Since I'm getting back into bass fishing after a long time away I've gotta admit that some of the hook shapes and configurations available these days have me scratching my head.  Would anyone know of any links to pictures showing how some of these hooks are intended to be used?  I see all these different types of offsets at the hook eye and little corkscrews dangling near the hook eye.  But I don't want to order a bunch of stuff without first knowing how it is intended to be rigged.  Some of the bends I see near the hook eye really have me wondering how to thread a soft plastic on to them.  Are all these bends and offsets really useful or not?

DWS

A 4/0 EWG Offset Worm hook fits most of my single hook rigs.

8-)

A 4/0 EWG Offset Worm hook fits most of my single hook rigs.

8-)

Same here.

RW, do you prefer the O'shaugnessey bend or the round-bend hook?

I'm asking because I find myself migrating away from the line-of-pull hook over to the round-bend hook.

Roger

Yeah Buddy, 4/0 EWG for me too, although I like 5/0 and 6/0 too about as much. Gotta have'em for my bigger baits and the the big ole girls.

www.ragetail.com

EWG for me too. In my opinion, they are just easier and more versatile than a standard worm hook.

                             -searoach

For anybody who was wondering...EWG stands for Extra Wide Gap

I'm also a big EWG hook user, but my favorite hooks sizes are: 1/0, 3/0, and 5/0 flippin' hooks. Then again since I've become a drop shot junkie, my favorite hook of all is a #1 or 2 Gami Drop Shot hook.

Actually, I was more curious about the eye end of the hook and how you those various offsets, corkscrews, etc. are actually supposed to be threaded into the soft plastics.  Some of those offset bends look like they would tear up the bait trying to get it pushed over the bend.

DWS

The "offset" doesn't tear the plastic, you match the hook exit with the top of the hook to hold the bait.

RoLo,

Interesting point which has come up a lot lately. Personally, I don't miss many with the traditional EWG, so the line angle does not seem to come into play. For bigger soft plastics, 7" Senko, I use a 5/0 Offset Shank, Round Bend.

8-)

Also do not even mess with sickle hooks. These are the hooks that are shaped like A miniature sickle. It is not that you miss any, in my opinion they are harder to remove, I.E. they cause more damage to the lip.

                     -searoach