What size hook to use when Wacky rigging Stick baits 2024
airborne_angler reply :
FIRST OFF-- I DONT want this subject to turn into a debate about stickbaits, Please,lets stay on the HOOK topic-Wacky Rigging with Stick baits.
Im not concerned about what you prefer as far as stickbaits,Im interested in knowing what size and style hook you use when fishing this particular bait wacky rigged.)
That being said,I normally throw the bait weightless on an Octopus hook. I put the hook straight through the body of the bait after I fold the bait in half to find the center.
Does anyone throw the bait wacky with a different style hook?
I know the size hook I like to use when I see it,but right now I cant remember what I size I normally use,I havent been on the water yet this year and all my gear is in storage still.
. What size and style hook do most of you all use when Wacky rigging stickbaits?
Triton21 reply :
2/0
Hammer 4 reply :
1 or 2/0 Misqito or octopus hook, depending on if I have a Senco, or a roboworm type bait on.
Opps, just noticed you said Stick baits..lol
Choke Canyon Boy reply :
I like to use a Shaky Head jig when I wacky rig stick baits. Strike king makes a good wacky jig for this setup. Remember to get those little o rings as they will save you a ton of baits.
Wild Bill [NY] reply :
For a five-inch wacky-rigged Senko I ue the rubber o-ring and a size 1/0 octopus hook, and I tie the hook on with a snell hook for better hookup ratios .
NewKidInTown reply :
QuoteFIRST OFF-- I DONT want this subject to turn into a debate about stickbaits, Please,lets stay on the HOOK topic-Wacky Rigging with Stick baits.Im not concerned about what you prefer as far as stickbaits,Im interested in knowing what size and style hook you use when fishing this particular bait wacky rigged.)
That being said,I normally throw the bait weightless on an Octopus hook. I put the hook straight through the body of the bait after I fold the bait in half to find the center.
Does anyone throw the bait wacky with a different style hook?
I know the size hook I like to use when I see it,but right now I cant remember what I size I normally use,I havent been on the water yet this year and all my gear is in storage still.
. What size and style hook do most of you all use when Wacky rigging stickbaits?
Been using Owner Mosquito in 2/0,,sometimes Gammy Octopus in 2/0. This year I have Owner Wacky Hooks to try out,the Camo Green ones. 3/0 Works just as well.
River Rat316 reply :
The Owner mosquito hooks in 1/0 for a 5" stick bait are tough to beat. Tried there weedless wacky and liked those 2 but they get tore up pretty quick, and the rivers I usually fish a wacky rig on are not that weedy so it seemed like a waste (they did little to nothing to fend off the occasional branch or whatever) :'(
ib_of_the_damned reply :
Most of you may think that this is too small, but I use either a size 1 or 2 (not 1/0 or 2/0) owner weedless wacky hook or the owner mosquito hooks.
MNGeorge reply :
We use a Gammie Octopus Straight Eye, 4X wire salt water hook and the wacky o-rings. The 4X wire adds weight to the rig which we need to get the stick worm down in the current of the Mississippi River...Smallies love stick worms. Both Cabela's and BPS sell this hook in their respective salt water catalogs and on line or you can order direct from Gamakatsu through their website.
Crestliner2008 reply :
My hook is a Gamakatsu 1/0 In-Line Oct. Circle. I've chose the circle hook because bass are notorious in taking Senkos in deep. With the circle, I stand a much better chance or lip hooking my quarry - LM or SM.
One more thing....I always crimp down the barb on these hooks and rarely do I ever fail to land a fish.
Fishes in trees reply :
I like the Falcon weighted hooks with the wire weed guard. I'll use both the 3/0 and 6/0 and mostly the 1/16 ounce weight. When I am wacky rigging I always use an O-ring. 3/8" OD (outside diameter) x 1/4" ID (inside diameter) seems to me to be the size that fits the senko best. Strike King markets a 3/0 wire weedguard hook that works pretty well too.
