Never understood the hate on EWG! Gamakatsu EWGs have never failed me...Caught hundreds of bass on them. I'll keep using them. The only other worm hook I use (and I do love and recommend) is the Hayabusa WRM262. Incredible hook fellas...incredible! Pretty much the only hook I use when I'm fishing 6" Robos...
This is my go to on weightless zoom flukes and bug style baits to be honest my hookset ratio is higher on the ewg then any other soft plastic hook just my opinion
been bass fishing hard for 48 years. won my first bass tournament in 1978, all this is not my first rodeo..... the style of hook depends on the type of soft plastic your using. plus how you put the hook in the bait effects hook set results.and your rod and how well the fisherman actually sets the hook, also in spring , spawning fish will pick up a worm by the tail and swim a couple feet and drop it. I too, experimented with straight shank hooks vs other style hooks and found just the opposite of what you're saying. straight shank hooks are harder to rightly put in the worm in order for it to hang straight. and reduce line twist. I have observed many fishermen lose a high percentage of fish but it sawn't so much the wide gap hook it was other factors like poor hook set, whimpy rods, hook buried so far inside the plastic it hindered hook penetration.etc... Randy Blaukett who I have fished against and even with him in the same boat and someone I respect, loves the straight shank hook and swears the EWG hook is reason for losing fish, but on this issue I have to respectfully disagree. final point...there a multiple reasons for poor hook ups when fishing soft plastic baits. I guarantee it's not just the hook style. Good fishing everyone!
well said, my pops hates using ewgs because he completely buries the hook point in the plastic. i told him over and over he wasnt getting hooksets because he was completely burying the hook as if it was a straight shank, but the old man is stubborn, so he switched back to straight shanks for everything. Some people are just stuck in their ways, like good ol randy blaukat.
Since moving to Florida and fishing a lot of swim baits and magnum speed worms I’ve found I need the wider gap of the EWG point to clear the fat plastic. Just my 2 cent opinion
it’s cause he is soft and can’t set the hook. I’ve never had a fish come off because of the hook alone. EWG is the only way to go. owner jungle is literally the best worm hook
@@holdengamblethe jungle hooks are the only hooks I use anymore besides gamakatsu heavy flipping hooks and berkley fusion 19 weedless wide gap. I mostly power fish so I used to bend out alot of hooks but not these 3, they are solid
You’ve probably lost more fish than I have caught but I religiously use ewg hooks and if the fish takes the bait they’re hooked. I don’t remember having a fish come off last year when using one. I have used the hybrid hook but personally I haven’t noticed a difference between the two.. good video, keep em coming. BTW, i like the Finn shirts.
I agree on the EWG hooks however I started using the owner haymaker EWG and I am pinning them way better! When you gotta use a EWG due to bait design this one works.
Welcome to the club! I ditched them long ago for the same reason - failed hook sets and higher loss ratio than standard offset. When you’ve got a bunch of plastic and the hooks not oriented upward in the fishes mouth (which we have little or no control over) - the chance of the hooking up go down. The only upside is that if it’s a clean hook set, they ain’t getn off, but the downside outweighs them imo.
I never have issues with EWG’s. I can’t even remember the last time I had one come off. In the summer I’m fishing basically every day. Whether it be 45 minutes, or all day. I just never experienced anything like that. 🤔
@@donallenjr2051 Ponds and smaller lakes mainly. But I do fish big lakes like Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. Rarely do I fish vertically with an EWG unless it’s like short pitching targets. I primarily use trokar and owner jungle ewg’s tho. Not sure if that makes a difference or not?
I believe you. A thicker bait, like a Mag Ultra Vibe, may need an EWG and I use the smallest Owner J-Lite. But for thinner plastics, it's either Eagle Claw L093G or L18G (grip-pin). The lighter the hook wire the more "action" and, b/c they're thin, hook penetration is solid... just play 'em when landing 'em. Always size the hook where the point will be as close to the nose of the craw soft plastic as possible b/c they'll aim for the pinchers first. Hook rigging soft plastics is an art.
Ever since I was taught how to bass fish in the late 80’s, the offset worm hook is what we used. I never liked how the ewg looked, and I thought that it affected how the worm was worked. Great video
Thanx Tyler. I was chopping at the bit to bring the Gammy hybrid during your video. Glad you mentioned them. 3 years running have not lost a fish on that hook. Most of the time pliers are needed to remove those hooks. I get it that it's a percentage thing but I fish 2 clubs and TBF and jump in any open I can. I do still use worm hooks (Gammy/Redline) because I like the way it looks with worms and drags onthe bottom. That Hybrid worm hook it amazing even on a back hand hook set. Maybe it's my hook set because I still do a snap set. 100% for 3 years! I miss a bass this year it's your fault!
I switched to straight shank for short casts and then ringed EWG for long casts. The ringed EWG hook ups are pinned vs a good number of just skin hook ups with a standard EWG.
You nailed it ! You did minimize the percentages though. As an Angler of over 50 yrs i too noticed the deficit of boating fish with an EWG. I love how well they set up with plastics, buuut.. Side note, the lighter gage EWG for finess plastics have to much give. Not necessarily bending out, but giving enough to not penitrate well. Just my experience with them. Stay safe
good info, Tyler! The only AWG hook I use now is the Gama G-finesse hybrid which I think you’re talking about. I also use it a lot on flukes, but last year I wised up. Since Primarily fishing open water schoolers, I switched over to a Gama straight shank exposed hook. That’s kind of a no-brainer in that situation. Lol.
