Drawbacks of EWG hooks? 2025

BassPonder72 reply :

I was just wondering if there are any circumstances where an EWG hook would be disadvantageous. Especially when fishing worms. Thank you all for the feedback!

JigNBig reply :

skinny worms like trick worms and extremly small finesse worms. i would try a strait shanked hook for those worms and use a strait shanked hook EVERYTIME you fish a hula grub

Catt reply :

I've seen them break on several occasions & I call that a drawback

RatONaStick reply :

Quote
I've seen them break on several occasions & I call that a drawback

What brand hooks were you using?

I've only broken one Gammy EWG hook. I had gotten snagged and bent the hook, tried to straighten it out with pliers and it snapped.

I haven't found any disadvantages to using an EWG hook. Although I can see where on certain baits the traditonal J hook might be better suited.

Catt reply :

I wasn't using any EWG and never will

But the ones I saw break were Gammy EWG hooks

I've work in fabrication of detailed aircraft parts and can tell you the bend radius is entirely too tight for the diameter of the hook shank. I know plenty of people who use them and swear by them but as for me I aint using them.

RatONaStick reply :

Hey, whatever floats yer boat.

My father caught this cat using a 5" Senko and #3 Gammy EWG hook. Didn't have a scale at the time but we guestimate it to be around 20lb or so. This fish was caught using a MH action rod, 30lb braid and the drag cranked tight. The hook held up fine.

This is all the proof I need.

roadwarrior reply :

Hmm...

Until recently I have fished Gamakatsu EWG hooks exclusively with soft plastics, I am now using X-Points on occasion. I estimate that I hook up with fish, if I detect the bite, much more than 90% of the time. Once hooked-up on a single hook, I estimate that my landing ratio approaches 100%. I have NEVER bent or broken a Gamakatsu or X-Point while fighting a fish. I have NEVER broken either of these hooks under ANY circumstance.

For me, there are no drawbacks using EWG hooks.

The_Natural reply :

The disadvantage is the hook angle. When you rig a worm with an EWG hook...look at where the hook point is aimed. Right at the fish's lips, or right in line with your fishing line. When you set the hook, it can force the fish's mouth open before the hook can stick the bass. This obviously doesn't happen every time or maybe not even 'often', but this is what anglers are speaking of when they mention straight shanks have a better hook up percentage. If you rig a worm with a straight shank hook, look again at what direction the hook point is aiming. It is directly up (or down), and will stick the fish before your sinker or hook has a chance to force the fish's mouth to open. Straight shanks or offset hooks are what we used 15 years ago. The Eagle Claw 'High Performance' hook was the first EWG hook, and it was mainly used for tubes. I noticed when I started bass fishing again and using the EWG's, my hook up ratio wasn't what it used to be. When I read KVD's newest book, he relayed what I said at the beginning of my post about the hook's angle, and said he started using straight shanks after fishing with master worm fisherman Larry Nixon. Straight shank hooks can't be effectively used in every presentation, mainly thick, bulky plastics and Carolina Rigs. Why not Carolina Rigs? Straight shanks are not as weedless as EWG's when Texas Rigged, and will cause you to inevitabley snag when you drag your rig. KVD also stated that the offset round bend props your bait off the bottom just a hair, which he likes in a c-rig. An offset round bend is still better than an EWG, but not quite as good hook-up wise as a straight shank.

RoLo reply :

I use EWG Z-bend hooks for the lion's share of my fishing and cannot report any major drawbacks.

More than once, I've broken a Gammy while removing a deeply embedded hook with pliers,

but brittleness is the price we pay for edge keenness.

The configuration of most EWG hooks is ideal, because the hook-point is pointing directly at the line-eye

placing the hook-point directly in the line-of-pull.

Roger

guest reply :

I just read naturals very detailed and intellegent explanation of the disadvantages of ewg hooks. but just before that I read RW say he has nearly 100% hookup ratio with no hook failures.

My own hook up ratio is very good. When I miss a fish it's invariably due to poor timing. like I cast a senko and then leaned back to get a drink of water when the strike came.

I generally use EWG hooks on thicker plastics, but the regular offsets on thinner worms etc. the only reason for this being is that where I fish in Florida ANYTHING that pick up a piece of grass or weed will do so immediately. That 90 degree bend or worse with the J hook design will pick up grass if not buried close to the lure body. It's one of the reasons why I like the owner riggin hook. It has a very wide gap but the curve beneath the hook eye slopes smoothly downward instead of straight out. some people don't like it because they say the worm slips down. I snug it up in there pretty good and don't have a problem, but I do pick up far fewer weeds. Also it is a very strong, very sharp hook.

