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.

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

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.

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

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

yes, that's how I always hook them.

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

yes, that's how I always hook them.

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

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

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.

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

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.