Dock Master reply :
3/0 Octopus hook
Wayne P. reply :
3/0 or 4/0 Octopus hook with weedguard added:
J Francho reply :
Depending on the thickness of the worm, a 1/0 or 2/0 Finesse Wide Gap, snelled.
midnighthrasher reply :
2/0
VABassin'14 reply :
2/0 Eagle Claws
Josh Bassman reply :
QuoteMy hook is a Gamakatsu 1/0 In-Line Oct. Circle. I've chose the circle hook because bass are notorious in taking Senkos in deep. With the circle, I stand a much better chance or lip hooking my quarry - LM or SM.One more thing....I always crimp down the barb on these hooks and rarely do I ever fail to land a fish.
Why do you crimp the barb?
I'm thinking about going barbless because my girls (8 & 10) want to go fishing more with me, and I'm afraid of them getting the barb below the skin.
Hammer 4 reply :
Barbless (crimped) makes releasing SOOOooo much easier, less damage to the fish too. 95% of my worm hooks are barbless.
Wayne P. reply :
For the guys that use hook sizes smaller than 3/0, do you use the same size hook (different style) when Tx rigging them? If not, why?
J Francho reply :
The finesse wide gap is a pretty big hook, actually, with a gap similar to your 3/0 octopus. When I t-rig Senkos, and I hardly ever t-rig them anymore, an Owner Wide Gap Plus in 2/0 or 3/0 size is plenty fine. Again, sight match the hook to the bait.
D4u2s0t reply :
I almost always use a 3/0 ewg 1/8oz keel hook. It casts further, but is not enough weight to kill the action. I find the 1/8 oz actually provides more "wiggle" as the bait falls, and the weight keeps the hook always facing up, meaning significantly less snags.
whoopbazz reply :
Now we don't fish for huge fish... so 2/0-3/0 seems very big to me.
I use a size 1 or a 1/0 (rarely) mosquito hook.
Triton21 reply :
QuoteFor the guys that use hook sizes smaller than 3/0, do you use the same size hook (different style) when Tx rigging them? If not, why?
I use 4/0 or 5/0 Owner straight shank wide gap worm hooks.
Kelley
A-Rob reply :
2 octopus hook
Wayne P. reply :
Triton21, why do you use a larger hook when Tx rigging the same bait? Why don't you use the same size hook with both riggings?
I base my hook size on the bait size and anticipated fish size regardless of the presentation.
J Francho reply :
I don't think hook size says anything about its ability to hook a fish, regardless of size. Too big a hook, and it impedes the bait. Too small, and the hook loses its bite. I have caught steelhead in the teens, and brown trout over 20 with hooks as small as #10. I realize they're not the same fish, but you get the point. A 1/0 EWG is much smaller than a 1/0 finesse wide gap. You need only rig the bait to see that there either is room for the hook to work, or there isn't.
You want to talk tiny bass hooks? 5-0 smallie on a #6 dropshot/split shot hook.
Another thing to consider is each brands hook sizes. A Gamakatsu 6/0 Octopus hook is about the same size as an Owner 4/0 SSW Live Bait hook. Both work great when snelling up pegged beaver rigs (see, not all my hooks are tiny, LOL). So, it pays to not only state the size, but also the make/model of hook.
I'm not trying to convince anyone to change, just explaining that something different works, and works well. Once you have a system that's well tested with time on the water, the rest is up to confidence.
Wayne P. reply :
J, my point is that the hook size should be based on the size of the plastic lure so the hook bend is not filled up with plastic, limiting penetration and even preventing the hook point from making fish contact.
I'm not asking this for my use, I already know how to pick hook sizes. I'm just trying to get the others to think about their hook choices for the best chance of producing a catch with the chosen bait and rigging.
Do you use those #6 dropshot hooks for Senko's rigged wacky style?
J Francho reply :
That's my point as well, Wayne. 
QuoteDo you use those #6 dropshot hooks for Senko's rigged wacky style?
No, I would use the same hook I use for wacky rig, a 1/0 Finesse Wide Gap for 5", 2/0 for the "log sized" worms. Same if I were drop shotting a smallie beaver, fluke, or similar.