Me like em.

Alpster reply :

I think that EWG hooks are the greatest invention since peanut butter. They are more weedless, have a smaller diameter (profile) and I have noticed no problems with hookups vs bites. An improvement if anything. If you are breaking EWG Gammie's catching fish then I want to fish with you!

Ronnie

BassPonder72 reply :

Thanks to everyone for your posts. After reading through your answers every concern or question I had about the EWG hooks before I posted has been addressed here. That's why I joined. Thanks again everyone!

The_Natural reply :

I'll add that I do use EWG hooks; every time I rig a Senko, tube, and sometimes with lizards. My hookup ratio isn't terrible with them, but when you reach that median in your bass fishing, you start looking for little ways that can increase your odds of hooking up with an additional bass or two.

Catt reply :

All metals have a minimum bend radius according to thickness and type of metal.

Take the thickness of the shank of a 3/0 EWG hook, the high-carbon steel that it is made from and the radius it's bent at. This radius is below the minimum bend radius of the metal thus reducing the metals strength and causing it to become brittle. Failure is eminent, what Gamakatsu is relying on is that you don't use a single hook for extended periods. Depending on the numbers of times the hook is flexed will determine when the hook will fail, but fail it will.

Also consider the times I've witnessed hook failure compared to the 10,000s of time it didn't is acceptable. But from my prospective as a manufacturing engineer with 15+ years in fabricating with all types of metals I can't set my mind at rest and use these hooks.

cbfishalot reply :

If your settiing the hook so hard you breaking Gamakatsu EWG hooks use the Gamakatsu EWG Superline. If that hook breaks before your rod then let me know what rod your using. The regular gamakatsu EWG is a little thinner wire and will flex a bit in smaller hook sizes but I have never had one break. A use the gamakatsu EWG and EWG Superline but I use the owner rig & hook also. The wire thickness is between the EWG and Superline.

SBM-RL reply :

To break a Gamagatzu EWG IMO it would be near impossible with mono(the line would break first) and even with braid the hook would probley bend or the rod would snap Where the conditions really cold?

Catt reply :

Of the seven times I've seen a Gamagatzu EWG break three times were on the hook set and four times were will fighting the fish. Of the seven three broke on bass and four broke on bull reds.

MALTESE FALCON reply :

I use Gamakatsu EWG's exclusively. I've never had any break, and I don't believe I've ever had any bend.

Falcon

.ghoti. reply :

I use Gammy EWG's and Owner Wide Gaps for all my plastics. The exceptions are very thin worms, like Zoom trick worms. I'll use the standby offset worm hook for anything thin. The only time I've ever bent one is when snagged. And, the only time I've ever broken one is when trying to straighten one bent from being snagged.

I see no drawback, at all, to EWG type hooks.

Cheers,

dink reply :

I flip alot of woody, brushy cover. If I am flipping a tube or bulky creature bait, I'll use the EWG. If it is a worm that I am fishing, the straight shank or non-round bend offset gets the call. In heavy wood or brush the EWG does tend to grab the branches and splintered parts of logs and trees more than the others, especially with abundant algae present.

BASS fisherman reply :

Once again I am the oddball.

I have broken probably 4 or 5 Gammie EWG hooks just this past year alone. But....I had snagged them all on branches (except one that was either a pig buried in weeds, or a dink buried in 200 #'s of weeds) and I would let some line out, set the rod down and pull on the line with my hands. The hooks would break at the bend closest to the point every time. Of those hooks, only one of them had been bent before and manually bent back to use again. And I had mono line on everytime. Seems to me the # test of the mono was between 8# and 14#. As for the rod, all the hooks broke off while using an Abu Garcia Conolon spinning rod rated medium action, that anyone can buy at Walmart for $40.00, but I think they are on sale right now or marked clearance for only 20 bucks. The Conolon casting rods sell for $30.

Siebert Outdoors reply :

Quote
Failure is eminent, what Gamakatsu is relying on is that you don't use a single hook for extended periods. Depending on the numbers of times the hook is flexed will determine when the hook will fail, but fail it will.

T for True Catt.