Wide gap hooks vs is standard offset or straight shank hooks is based on quite a few things One is bait thickness If you put a fat Kietech for example on a straight shank there is way less hook point exposed to hook a fish The wide gap in that case provides a larger area to hook up But if you used a zoom trick worm on a thing gauge wire straight shank hook. That’s perfect. As the bait’s diameter is much smaller But just like anything else, music , cars , sports Everyone has different experiences and based on those experiences different opinions
I stopped using traditional EWG maybe 2 years ago? And yeah it's because I bought a pack of the Gammy hooks you mentioned. Not that I felt it was better or anything, it's just that using the hybrid hook let me downsize my tackle. No more worm hooks or EWG anymore, which I also rarely used over straight shank.
I totally agree! Lost 2 five pounders 10 minutes apart fishing a fluke with a weighted EWG hook. Caught smaller bass on it because they would bite down on it and get hooked. A bigger bass would just inhale the whole bait and when you would set the hook the bait would just be pinned against the inside of its mouth with no hook penetration.. So when the bass jumped and opened its mouth my bait would just fly out of its mouth and my bait would still be perfectly rigged and skin hooked!
I've ran into the same thing happen. I was fishing a local lake that is known to have huge bass in it, when it happened to me. It was early spawn and I found that the bigger fish were in laydowns in about 6 ft of water. I was throwing the Rojas fighting frog in the 4 inch one. I was using a 5/0 ewg bc that's what was recommended. I caught 2 good ones right off the bat, then lost 3 really good fish back to back and I couldn't figure out what was going on, so I went to a 6/0, missed 4 fish in a row. Then I figured it out. I was so aggravated bc I couldn't get any of these fish in the boat that I just started trying different hooks. I tied a straight shank 4/0 thin wire hook on and it was money. I didn't miss another fish that day. I should have caught probably 20 fish that day all over 3 lbs but instead I only caught 9. That smaller straight shank hook they were able to get it deeper in their mouth and the lighter wire let it zip through that thicker plastic with ease and it would just bury itself in the fish. I had to use my pliersto get the hook out of every fish. So I agree with Tyler and say don't believe all the hype you see, straight and regular offset hooks has been around way longer and that's bc they work!
Many people push the bigger hook thinking when you should go smaller to get a proper hook set and eat from the fish with out leaving a crazy hole in its mouth that makes it easier to shake. Bigger hooks are more prone to turn sideways and slide out the mouth as well. Crazy wide differences between content creators/anglers on this topic, just saw a guy convince me to use basic EWG over flipping hooks with very valid reasoning on why flipping hooks cause you to lose fish and baits. A very diverse personal experience topic for sure.
@@donallenjr2051 thats fine, lots of people do it but I'm also hearing stories where it's caused a lost fished. You don't have to hookset as hard with some of the lower halfed hooks and they penetrate a bit easier. All going to boil down to personal experience and preference.
I only use them for the zoom horny toad 4/0. All other applications I use straight shank round bend for worms tk180 or trokar flipping hooks, 3/0-5/0 depending on big the bait is. They have been very dependable. Great video brother peace and God Bless.
TOTALLY AGREE, I’ve always had a decent landed to lost record with EWGs. But lately I’ve lost way too many fish,including a really big one last week. Today I switched to a standard worm hook with a Googan Dart fluke and got 3 for 3. I’m going to experiment with modifying the EWG by bending the barb up slightly. Tight lines
I never really ever fished EWG hooks until Covid and at that point I bought some because that is all I could get. I usually fish with 1/0 and 2/0 hooks because I’m usually finesse fishing. I use finesse to put a limit in the boat asap in a tournament and when I’m practicing. The set up I fished I’ve boated probably 99.9% of the fish that bit. As soon as I went from a standard offset to an EWG, I started loosing fish. They’d just pull off about halfway back to the boat. I’m not even sure I hooked the fish that pulled off.
Some anglers, myself included, "open up" the wide gap so the point is a little higher AND comes through the plastic at a better angle. That said, the newer "hybrid" hooks are preferred. For relatively thin plastics (i.e. trick worms, baby brush hogs) the offset worm hook is the gold standard, in my opinion.
Measure the opening distance between the hook point and shank on an EWG versus an offset worm hook. The offset has a much larger opening. I think this makes a big difference in hook up ratio, which is why I stopped using EWG's for a lot of presentations.
I like to describe it as a spectrum of hookup ratio to weedlessness. Straight shank most likely to get snagged if it pierces through the plastic, ewg least likely to get snagged. Straight shank best hookup ratio. I change the hook based on the plastic density if I’m being super particular but usually offset wins because I’m lazy and it works
You are right. Went through the same painful learning process and stopped using EWGs. Yeah they work most of the time but they will cost you money in tournament situations or possibly a fish of a lifetime. I want all my outdoor gear as close to 100 percent as I can get.
I switched to the haymamker from Owner if you can get them and the Pro Tech from Blakemore TTI it looks like the Owner Haymamker. I use straight shank hooks to flip and pitch. Any updates on the 4 and 5 XL Shirts
Slightly bend out the EWG maybe 6 or 10 degrees add heat shrink tubing cut at an angle with a dab of superglue after to prevent the worm from slipping down.
