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smiley_mallard Profile Photo
Bass Fishing in Northwest Louisiana
3+ caught in community pond on chatter bait

Smiley

3+ caught in community pond on chatter bait

Senkos - EWG vs Straight Shank Hooks (offset)

I've been flipping Senkos weightless texas rigged with a 3/0 ewg hook lately. Getting plenty of hits, and had on some decent fish on, only to have them throw my hook. When I look at my bait, it's bunched up around the bottom of the hook with the point barely poking through.

So Wednesday, I tried a 3/0 offset straight shank. Got a bite, landed a goggle eye. Got another bite, landed a 12 inch bass, got another bite, line broke. Went back to the 3/0 ewg because that was my last straight shank. Got a bite, set hook, fish runs for 2 seconds, throws my bait.... Same result with my bait. Happened again only a bigger fish. These were not bream/goggle eye nipping my bait.

What the heck am I doing wrong with these EWGs??? Also, I'm using a 6' med action rod with 15lb P-Line Flourocarbon and when I set the hook, I hammer that sucker....

Is it too much stretch in my line or give in my rod?

Should I break out the big stick? M/h 7' with 20lb mono?

I like using my 6' medium because I can really get under trees with it and it gives better action to the senko (IMO).

Should I stick with straight shank hooks?

I'm going to experiment next trip with straight shank and EWGs that I have modified slightly bent out so they are not in line with the hook eye.

Mostly a rant because I'm pissed about missing 2 good fish the other day. If you want to leave your 2 cents or tips from experience, feel free.

-Smiley
June 22, 2012 at 2:43pm
10 Comments
ElmerKeith Profile Photo
Posted June 22, 2012 at 4:59pm
Same Problem

I have been using the ewg and g lock worm hooks because they make the worm look good texas rigged, but I lose a lot of fish reeling them in. I was using a mh rod with mono, but recently switched to fluorocarbon thinking this may solve the problem bc of less stretch. Is a straight shank really a better hookset? Glad you posted this topic and hope we get some advice.

• View Reports by ElmerKeith
smiley_mallard Profile Photo
Posted June 22, 2012 at 5:25pm
My experience...

From my experience, and what I've read and heard, straight shanks hook up more. This may be debateable, but I'm convinced that I will catch more fish with a straight shank because the point and the eye aren't directly in line with each other and there's more space (typically) between the eye and the point. I'm going to give my modified EWGs (point bent slightly out) another try because otherwise they will be wasted money.

The EWGs do make your bait look more natural, but if you're missing fish it doesn't matter what your bait looks like.

I plan on getting to the bottom of this, whether it's through trial and error or advice from someone. I'm going to try the same set up with straight shanks to eliminate any variables.

-Smiley

• View Reports by smiley_mallard
smiley_mallard Profile Photo
Posted June 22, 2012 at 6:37pm
Ish Monroe

http://www.bassmaster.com/tips/straight-point

Hard to argue with the pros...

I've seen other videos of pros saying they use straight shank almost exclusively.

I'm making the switch.

• View Reports by smiley_mallard
Kruser Profile Photo
Posted June 22, 2012 at 8:08pm
worm hook

Do you push the hook all the way through and skin hook the tip?

http://www.wikihow.com/Texas-Rig-a-Plastic-Worm

• View Reports by Kruser
smiley_mallard Profile Photo
Posted June 23, 2012 at 10:12am
Kruser

yes, that's how I always hook them.

I'm chunking the ewgs I have and going with straight shank.

• View Reports by smiley_mallard
smiley_mallard Profile Photo
Posted June 23, 2012 at 10:14am
Kruser

yes, that's how I always hook them.

I'm chunking the ewgs I have and going with straight shank.

• View Reports by smiley_mallard
ElmerKeith Profile Photo
Posted June 23, 2012 at 12:38pm
Me Too

No more ewg hooks you convinced me. I have been hoping for a legit excuse for missing fish. I hope this is it.

• View Reports by ElmerKeith
CaptJS Profile Photo
Posted June 24, 2012 at 9:37am
Sounds like fun

I have been having the same problem fishing a craw. I changed to braid and then I drive my hook through the bait and make a channel. This has made my catch ratio much better.

• View Reports by CaptJS
 the fishdoctor Profile Photo
Posted June 24, 2012 at 11:54pm
Straight shank hooks

Straight shank hooks for all plastics except frogs and tube type (hollow) plastics. Ewg hooks for the latter two.

• View Reports by the fishdoctor
smiley_mallard Profile Photo
Posted July 03, 2012 at 12:16pm
So far after the switch...

Tested straight shanks in the neighborhood pond.

1 Bight = 1 Fish

I'm going to keep tabs on my percentage as I do more fishing though.

• View Reports by smiley_mallard

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