Bass Fishing Hacks
Simple Hacks and Tips to Help You Catch More Bass
What size hooks should I use for bass fishing?
The answer to this question depends upon what technique you are using to catch bass. You will need various sized hooks for Carolina rigs, Texas rigs, live bait, drop shots, wacky worms, senko worms or whatever you are fishing with.
In general, bass hooks will vary in sizes from 1/0 up to 6/0. You will want to use a hook that is just big enough to catch the bass but not so big that it affects the action of the lures. There are circle hooks, short shanks, long shanks, wide gap, narrow gap, weed less, wacky and many more types of hooks to use.
Hook sizing can be very confusing too. A #6 size hook is bigger than a #7 size hook. That doesn’t make sense to me but that is the way that it works.
I am a Bass Fishing Charter Guide on the Treasure Coast of Florida. I have been fishing the lakes, ponds and canals all over Florida for more than 40 years. In the article below, I will teach you everything that I know about choosing the correct lure for different techniques.
Let’s get started.
What size hooks should I use for bass fishing with a drop shot rig?
Fishing with a drop shot rig is a finesse bass fishing technique and calls for smaller soft plastics and smaller hooks. The hook sizes for a drop shot rig range from around a #2 size hook up to a 1/0 size hook. The key to drop shot fishing is downsizing everything from the soft plastics that you use to your hooks.
What size hooks should I use for bass fishing with a Texas or Carolina rig?
The size of the hooks that you need to use for your Texas rig or Carolina rig depends upon the size of the baits that you are using. Your hooks will range from about a 2/0 for small soft plastic baits like a creature bait or a crawdad up to a 6/0 hook if you are fishing with a magnum sized worm like a 10 inch one.
You will want to use the smallest hook that you can get away with that is still large enough to hook the bass effectively when it strikes your lure.
A Carolina rig goes by the same rules as the Texas rig. Use the smallest one that you can get away with that lets your lure get the right action and still hook the bass when it strikes.
What size hooks should I use for bass fishing with a lizard?
Lizards are usually longer than crawdads and creature baits so you will want to use a larger hook when you fish with them. The smallest hook that I would recommend for lizard fishing is a 3/0 hook. You can get the large lizards that can handle a 6/0 hook. The key is to use a hook that lets your lizard get the proper action when it is fished. Somewhere from a 3/0 to a 6/0 hook will keep you covered in every scenario when you are fishing with a lizard.
What size hooks should I use for bass fishing with live bait?
Live bait hook size selections can be tricky. You will need to choose a hook size that lets your bait swim somewhat naturally to maximize the bass strikes. You want the bait to be in distress because that will attract the bass to it.
Typically, just the fact that the bait has a hook in it somewhere will be enough to cause distress and attract the bass to your bait. If you are fishing with minnows, then you might have to use something really small like a #5 hook. If you are using something large like a big bluegill then you might need to use a 5/0 hook. It really just depends upon the size of the bait that you are using.
What size hooks should I use for bass fishing with a wacky worm rig?
Wacky rigs feature a smaller senko style of worm that is usually about 5 inches long. You will want to put your hook right in the middle of the worm so it will flutter down to the bottom through the water column attracting the bass in the area.
The best hook size for this type of fishing will be somewhere between a 1/0 and a 3/0 hook. You can use a weedless hook or a regular hook but I would definitely recommend getting an o ring for the middle of the worm to attach your hook to. If you just put it into the worm, then you will go through a whole bunch of worms in a day of fishing. That can get expensive.
What size hooks should I use for bass fishing with a 10 inch worm?
The magnum style of worms that are becoming more and more popular these days will usually require a bigger hook to go with their bigger mass. A 4/0 sized hook up to a 6/0 hook will do the trick for the most effective bass catching adventures.
What is the best hook size for a weightless senko Texas rig?
The best hook size for a weightless senko Texas rig will be a 4/0 down to about a 1/0 size hook. That will be your best bet for fishing weightless Texas rigs in just about any bass fishing scenario. I sound like a broken record at this point but I will say it again. You have to use the smallest hook possible that will still hook the bass when you set the hook.
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