Only used ewg for tubes and toads, but am only using for tubes this coming season. I bought a screw lock double hook for toads instead. Have always ued offset round bend hooks for t-rig plastics and never had issues.
I used the Gamakatsu EWG for a long time but not anymore for the same reasons... The G finesse hybrid EWG they make is a pretty good one as well. That said the Rig-N-Hook from Owner or straight shank heavy duty flippin hook from VMC is what I throw the most because you can get them but the Haymaker from Owner is phenomenal and by far my favorite hook on the market. I've even punched mats with them on an 8ft XH/XF with 60lb braid. It's just a shame you can't get them more often.
I agree with you....I do catch fish using the EWG Offset but have missed a number of bass because the hook does not set well and the fish wiggle off. Thanks for clearing this up. Thought it was me. 😁😁😁😂
I just started fishing with these on Texas rigs. Using 6th sense 6/0 hooks on a 5” senko. Never had a problem with hook up compared to some of the other stuff in my tackle box. I’m even hooking up things I don’t think I should be. I’ve caught two 3-4” Bream on it 😂 Hilarious pictures of a Bream hanging off a hook near the same size of it trying to eat a worm bigger than it is. I’ve only missed a few bites on it and judging by how the rig looked when I pulled it up all the missed have been tail strikes on the senko. I’m also using monofilament and sometimes I’m casting pretty far out the stretch on my set is wild sometimes. Have you considered just trying different brands and styles? I’m a firm believer that not all hooks are the same.
I’m a Texas rig enthusiast to say the least. You make a good point, no pun intended, I’m gonna try straight shank hooks again. I like how the ewg sits with the soft plastic but it’s not a must. I think I’ll give the gamgatzu ewg a try as well.
Thanks for the info Tyler. Personally haven't had an issue with EWG hooks. However, I have used offset worm hooks in the past and noticed I was gut hooking the fish. Maybe because of the smaller profile, not sure.
100 % agree you do lose a high percentage of fish due to the bait "balling" up on a EWG hook. BUT, I also get more bites with a EWG hook, particularly with a T rigged senko because I'm able to get the plastic on the hook straighter, which makes it look more natural
I live in Central Florida - the EWG hook brand just needs the hook point offset from the line tie where it is positioned higher than the line eye. There are some good brands out there.
Interesting thoughts. I only use EWG for thicker plastics but I'm going to try fishing sone Arky style jigs with an EWG hook this year. Hopefully it works.
I've heard of bending the point to the right of the keeper a little to fix that problem. But i've also heard good things about the G finesse hybrid worm hook.
Thanks for this video, I've lost a good percentage of fish on a 5/0 EWG hook when fishing Texas Rigged Ol Monster and Magnum Ole Monster worms. I'm going to test offset and straight shank worms to find the one I'll settle on
Ive seen just as many videos hating on EWGs as I have the straight shank hooks. Its really personal choice. I have often wondered if the way someone sets the hook matters? I set the hook to the side. At about a 70 degree angle. I love the Extra extra wide gap hooks. Especially when Im throwing a thicker bait.
Not sure what to say here. Love this channel, but I can’t relate to this problem. I’m just a weekend angler, but I catch hundreds of bass every year on a Gamakatsu 4/0 EWG with speed worms, stick worms, craws and toads. I literally never lose a fish. Absolutely zero. In fact, in many cases the hook goes completely through the fish’s face like a gaff and I need pliers to remove it.
The Jugular hooks by 6th Sense are phenomenal - very similar. Unless it's in REALLY thick cover, I will always choose an offset hook style over the EWG
You don’t mention the weedless design of the EWG, which is why it exists. If you get hung up, you won’t be hooking anything, much less getting shaken off. When I do get shaken off with an EWG it is usually because I let some slack in, especially since I flatten the barb. I like to think I give the bass a sporting chance so that when I land a nice one, I can thank proper technique and feel good about it. I don’t do tournaments; I’m not good enough to compete. I’m just out there relaxing and having fun.
I like the ewg’s for fishing weedless in Florida where there can be alot of grass at time. Never tried the offset. I’ll have to try it, but never really had issues with ewg’s either. 6th sense makes some really nice ones.
EWG is the best style of hook in most situations. I've caught over 20k fish on them. Not all ewgs are designed properly though. The ones that are turned in are no good.
I still to this day, use a lot of tru turn hooks for T Rigs just like I did in the 80's. For most.of my other soft plastics, I really like .Owner screw locks, my Gamakatsu's definitely starting to collect dust.
I went through this mindset about 10 years ago and I realized i was just not setting the hook right. but thats as far as ill elaborate. I feel your frustration though.
In my own experience with ewg hooks setting the hook with a vertical hookset is always effective however a sweeping hookset tends to have more missed hooksets and lower quality hookups. Other styles of hooks with more ofset points have easier access to the hook point allowing hooksets from more angles. This is in no way scientific just my observations from fishing.
I got a pack of offset round bends to try on my speed craws and went 14 for 15 on hook ups the next day. I'll still miss some but not as many as the ewg hooks I had. I use a mh spinning rod in a kayak and was having trouble getting solid hook sets. I didn't fish a Texas rig because of it but its all I've used lately. 😂
Hey Tyler! That the reasoning behind Castledines video on the owner haymaker hook. (See video.) I use owners anyway. Lost too many fish with gamakatsu with small barb! Great vid!
good info, Brother! One thing that my Grandfather taught me when I was young was to bend the hook point a "smidge" to the left or right and up. I actually did a couple experiments over the years and found that using Papaws Smidge I caught more fish
Back in the day the hot new worm hook was curved - the theory being whatever the hook position was in the fishes mouth it would twist in the fishes mouth for a higher hookup rate, but they went out of fashion after a few years.
