Hooks?

[Jimmy]

Lately Ive been flipping a lot it this one lake and the fish seem to be very finicky im missing a lot of bites and a lot of the fish I do hook are barely hooked and come unbuttoned. Im fishing 3/0-5/0 EWG gammies with fat ikas and senkos. Ive tried letting them eat it and everything but my hook up ratio is sucking. I know a few people that prefer the round bends for fishing senkos and ikas. Just wanted to get your guys opinion. Round bends or EWG's for senkos and ikas?

thanks

[Ray L.]

I hate Ik's because the hook up ratio sucks.The Senko on the other hand is usually a can't miss bait. I always use ewg super line hooks.

[BigJeff]

I lost a 10+ on a senko 2 years back and was told to use a regular offset hook and not use an EWG. Better hook up ratios on the ika and senko. The bait curls up more on the EWG hooks

[DL]

I use a 4/0 superline EWG, at least 12 lb line(flouro) and a heavy rod. Also try skin hooking the bait, get as much of the hook thru the bait as you can, that way you dont have to drive the hook thru the bait AND the fish's mouth on the hookset.

[rmcollins3]

I was fishing Del Monte lake in Monterey yesterday, and the same exact thing kept happening to me. I'd toss the senko into a branch, get bit hard, set the hook and only bring up the branch instead of a fish! They always hit it on the fall right when it hit the water. I tried letting them have it, tried setting right away, etc, but kept coming up dry. Weird though, because usually I get a good hook up ratio with Senkos around docks and on beds. I use a 3-4/0 EWG Gamakatsu as well with 12lb P-Line flouro and a Loomis IMX. Could just be they were small fish and only nipping the tail of the bait.

[Gerryjig]

X-Point makes the best hook, extra wide gap or offshank, try to find them in a retail store, only one carries them and they never have the style or size when you need it, (I get them online). They are 110 carbon steel so they don't bend out as easy as others (part of the reason fish come off). X15Z is the lightwire and X25Z the heavy gage. I use a #2 XGAP, X15Z for 4 and 6in. strightail Robo's on 4 or 5lb. test and #1's for baits just a little thicker or line a tad heavier. As far as roundbend, Daiichi makes an awesome one....then Gamu's right behind. But what do I know?.........I have every different manufacturer's hook in my boat! ........ hey Rick G, what about bringing them X-Points in the store? I'm sure once someone fishes them, they will not fish anything else.

[Jimmy]

Yeah gerry I as looking at those they look good for ikas and senkos cause they have room enough for the fat bait and the fishes lip.

I dont fish any texas rigged baits without skin hooking.

[mark poulson]

Try skin hooking the Ika through just 1/8" or so of the bottom, and then texposing the hook, instead of coming through the middle. Like rigging a tube. That way, there is less plastic in the way, and your hookup ratio should go up. And, if you use a Z bend type hook, like the UltraPoint 4/0, you can get several fish on one Ika. The most fish I caught on one was four, and then I welded it up and caught two more, before the last one threw it.