The #6 drop shot hook works great for nose hooking 4" Power Worms, Cut Tail Worms, Roboworms, and other similar sized baits.
angler1 reply :
Owner #2, #1, or 1/0 wackey hook with weed guard.
Wayne P. reply :
J, I have fished with several anglers that used the 1/0 or 2/0 Gammy Finesse Wide Gap hooks and they missed lots of hook sets. I got some of the weedless models of that hook for wacky Senkos and experienced the same. I've also fished with others using the weedless model with Senkos and they missed a bunch too. That is why I started making my own weedless hooks with Octopus hooks and rarely miss a fish. When the 3/0 and 4/0 Finesse Wide Gap hooks were intoduced, I gave them a try and had less missed fish, but they still did did not peform as well as the Octopus hook.
I'll PM you a senario experienced in a tournament about that hook.
J Francho reply :
Tell your buddies to leave the weed guards home, and set the hook, LOL.
Don't know what to tell you Wayne. You seem intent that my way is wrong. If that's your take, so be it. It isn't an issue for me. I would argue that all the hardware on that hook is why you need to use a bigger hook, not the plastic of the Senko getting in the way. Its an apples to oranges comparison, anyway....different hooks, weedguard/no weedguard, snelled/not snelled, and probably vastly different tackle as well.
Its not always just "your way" (by that I mean me, you, and anyone else) its just "a way."
Wayne P. reply :
J, I'm not saying you are wrong. I'm just advising a better alternative based on many thousands of bass caught and numerous hooks tested over 50 years. Re-read my last post, the weed guard hook and just the finesse wide gap hook is two different sentences, but the results were the same.
Maybe you will remember this thread the next time you are unsuccesful and wonder why. Good luck
J Francho reply :
QuoteMaybe you will remember this thread the next time you are unsuccesful and wonder why.
That was rather snotty, and uncalled for in an otherwise good spirited, friendly debate.
Wayne P. reply :
J Francho, my intent was not to be "snotty" but to be helpful. This exchange is completed, good luck.
Kowen117 reply :
Try these it seems that you would waste less worms with this they tell you what size hook with each size righttp://www.lftlures.com/categories/wacky-hook-weight-sysytem
Triton21 reply :
QuoteTriton21, why do you use a larger hook when Tx rigging the same bait? Why don't you use the same size hook with both riggings?I base my hook size on the bait size and anticipated fish size regardless of the presentation.
63 years fishing experience.
Kelley
6mile reply :
Wayne P. is a good guy..Just trying to help out.. Each person has their favorite hooks. Personally, i have very few misses while wacky rigging a Zoom worm using a wide bend, light wire Gamy straight shank 2/0.. hook.. hard to find... it is # 49412.. Never use a weedless hook yet fish the very thick weeds and pads..
Crestliner2008 reply :
QuoteQuoteMy hook is a Gamakatsu 1/0 In-Line Oct. Circle. I've chose the circle hook because bass are notorious in taking Senkos in deep. With the circle, I stand a much better chance or lip hooking my quarry - LM or SM.One more thing....I always crimp down the barb on these hooks and rarely do I ever fail to land a fish.
Why do you crimp the barb?
I'm thinking about going barbless because my girls (8 & 10) want to go fishing more with me, and I'm afraid of them getting the barb below the skin.
That's a very good reason to crimp down the barb for sure. As stated in a following post, barbless hooks make removal so much easier as well. The only time that I don't crimp down the barb on any hook now, is when I'm drop shotting. Tail dancing smallies that are lip hooked only, will throw those things way too frequently! But I even crimp down trebles on my hard baits too.
When you get to be my age, landing every fish becomes less important than the actual fishing experience. Hunting and getting the fish to bite an artificial offering is much more important to me now.
CWB reply :
QuoteDepending on the thickness of the worm, a 1/0 or 2/0 Finesse Wide Gap.
This or what Wayne said if weedy.
I take 2 O-Rings and slide them on the bait and criss-cross them and insert the hook into and out through where the X is on the O-rings. better than 1 O-Ring where the hook sits parallel to the bait. Baits will last for several fish this way.
Tin reply :
No one uses over-sized drop-shot/split shot hooks?
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