I use a Gamakatsu superline EWG hook and I can honestly say I have never lost a fish on one. I also use a mustad or trokar for flipping/pitching they do ok .. whenever I fish isolated cover I’ll switch over to the superline never fails.
Hey Tyler, thanks for the vid! I have a couple of questions. Is your hookset a sharp, straight up hookset, or does it swing to the side a little more? Do you think that would have anything to do with it? And also, do you think the actions of the soft plastics are different on the different styles of hooks? I haven't had them in like a swimming pool to test it myself, I was just wondering if you had any experience. Thanks!
I agree and disagree with what you said about the EWG. When I use a EWG, most of the time I will set the hook hard. Now if I don't set the hook hard, then I have lost some fish.
I think I got Googan Hammer hooks in a box set once. I noticed the difference immediately. I now use the Owner hooks. Alsoooo not sure if its me but I think with ewgs, the plastics spin/ swirl in the water way more.
Interesting. I actually switched to only using ewg on flipping light cover. With the percent of bass that will actually hit a bait. And the odds of catching. I'm sure a lot of fish losses could be, pre ripped lips... but no one wants to go down that math. 😅
EWG have too much give. They're springy unless they're thicker gauge but then it takes a lot of hookset power to get it to penetrate. I switched back to offset a few years ago.
I need to get some of those hybrids. But with all that’s been said, I’ve never experienced losing fish on EWGs. Once or twice but not enough to to say hay I’m done with them. Worms I use off set hooks. Thinker bits , EWGs. I’ve tried straight shank, just trying them T-rigging , they get hung up to much compared to a EWG or work hook. Maybe trying to set the hook to soon? The bass not getting the bait all the way in its mouth? I watch pros all the time cussing because they loose fish. Well if you watch they don’t let the fish get the bait all the way in its mouth. It’s like as soon as they feel a little bump, they try to rip the head of the fish off🤦🏻♂️🤷🏻♂️, and pop goes the bait. Hooks are sharp you don’t have to set the hook like it’s the end of the world 😂😂😂. But it’s all personal preference like anything else. But I definitely want to try the hybrids. That’s definitely a better hook of you go with a EWG style. God bless.
I have a mega hook and it's about 7cm, I never fished using it and its suppose to be able to catch a small tuna, maybe a shark, and other large fishes. Also it's like one of those classic fishing hooks. I'm not sure if the fishing hook is great or not but if anyone knows or have a hook that sized pls tell me.
Never understood the hate on EWG! Gamakatsu EWGs have never failed me...Caught hundreds of bass on them. I'll keep using them. The only other worm hook I use (and I do love and recommend) is the Hayabusa WRM262. Incredible hook fellas...incredible! Pretty much the only hook I use when I'm fishing 6" Robos...
Same I can't even remember ever having issues hooking up. If I get a bite then they get caught I never thought much about it
the secret is that this is what generates views unfortunately
I require an ewg on my power shaky heads. It just feels like the plastic can get out of the way better
Anyone that says anything bad about gamakatsu ewg hooks is a clown.
This is
my go to on weightless zoom flukes and bug style baits to be honest my hookset ratio is higher on the ewg then any other soft plastic hook just my opinion
been bass fishing hard for 48 years. won my first bass tournament in 1978, all this is not my first rodeo..... the style of hook depends on the type of soft plastic your using. plus how you put the hook in the bait effects hook set results.and your rod and how well the fisherman actually sets the hook, also in spring , spawning fish will pick up a worm by the tail and swim a couple feet and drop it. I too, experimented with straight shank hooks vs other style hooks and found just the opposite of what you're saying. straight shank hooks are harder to rightly put in the worm in order for it to hang straight. and reduce line twist. I have observed many fishermen lose a high percentage of fish but it sawn't so much the wide gap hook it was other factors like poor hook set, whimpy rods, hook buried so far inside the plastic it hindered hook penetration.etc... Randy Blaukett who I have fished against and even with him in the same boat and someone I respect, loves the straight shank hook and swears the EWG hook is reason for losing fish, but on this issue I have to respectfully disagree. final point...there a multiple reasons for poor hook ups when fishing soft plastic baits. I guarantee it's not just the hook style. Good fishing everyone!
well said, my pops hates using ewgs because he completely buries the hook point in the plastic. i told him over and over he wasnt getting hooksets because he was completely burying the hook as if it was a straight shank, but the old man is stubborn, so he switched back to straight shanks for everything. Some people are just stuck in their ways, like good ol randy blaukat.
Randy is awesome , love his videos
Since moving to Florida and fishing a lot of swim baits and magnum speed worms I’ve found I need the wider gap of the EWG point to clear the fat plastic. Just my 2 cent opinion
Agreed
it’s cause he is soft and can’t set the hook. I’ve never had a fish come off because of the hook alone. EWG is the only way to go. owner jungle is literally the best worm hook
I'm in FL also and I totally agree with you. EWG works way better for me. Rarely lose a fish.
