Your go-to Drop Shot Hook

[LAPORTE]

What kind of hook do you use when throwing a drop shot. I used a gammie 1/0 wide gap finesse hook most of the year(for larger baits). The smaller baits I use a number 2 wide gap finesse hook.  I started off the year before with the hook with a kick stand on them. which ones are better do you think.... Board


Don L   

[Waterfoul]

1/0 Owner Downshot hook.  I like the longer shank.

Edit: I should add... they are sharper than HECK.  Just look at them wrong and you'll be bleeding!!

[TCook]

I think your right on with your hook selection Laporte. Thats the two hooks I use for different sized baits and they work great. I dont like the standout hooks to bulky and as long as you tie the knot correctly the regular finesse hooks stand out parallel.

[fiker]

Owner mosquito hook.  #1 or #2 depending.

[Durand Dan]

#1 Owner Wide Gap

[champion_206]

those stand out hooks are junk, as long as you run your tag end back through your eye, all the hooks stated above will work great

[Skip Johnson]

I use 1/0 Gami drop shot hooks but I lose about 1/3 of the hook ups especialy from the first jump that them Erie smallmouth do so often from deep water, I fiddled around with stand out hooks and Owner and Laser Sharp and a couple more then I had a light bulb come on.

I learned how to drop shot over 30 years ago in California and we didnt use these little rounded finnese hooks very often, we were usualy worming on deep boulders and brushpiles on points in cold water months slowly shaking a 6" worm with a 2/0 or 3/0 offset worm hook and I didnt have near as many of those fish throw hooks.

This last season I started using my 1/0 and 2/0 Gami offset worm hooks and they have had a way better catch ratio, they look a little big and sometimes Im not nose hooking a little finnese bait Im threading it through and out the back.
Im certain Im losing some of my finnese approach but when I set the hook I can put the hurt on them and not worry about tearing out that little hook.

I plan on experimenting Much more with this  

[dartag]

Owner 2/0 Mosquito hook in Red for me.  I use the 3/0 when fishing the Gulp Goby.   
think spring.

[thedude]

i use the 1/0 or sz 1 or 2 gammie dropshot/finesse hooks also. standouts are junk, i agree as well.
i don't loose hardly any fish on my dropshot rig (granted i don't fish smallies very often) but i use a 7' ML action rod - its rated "fast" but its really quite moderate and i think that helps a ton. A rod that bends down well into the mid-section will really help a lot with not losing fish.

[FishermanJohn]

I have been using the Gamakatsu 1/0 (majority) or #2 drop shot hooks (for the very small stuff) and have had a lot of success with these.

[Waterfoul]

Palomar knots!!  Stand out hooks are for people who haven't learned the Palomar knot yet!!

[dartag]

I give up   what is a stand out hook.

[Waterfoul]

I give up   what is a stand out hook.

Here you go.

[thedude]

nice pic mike. a standout hook ironically tied with what appears to be a palomar knot

[SethV]

Good topic.  I don't loose many fish with a drop shot, but in 3 of the 5 BFL events I lost at least 1 key fish that cost me. 

I use either the Owner Mosquito in 1 & 1/0 or the Gammy #1 Drop shot hook - depends on the size of the bait.

I plan to spend some time this spring looking for better hooks.

Does anyone use a regular straight-shank hook?  I feel that often the circle-type hook points don't get good penetration in a larger fish.  2 lbers, no problem, but I need to keep the big ones hooked up.

Seth

[Waterfoul]

nice pic mike. a standout hook ironically tied with what appears to be a palomar knot

Right... but the picture is from the Bass Pro website... so it was probably tied by a ... ahem.... Bass Pro.  LOL!!!

[fiker]

Some of the guys use an Owner straight shanked hook.   Old fashioned worm type hook with a wider rounder bend in it.

I use it with the bigger baits.  I don't remember what size though.  And frankly, it's too cold to go outside and look through the box to find out.

[Team houston]

When I first started playing with the d-shot a few years ago I put on the only thing I had, which was a small #1 or #2 Gamakatsu offset worm hook. After playing with a bunch of different hooks thru the the years I keep coming back to it. I would guess I lose about 1 out of 10 hookups. So that puts me in the same camp as cast n blast.

[Cheetam]

Gamakatsu 1/0, #1 or #2 Split Shot/Drop Shot.  Love 'em.

[dartag]

Gamakatsu 1/0, #1 or #2 Split Shot/Drop Shot.  Love 'em.

Cheetam talking about drop shotting.   What is this world coming to.