I have broken alot of hooks here is what I can think of. Some are wide gaps some are not. All are premium hooks

Mustad

Gamakatsu

Owner

vmc

With that said I have never broke one on a fish that I can remember. The reason I break them is I will get hung and bend out the hook, bend it back, sharpen and re use. This may happen 1 time or until failure. I dont really do this much any more because of breaking problems. Now I might bend it back 1-2 times or until point is dull, then its discarded. I've been trying to catch larger fish and dont need to break a hook when I do catch that 10lb fish. Hooks are cheap compared to the other tackle I use. No reason to skimp. Especially on an important part like a hook.

As to wide gap or not to wide gap. I might have a total of 5 hooks that are not wide gap. I dont like the straight shank hooks because I've had to much of a problem with plastic balling up and the fish getting off the hook from poor hook set from the plastic.

Brad_Coovert reply :

For a lot of different fishing I will use EWG or some other offset style hook like a Glock or round bend offset Gammie.

For heavy cover, I want a straight shank if at all possible. They hang up the least in heavy cover.

I have never broken an EWG hook and Catt, you're the only guy I know who has ever seen or had one brake.

As for hooking, most of the fish I hook with an EWG are usually hooked deep in the mouth. Thet usually hook the fish well inside the mouth long before they get near the lips.

Brad

5bass reply :

I use a straight shank whenever I can. On the bulkier baits I'll use an EWG.......an Owner EWG that is.

Lightninrod reply :

I've used this hook for 99% of my soft-plastic rigging for 10 years or so. Look closely at the hook point and where it lies in relation to the hook's eye..... GY knew what he was doing.

I have never broken one and I've used one for a dozen of Bass before throwing it away. I don't sharpen or form EWG hooks. I change them out. The only hook I'll form is a prong on a treble hook.

Here is a new(to me) soft-plastic hook that may eliminate the slipping of the bait down onto the 'R' bend in a standard EWG hook.

Dan

justfishin reply :

I agree with RW and Alpster. I love EWG's for the simple fact that they are much easier to rig when going weedless. I have never broken one and I use Gammy's. I especially like the G-Lock hooks for flippin plastics such as tubes. I just bought some X-Points to try. I guess it is hard to break a hook on 8" fish though,lol.

The_Natural reply :

Quote
I've used this hook for 99% of my soft-plastic rigging for 10 years or so. Look closely at the hook point and where it lies in relation to the hook's eye..... GY knew what he was doing.
I have never broken one and I've used one for a dozen of Bass before throwing it away. I don't sharpen or form EWG hooks. I change them out. The only hook I'll form is a prong on a treble hook.

Here is a new(to me) soft-plastic hook that may eliminate the slipping of the bait down onto the 'R' bend in a standard EWG hook.

Dan

That Sugio hook looks nice Dan; it is like a cross between an EWG and an offset wide gap. The hook point is quite a bit higher than the line tie, more similar to an offset round bend than an EWG...should be effective at sticking bass.

Chris reply :

If I am flipping a worm I use a straight shank hook. If I am using a soft jerkbait or flipping tube I use a EWG hook. If I am throwing a Carolina rig I use an off set hook. If I am casting a worm I use an off set hook. If I am using a harder worm that can hold a straight shank hook without sliding down on the cast then I use a straight shank. I sometimes peg the hook with a toothpick or heavy mono sometimes to keep it from sliding down or just glue it. My hook choice depends on how thick the bait is and if I am having a problem of the lure sliding down on the hook on the cast.

Lightninrod reply :

Quote

Quote
I've used this hook for 99% of my soft-plastic rigging for 10 years or so. Look closely at the hook point and where it lies in relation to the hook's eye..... GY knew what he was doing.
I have never broken one and I've used one for a dozen of Bass before throwing it away. I don't sharpen or form EWG hooks. I change them out. The only hook I'll form is a prong on a treble hook.

Here is a new(to me) soft-plastic hook that may eliminate the slipping of the bait down onto the 'R' bend in a standard EWG hook.

Dan

That Sugio hook looks nice Dan; it is like a cross between an EWG and an offset wide gap. The hook point is quite a bit higher than the line tie, more similar to an offset round bend than an EWG...should be effective at sticking bass.

So you noticed Thanks for looking TN. That hook has brought literally hundreds of Bass to the boat for me over those 10 years.

Dan

BassPonder72 reply :

Thanks for the links Dan. Me likey.

8494

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