@@holdengamblethe jungle hooks are the only hooks I use anymore besides gamakatsu heavy flipping hooks and berkley fusion 19 weedless wide gap. I mostly power fish so I used to bend out alot of hooks but not these 3, they are solid
Agreed
You’ve probably lost more fish than I have caught but I religiously use ewg hooks and if the fish takes the bait they’re hooked. I don’t remember having a fish come off last year when using one. I have used the hybrid hook but personally I haven’t noticed a difference between the two.. good video, keep em coming. BTW, i like the Finn shirts.
I like your logic. Good video
The Hybrid Worm hook goes clean through the fishes face every time. I don't have a crazy hook set but that hook has not lost me a fish in 3 years.
Try an owner haymaker. Has the benefits of an ewg but with offset point. I have had great luck with it.
It's got the angle pull of a straight shank too. Can't beat em. Wish gamakatsu made that design
I agree on the EWG hooks however I started using the owner haymaker EWG and I am pinning them way better!
When you gotta use a EWG due to bait design this one works.
Welcome to the club! I ditched them long ago for the same reason - failed hook sets and higher loss ratio than standard offset. When you’ve got a bunch of plastic and the hooks not oriented upward in the fishes mouth (which we have little or no control over) - the chance of the hooking up go down. The only upside is that if it’s a clean hook set, they ain’t getn off, but the downside outweighs them imo.
I never have issues with EWG’s. I can’t even remember the last time I had one come off. In the summer I’m fishing basically every day. Whether it be 45 minutes, or all day. I just never experienced anything like that. 🤔
Do you fish deep/vertically a lot? I have less ewg problems when I’m fishing smaller plastics with a more vertical hookset.
@@donallenjr2051 Ponds and smaller lakes mainly. But I do fish big lakes like Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. Rarely do I fish vertically with an EWG unless it’s like short pitching targets. I primarily use trokar and owner jungle ewg’s tho. Not sure if that makes a difference or not?
I do like the Owner Haymaker hooks. It’s about the only EWG i will use.
I believe you. A thicker bait, like a Mag Ultra Vibe, may need an EWG and I use the smallest Owner J-Lite. But for thinner plastics, it's either Eagle Claw L093G or L18G (grip-pin). The lighter the hook wire the more "action" and, b/c they're thin, hook penetration is solid... just play 'em when landing 'em. Always size the hook where the point will be as close to the nose of the craw soft plastic as possible b/c they'll aim for the pinchers first. Hook rigging soft plastics is an art.
Ever since I was taught how to bass fish in the late 80’s, the offset worm hook is what we used. I never liked how the ewg looked, and I thought that it affected how the worm was worked. Great video
Thanx Tyler. I was chopping at the bit to bring the Gammy hybrid during your video. Glad you mentioned them. 3 years running have not lost a fish on that hook. Most of the time pliers are needed to remove those hooks. I get it that it's a percentage thing but I fish 2 clubs and TBF and jump in any open I can.
I do still use worm hooks (Gammy/Redline) because I like the way it looks with worms and drags onthe bottom.
That Hybrid worm hook it amazing even on a back hand hook set. Maybe it's my hook set because I still do a snap set. 100% for 3 years! I miss a bass this year it's your fault!
I switched to straight shank for short casts and then ringed EWG for long casts. The ringed EWG hook ups are pinned vs a good number of just skin hook ups with a standard EWG.
You nailed it ! You did minimize the percentages though. As an Angler of over 50 yrs i too noticed the deficit of boating fish with an EWG. I love how well they set up with plastics, buuut.. Side note, the lighter gage EWG for finess plastics have to much give. Not necessarily bending out, but giving enough to not penitrate well. Just my experience with them. Stay safe
good info, Tyler! The only AWG hook I use now is the Gama G-finesse hybrid which I think you’re talking about. I also use it a lot on flukes, but last year I wised up. Since Primarily fishing open water schoolers, I switched over to a Gama straight shank exposed hook. That’s kind of a no-brainer in that situation. Lol.
Wide gap hooks vs is standard offset or straight shank hooks is based on quite a few things
One is bait thickness If you put a fat Kietech for example on a straight shank there is way less hook point exposed to hook a fish
The wide gap in that case provides a larger area to hook up
But if you used a zoom trick worm on a thing gauge wire straight shank hook. That’s perfect. As the bait’s diameter is much smaller
But just like anything else, music , cars , sports
Everyone has different experiences and based on those experiences different opinions
So what do you use when you are fishing a thick bait like a cover scat? There's baits that you just cannot use a straight shank or a offset hook.
Thanks for the amazing tips! I love these keep them coming. I love the way you explain why you do what you do. Makes total sense!
I'm with you. I prefer an offset worm hook for worms for sure. I use an EWG for flukes.
I stopped using traditional EWG maybe 2 years ago? And yeah it's because I bought a pack of the Gammy hooks you mentioned.
Not that I felt it was better or anything, it's just that using the hybrid hook let me downsize my tackle. No more worm hooks or EWG anymore, which I also rarely used over straight shank.
What tournaments are you fishing this season?
I’ve had similar issues with rags but I just slightly bend out the hook. That might save some people money rather than buying different hooks
What would you use on a 6 inch paddle tail?
Or perhaps a 5 inch Gulp jerk shad?
Please let me know and I will give them a shot.
I totally agree! Lost 2 five pounders 10 minutes apart fishing a fluke with a weighted EWG hook. Caught smaller bass on it because they would bite down on it and get hooked. A bigger bass would just inhale the whole bait and when you would set the hook the bait would just be pinned against the inside of its mouth with no hook penetration.. So when the bass jumped and opened its mouth my bait would just fly out of its mouth and my bait would still be perfectly rigged and skin hooked!
