk/descpage-PC.html

I use the small and medium sizes the most.

A-Jay

 

 

 

Parasite clips work great.  If you want to you can make your own.  It’s pretty easy to do.

I’ve never been able to keep Elaztech baits Texas rigged without help. I stick a piece of cheap 50lb mono through the bait and the hook eye, then leave about 1/8” stick out on each side. Works pretty good, and the spool of Zebco mono was only $2 at Wally World.

Clips or cps springs can be added to hooks to help.  Hooks with a keeper up near the eye help.  In a pinch, take a rubber bobber stop in a large hole size, hold it in a pair of pliers, and thread it up the hook (lighter wire hooks only obviously).  I keep a couple 1/0 gamakatsu light wires with one on them for this purpose.  

I dont know what hook youi are using. I learned this from a youtuber. Take a black bobber stop and run it up the hook. It takes a little finagleing but its doable. I use those black stops. Not the crappie size ones, they are too small. Get them on amazon, super inexpensive. It keeps the worm in place. I'd say 99 percent effective.I rig them up at home so not have to do it on the water.

I find a dab of superglue gel keeps elaztech in place. 

I have a love/hate relationship with Elaztech.

The stuff is crazy durable and the best material I've found for Neds and Neko, stands up better than anything I've tried.

 

Trying to get it perfectly straight and readjusting on the boat is somewhat of a problem though along with bunching on a T-rig.

Harder things in life I'm sure.

The manufacture recognized this balling issue and made their own new hooks with both a front and rear keeper called the ZWG. Can confirm they work as advertised.

 

Prior to that I used a few methods.

 

First, a ridiculously easy and slick little tool called the Rapid Hook All. It installs plastic discs on your hook. Can use in front or back..or both. Top or bottom. Just snugs up to the plastic an keeps it fixed in place. I still use it on BOTH elastomer and plastisol baits. It is impossible for the elastech to pull through a disc except after hundreds of fish. Just imagine how hard it would be to shove a disc through elastec and you get the idea. It's a really great product.

 

It also allows delicate plastics to survive longer too.

 

I've also used Decoy L11 Silicone Gripper. It's a silicone stopper that I use as a cushion on a Free Rig or a stopper on a hook...top or bottom. Nice piece of kit. I mostly use it as a bumper cushion these days.

ZMan has added salt in nearly all these baits I use Owner hooks w CPS generally I wacky rig them and the same w a floating worm that I use sometimes for a reverse wacky rig. 

11 hours ago, RRocket said:

First, a ridiculously easy and slick little tool called the Rapid Hook All. It installs plastic discs on your hook. Can use in front or back..or both. Top or bottom. Just snugs up to the plastic an keeps it fixed in place. I still use it on BOTH elastomer and plastisol baits. It is impossible for the elastech to pull through a disc except after hundreds of fish. Just imagine how hard it would be to shove a disc through elastec and you get the idea. It's a really great product.

^^^ This!!!

Here is my version of a parasite clip.  I use 20 ga galvanized steel wire.  The bait stays in place when you set the hook.

Dollop of Superglue

I use the Rapid Fishing Solutions Hook All and it works on all hooks and any Elaztech baits, including Nikko baits.

 

Mustad grip-pin have worked great for me with the giant TRD.

On 8/18/2025 at 11:34 PM, RRocket said:

The manufacture recognized this balling issue and made their own new hooks with both a front and rear keeper called the ZWG. Can confirm they work as advertised.

 

Prior to that I used a few methods.

 

First, a ridiculously easy and slick little tool called the Rapid Hook All. It installs plastic discs on your hook. Can use in front or back..or both. Top or bottom. Just snugs up to the plastic an keeps it fixed in place. I still use it on BOTH elastomer and plastisol baits. It is impossible for the elastech to pull through a disc except after hundreds of fish. Just imagine how hard it would be to shove a disc through elastec and you get the idea. It's a really great product.

 

It also allows delicate plastics to survive longer too.

 

I've also used Decoy L11 Silicone Gripper. It's a silicone stopper that I use as a cushion on a Free Rig or a stopper on a hook...top or bottom. Nice piece of kit. I mostly use it as a bumper cushion these days.

With the Rapid Hook All, don't you have trouble getting them OFF the hook when you are finished using the bait?

6 hours ago, Tackleholic said:

With the Rapid Hook All, don't you have trouble getting them OFF the hook when you are finished using the bait?

Yes! 

 

But they are so effective and the price so reasonable, it's a non issue for me.

Why would you want to take it off the hook in the first place?  I’m sure that I have at least 1/2 dozen Elaztech baits rigged on setups in the boat right now ready for duty on Friday.

7 hours ago, Tackleholic said:

With the Rapid Hook All, don't you have trouble getting them OFF the hook when you are finished using the bait?

Not really, just grab the tab with you pliers it'll back off past the barb without much fuss. I don't remove the until it's used up(typically 50 - 60 fish).

I T-rig the Bang Stick alot and the Owner Cover Shot in a 4/0 is my hook of choice. Pretty easy to catch dozens of fish on one without it ever slipping down the hook. 

1 hour ago, GreenPig said:

Not really, just grab the tab with you pliers it'll back off past the barb without much fuss. I don't remove the until it's used up(typically 50 - 60 fish).

Yes, that's what I do. I don't find it particularly easy getting it over the barb. But I use finer wire hooks, so I'm being careful.

 

And yes, also agree they last a long time!

On 8/19/2025 at 12:34 AM, RRocket said:

First, a ridiculously easy and slick little tool called the Rapid Hook All. It installs plastic discs on your hook. Can use in front or back..or both. Top or bottom. Just snugs up to the plastic an keeps it fixed in place. I still use it on BOTH elastomer and plastisol baits. It is impossible for the elastech to pull through a disc except after hundreds of fish. Just imagine how hard it would be to shove a disc through elastec and you get the idea. It's a really great product.

 

 

Not sure where I read about it, but a while back i started using the square end of a small wire tie and run the hook point thru the hole to use as a bait stop on my swimbaits and spinnerbait trailers. It works pretty well and is super cheap.

On 8/18/2025 at 9:09 PM, ElGuapo928 said:

I’ve never been able to keep Elaztech baits Texas rigged without help. I stick a piece of cheap 50lb mono through the bait and the hook eye, then leave about 1/8” stick out on each side. Works pretty good, and the spool of Zebco mono was only $2 at Wally World.

 

@ElGuapo928 I’m trying to picture how this works, but if you have some photos of your setup, I’d love to see them. I might grab some Zebco mono from Wally World and give it a try.

27 minutes ago, Falkus said:

 

@ElGuapo928 I’m trying to picture how this works, but if you have some photos of your setup, I’d love to see them. I might grab some Zebco mono from Wally World and give it a try.

If I understand correctly, I think he buries the hook eye into the plastic and then sticks the mono through the plastic and the hook eye. The mono serves as a lock pin so the bait can't pull back.

 

I'm interested to see photos too! 

1 hour ago, RRocket said:

If I understand correctly, I think he buries the hook eye into the plastic and then sticks the mono through the plastic and the hook eye. The mono serves as a lock pin so the bait can't pull back.

 

I'm interested to see photos too! 

That’s exactly it - next time I rig one up I’ll grab a picture. The cheapo 50 lb is about as stiff as weedeater string, so it works really good.