For years i have been using octopus and circle hooks for wacky rigging my stix.
Recently i talked with a guy who rigs his wacky stix with a #1/0 EWG hook. He says his hook up rate is over90%.
What do you use to wacky rig your stix?
How is your hook up rate?
Tim Messer ~ Lake Ariel, Pa.
US Army 1968 ~ 1971
2019 Ranger RT188 ~ Merc PRO XS ~ MK Ultrex
1/0 dropshot hook. Trokar, Gamakatsu, Berkley Fusion, whichever one I end up grabbing at the store. I barely miss a fish and barely lose a fish.
i also like the size 1 Mustad Neko hooks.
1995 Ranger 481v
1995 Johnson Fast Strike 175hp
Size 1 Gamakatsu G finesse stinger..can't even remember the last time I lost a fish since I switched to that hook
I'm on the light wire straight shank train, too. The one PaRiverRat mentions is a great option, and is generally the one I tend to use in tourney situations. I'll often use the VMC Neko hook in practice situations. I tend to go 1/0, so just a bit bigger.
I like the same hook for drop shotting wacky worms or even for nose hooking (where I've been threading the bait onto the hook further over the last couple years).
I don't lose fish anymore, and I can't imagine ever going back unless I'm in a situation where I'm fishing VERY clear water and feel like the extra hook being there is costing me bites.
2011 Skeeter ZX225
225 Yamaha HPDI Series 2
Minn Kota Ultrex 112 52"
Console: HDS 16 Carbon
Bow: HDS 12 Carbon, Solix 12 G2, Mega 360, Garmin 106 SV, LVS 34
Gamakatsu B10S is my go to wacky/neko hook. If they get the hook, they are coming to the boat.
2\0 owner mosquito hook. Never any problem. Seemed to work best with 17# line.
2019 Alumacraft 14.5 escape tiller "child support"
2018 Ford fiesta "pistachio"
1992 kawasaki zx11 "legend"
Gamakatsu open eye shiner hook.Tie my own weed guard. Sold tons of them. Great hook up ratio.RI used this hook for years with their WW hook.
I tried the Trokar wacky #1 n #1/0 and was amazed how difficult it was to get them UNhooked...switched
2012 Stratos 189 VLO/150 Mercury Pro XS/MinnKota Terrova
Maybe a useful point worth making on the Gamakatsu hooks mentioned above: The G-Finesse Stinger is the same shape as the B10S, the latter is just a fly-tying hook that lots of bass anglers have repurposed while the former is targeted toward bass anglers and is made from their "tournament grade wire" which is that super slick, tin looking stuff that holds its point really well that a lot of newer hooks are being made from (Owner calls their version "Zo Wire" for example). I think technically is a fluorine coating on the wire. Anyhow, Gamakatsu also released a tournament grade wire version of the B10S targeted toward fly tyers, the B10S TGW.
I bought some of the B10S TGW to compare the G-Finesse Stinger and what I found was kind of infuriating, and kind of awesome. They are exactly the same hook. The only difference is that the G-Finesse Stinger costs over $0.80 a piece ($5 for a 6 pack) while the B10S TGW is around $0.50 a piece ($10 for a 20 pack). One other possible advantage is the B10S TGW is available in some smaller sizes, down to size 6, in case that helps anyone wanting a smaller hook.
2011 Skeeter ZX225
225 Yamaha HPDI Series 2
Minn Kota Ultrex 112 52"
Console: HDS 16 Carbon
Bow: HDS 12 Carbon, Solix 12 G2, Mega 360, Garmin 106 SV, LVS 34
1/0 Laser Sharp wacky worm hook
#2/0 EWG hook
Tried 'em all, best one is a #2 VMC Neko hook - for wacky and Neko. Never lose a fish and almost always hooked right in the top of the mouth.
This. This is the hook all of the other wacky hooks spawned fromOriginally Posted by billwvu05
This is my go to also, switched maybe 5 years ago from the gamakatsu octopus hook. Use it for my drop shot also. Seems like the longer shank tends to catch deeper in the mouth and comes right through the top, see far less just barely hooked.
2019 Ford F-150 Platinum (3.5EcoBoost/10spd)
**Listed FOR SALE**2014 Ranger Z119C w/ Evinrude ETEC 225HO Running Croxton’s Razor 4XL 25P
Helix 12 Mega G2N’s with Ultrex
Think like a fish, no matter how weird it gets
^^^^^^^ see far less just barely hooked
Interesting, using that 1/0 Laser hook I mentioned above, I've noticed quite a few that were just barely hooked
I'm all over the VMC Neko is whatever size I pick up. Something about that light wire and O-ShawnIsee bend that sticks good.
2017 Phoenix 819
2016 200ProXS, s/n 2B359849, Mod 1200P73BD
VMC #1 or 1/0 Neko hook!
Berkley fusion wacky jig heads, just started using them this year and it has been one of my most productive techniques. I don't even fish them weightless anymore.
switched over to the weedless vmc neko and have not lost a single fish
size 1 G-finesse on spinning 10lb floro - super clear water, rock, clean bottom
1/0 trokar wacky weedless on baitcaster 20lb braid - grass
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