I've ran into the same thing happen. I was fishing a local lake that is known to have huge bass in it, when it happened to me. It was early spawn and I found that the bigger fish were in laydowns in about 6 ft of water. I was throwing the Rojas fighting frog in the 4 inch one. I was using a 5/0 ewg bc that's what was recommended. I caught 2 good ones right off the bat, then lost 3 really good fish back to back and I couldn't figure out what was going on, so I went to a 6/0, missed 4 fish in a row. Then I figured it out. I was so aggravated bc I couldn't get any of these fish in the boat that I just started trying different hooks. I tied a straight shank 4/0 thin wire hook on and it was money. I didn't miss another fish that day. I should have caught probably 20 fish that day all over 3 lbs but instead I only caught 9. That smaller straight shank hook they were able to get it deeper in their mouth and the lighter wire let it zip through that thicker plastic with ease and it would just bury itself in the fish. I had to use my pliersto get the hook out of every fish. So I agree with Tyler and say don't believe all the hype you see, straight and regular offset hooks has been around way longer and that's bc they work!
Many people push the bigger hook thinking when you should go smaller to get a proper hook set and eat from the fish with out leaving a crazy hole in its mouth that makes it easier to shake. Bigger hooks are more prone to turn sideways and slide out the mouth as well.
Crazy wide differences between content creators/anglers on this topic, just saw a guy convince me to use basic EWG over flipping hooks with very valid reasoning on why flipping hooks cause you to lose fish and baits. A very diverse personal experience topic for sure.
Personally when it comes down to it rather have a 5/0 standard offset if I’m sticking a big fish than a smaller hook.
@@donallenjr2051 thats fine, lots of people do it but I'm also hearing stories where it's caused a lost fished. You don't have to hookset as hard with some of the lower halfed hooks and they penetrate a bit easier. All going to boil down to personal experience and preference.
Glad you shared this. I almost bought some last night. I have always used the straight hooks. Thanks for sharing 👍
I bend out every EWG I use about 5 degrees. Completely takes care of the problem.
Same here. Some say it weakens the hook but in 20+ years of doing it I have never had one break or straighten out.
Great idea!!! I'll try that!
I only use them for the zoom horny toad 4/0. All other applications I use straight shank round bend for worms tk180 or trokar flipping hooks, 3/0-5/0 depending on big the bait is. They have been very dependable. Great video brother peace and God Bless.
TOTALLY AGREE,
I’ve always had a decent landed to lost record with EWGs. But lately I’ve lost way too many fish,including a really big one last week. Today I switched to a standard worm hook with a Googan Dart fluke and got 3 for 3. I’m going to experiment with modifying the EWG by bending the barb up slightly. Tight lines
I never really ever fished EWG hooks until Covid and at that point I bought some because that is all I could get. I usually fish with 1/0 and 2/0 hooks because I’m usually finesse fishing. I use finesse to put a limit in the boat asap in a tournament and when I’m practicing. The set up I fished I’ve boated probably 99.9% of the fish that bit. As soon as I went from a standard offset to an EWG, I started loosing fish. They’d just pull off about halfway back to the boat. I’m not even sure I hooked the fish that pulled off.
Some anglers, myself included, "open up" the wide gap so the point is a little higher AND comes through the plastic at a better angle. That said, the newer "hybrid" hooks are preferred. For relatively thin plastics (i.e. trick worms, baby brush hogs) the offset worm hook is the gold standard, in my opinion.
Measure the opening distance between the hook point and shank on an EWG versus an offset worm hook. The offset has a much larger opening. I think this makes a big difference in hook up ratio, which is why I stopped using EWG's for a lot of presentations.
My only issue with a offset is my absolute need to put my worm on 100% straight. I know it's doable. However I struggle with it
Great point. Lots of bites get missed or even go unfelt as it is let alone add another element to missing hits. Thanks for the insight.
I like to describe it as a spectrum of hookup ratio to weedlessness. Straight shank most likely to get snagged if it pierces through the plastic, ewg least likely to get snagged. Straight shank best hookup ratio. I change the hook based on the plastic density if I’m being super particular but usually offset wins because I’m lazy and it works
You are right. Went through the same painful learning process and stopped using EWGs. Yeah they work most of the time but they will cost you money in tournament situations or possibly a fish of a lifetime. I want all my outdoor gear as close to 100 percent as I can get.
I switched to the haymamker from Owner if you can get them and the Pro Tech from Blakemore TTI it looks like the Owner Haymamker. I use straight shank hooks to flip and pitch. Any updates on the 4 and 5 XL Shirts
Slightly bend out the EWG maybe 6 or 10 degrees add heat shrink tubing cut at an angle with a dab of superglue after to prevent the worm from slipping down.
Only used ewg for tubes and toads, but am only using for tubes this coming season. I bought a screw lock double hook for toads instead. Have always ued offset round bend hooks for t-rig plastics and never had issues.
I used the Gamakatsu EWG for a long time but not anymore for the same reasons... The G finesse hybrid EWG they make is a pretty good one as well. That said the Rig-N-Hook from Owner or straight shank heavy duty flippin hook from VMC is what I throw the most because you can get them but the Haymaker from Owner is phenomenal and by far my favorite hook on the market. I've even punched mats with them on an 8ft XH/XF with 60lb braid. It's just a shame you can't get them more often.
I have a question that is off topic. On your nedmiki rig , what line are you using and leader ? Thanks great videos
10lb braid to 10lb fluoro leader is what I have been using. When i talked to Joy nania about this technique, he likes 14 lb leader
I agree with you....I do catch fish using the EWG Offset but have missed a number of bass because the hook does not set well and the fish wiggle off. Thanks for clearing this up. Thought it was me. 😁😁😁😂
I just started fishing with these on Texas rigs. Using 6th sense 6/0 hooks on a 5” senko.
Never had a problem with hook up compared to some of the other stuff in my tackle box. I’m even hooking up things I don’t think I should be. I’ve caught two 3-4” Bream on it 😂
Hilarious pictures of a Bream hanging off a hook near the same size of it trying to eat a worm bigger than it is.
I’ve only missed a few bites on it and judging by how the rig looked when I pulled it up all the missed have been tail strikes on the senko.
I’m also using monofilament and sometimes I’m casting pretty far out the stretch on my set is wild sometimes.
Have you considered just trying different brands and styles?
I’m a firm believer that not all hooks are the same.
I’m a Texas rig enthusiast to say the least. You make a good point, no pun intended, I’m gonna try straight shank hooks again. I like how the ewg sits with the soft plastic but it’s not a must. I think I’ll give the gamgatzu ewg a try as well.
How long of a leader? What brand of line are you fishing on the nedmiki?
I’ve always favored an offset hook on my Texas rigs and a SuperLine ewg in flukes.
Thanks for the info Tyler. Personally haven't had an issue with EWG hooks. However, I have used offset worm hooks in the past and noticed I was gut hooking the fish. Maybe because of the smaller profile, not sure.
You have a great videos. I am hooked keep them coming coach.
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Definitely need to experiment this spring... Good stuff
100 % agree you do lose a high percentage of fish due to the bait "balling" up on a EWG hook. BUT, I also get more bites with a EWG hook, particularly with a T rigged senko because I'm able to get the plastic on the hook straighter, which makes it look more natural
I live in Central Florida - the EWG hook brand just needs the hook point offset from the line tie where it is positioned higher than the line eye. There are some good brands out there.
When will Omnia have things in stock. I would support them but they never have anything in stock. Tackle Warehouse does...
Interesting thoughts. I only use EWG for thicker plastics but I'm going to try fishing sone Arky style jigs with an EWG hook this year. Hopefully it works.
VMC wide gaps #4 hold the plastics in place very well! My go to!
I've heard of bending the point to the right of the keeper a little to fix that problem. But i've also heard good things about the G finesse hybrid worm hook.
Thanks for this video, I've lost a good percentage of fish on a 5/0 EWG hook when fishing Texas Rigged Ol Monster and Magnum Ole Monster worms. I'm going to test offset and straight shank worms to find the one I'll settle on
Ive seen just as many videos hating on EWGs as I have the straight shank hooks. Its really personal choice. I have often wondered if the way someone sets the hook matters? I set the hook to the side. At about a 70 degree angle. I love the Extra extra wide gap hooks. Especially when Im throwing a thicker bait.
I think it really may come come down to preference
Not sure what to say here. Love this channel, but I can’t relate to this problem. I’m just a weekend angler, but I catch hundreds of bass every year on a Gamakatsu 4/0 EWG with speed worms, stick worms, craws and toads. I literally never lose a fish. Absolutely zero. In fact, in many cases the hook goes completely through the fish’s face like a gaff and I need pliers to remove it.
The Jugular hooks by 6th Sense are phenomenal - very similar. Unless it's in REALLY thick cover, I will always choose an offset hook style over the EWG
You don’t mention the weedless design of the EWG, which is why it exists. If you get hung up, you won’t be hooking anything, much less getting shaken off. When I do get shaken off with an EWG it is usually because I let some slack in, especially since I flatten the barb. I like to think I give the bass a sporting chance so that when I land a nice one, I can thank proper technique and feel good about it. I don’t do tournaments; I’m not good enough to compete. I’m just out there relaxing and having fun.
Owner make a worm hook that has the very tip angling up slightly. Amazing hook.
I only get EWG hooks where there is a noticeable gap between the hook point and the hook eye. If they're inline the hook percentage goes way down.
Just out to f curiosity, have you tried the Spearpoint EWG hooks?
I like the ewg’s for fishing weedless in Florida where there can be alot of grass at time. Never tried the offset. I’ll have to try it, but never really had issues with ewg’s either. 6th sense makes some really nice ones.
EWG is the best style of hook in most situations. I've caught over 20k fish on them. Not all ewgs are designed properly though. The ones that are turned in are no good.
It seems like the large loop of the hook would make the point act more "springy". That would mean less direct hold on the fish. Bounce out more?
I still to this day, use a lot of tru turn hooks for T Rigs just like I did in the 80's. For most.of my other soft plastics, I really like .Owner screw locks, my Gamakatsu's definitely starting to collect dust.
I went through this mindset about 10 years ago and I realized i was just not setting the hook right. but thats as far as ill elaborate.
I feel your frustration though.
In my own experience with ewg hooks setting the hook with a vertical hookset is always effective however a sweeping hookset tends to have more missed hooksets and lower quality hookups. Other styles of hooks with more ofset points have easier access to the hook point allowing hooksets from more angles. This is in no way scientific just my observations from fishing.
I got a pack of offset round bends to try on my speed craws and went 14 for 15 on hook ups the next day. I'll still miss some but not as many as the ewg hooks I had. I use a mh spinning rod in a kayak and was having trouble getting solid hook sets. I didn't fish a Texas rig because of it but its all I've used lately. 😂
Interesting..Randy Blaukat said this same thing, as he uses straight shank 90% of the time...He also mentioned that hybrid hook for the zoom lizards
Hey Tyler! That the reasoning behind Castledines video on the owner haymaker hook. (See video.) I use owners anyway. Lost too many fish with gamakatsu with small barb! Great vid!
good info, Brother! One thing that my Grandfather taught me when I was young was to bend the hook point a "smidge" to the left or right and up. I actually did a couple experiments over the years and found that using Papaws Smidge I caught more fish
Great tip
Back in the day the hot new worm hook was curved - the theory being whatever the hook position was in the fishes mouth it would twist in the fishes mouth for a higher hookup rate, but they went out of fashion after a few years.
True turn hooks
@@kevinbeaudean704 Bingo that's them!
Ty ,im with you i like the bigger hook gap you get with a straight shank worm hook.The haymaker is a good ewg too.
I only use screw lock hooks. I go through a lot less baits and hook up ratio is great.
Now that you mention it, I do prefer the hybrid versions of EWG hooks, much better!
I use a Gamakatsu superline EWG hook and I can honestly say I have never lost a fish on one. I also use a mustad or trokar for flipping/pitching they do ok .. whenever I fish isolated cover I’ll switch over to the superline never fails.
Try that ringed eye superline hook for Texas rigs. Gives the bait a whole new action
@@jessecooper9795I’m going to give it a shot this weekend. Thanks
@fidelcordova9374 good luck and good catching! 💪🐟🐟
Hey Tyler, thanks for the vid! I have a couple of questions. Is your hookset a sharp, straight up hookset, or does it swing to the side a little more? Do you think that would have anything to do with it? And also, do you think the actions of the soft plastics are different on the different styles of hooks? I haven't had them in like a swimming pool to test it myself, I was just wondering if you had any experience. Thanks!
What straight shank hook do u like using
Thanks for the advice. As I watched I remembered the same thing last season with the ewg.
I agree and disagree with what you said about the EWG. When I use a EWG, most of the time I will set the hook hard. Now if I don't set the hook hard, then I have lost some fish.
that is why when using EWG hooks I open the hook up with needlenose pliers just a bit
I think I got Googan Hammer hooks in a box set once. I noticed the difference immediately. I now use the Owner hooks. Alsoooo not sure if its me but I think with ewgs, the plastics spin/ swirl in the water way more.
No they spin less alot less.
@@kevinbeaudean704 i might be cursed then
Do you still skin the point in the plastic to make it weedless or does it throw off the straight line of the worm?
Heavily fished large lakes, I have lost more on Ewg hooks than on offset. I am going back to offset hooks.
Now use G finesse hybrid & Owner cover shot
Interesting. I actually switched to only using ewg on flipping light cover. With the percent of bass that will actually hit a bait. And the odds of catching. I'm sure a lot of fish losses could be, pre ripped lips... but no one wants to go down that math. 😅
In the video he says the only EWG he uses is a "Gamakatsu Hybrid EWG" however I can't find that anywhere, does he mean the Gamakatsu Hybrid Worm Hook?
The owner haymaker EWG hook has changed things for me and it's very close to a guarantee hookup I found
Great video. I use mostly the offset worm work and hybrids
EWG have too much give. They're springy unless they're thicker gauge but then it takes a lot of hookset power to get it to penetrate. I switched back to offset a few years ago.
Facts! Also i get alot of line twist reeling my bait back in with ewg
Why i switched to the onwer offset wide gap for most of my worm fishing and the haymaker for toads and creature baits.
I need to get some of those hybrids. But with all that’s been said, I’ve never experienced losing fish on EWGs. Once or twice but not enough to to say hay I’m done with them. Worms I use off set hooks. Thinker bits , EWGs. I’ve tried straight shank, just trying them T-rigging , they get hung up to much compared to a EWG or work hook. Maybe trying to set the hook to soon? The bass not getting the bait all the way in its mouth? I watch pros all the time cussing because they loose fish. Well if you watch they don’t let the fish get the bait all the way in its mouth. It’s like as soon as they feel a little bump, they try to rip the head of the fish off🤦🏻♂️🤷🏻♂️, and pop goes the bait. Hooks are sharp you don’t have to set the hook like it’s the end of the world 😂😂😂. But it’s all personal preference like anything else. But I definitely want to try the hybrids. That’s definitely a better hook of you go with a EWG style. God bless.
So what do you suggest for flukes?
The hybrid EWG is a great hook. I love that Bigger O’Shaughnessy bend in them.
Absolutely!
I have a mega hook and it's about 7cm, I never fished using it and its suppose to be able to catch a small tuna, maybe a shark, and other large fishes. Also it's like one of those classic fishing hooks. I'm not sure if the fishing hook is great or not but if anyone knows or have a hook that sized pls tell me.
wow Tyler thanks man..I kinda knew that,,,and you confirmed it...thanks man!!!
I Tx rig every plastic (except for wacky rig), so would those hooks work on swim baits and big flukes?