I don’t open the gap on any hook I use. I feel that while it may help to get the fish a little better it also ups the snag ratio. My 1/32 ball head (which weighs 1/43 with a #8 hook) with an inch and a quarter body slides over most obstacles without a snag. Yes, it isn’t foolproof but it has been noticeably better than any others I have used. As Alphahawk said, the smaller hooks haven’t been a negative issue for me either. Too tight a drag will pull them loose but properly used I land some surprising fish with them.
Creativity is just intelligence fooling aroundKetchn LIKED above post
no doubt , still remember a 33 inch long 12 lb blue on a number 10 cricket hook ....
buried in it's big whisker , man oh man was that a bigtime battle ....
finished that fight with a long rifle 22 bullet between it's beady little eyes ....
blues eat well in that size range and to be sure my nanny sure was happy when I got back home in the ole Willys from a few miles out in the way back yonder ....good times ....
sum kawl me tha outlaw ketchn whalesgillchaser999 LIKED above post
Those bigger Blue's have some fight in them
The love for fishing is one of the best gifts you can pass along
Incase AlphaHawk doest see this
Troutmagnetman site:youtube.com - Google Search
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Alphahawk thanked you for this post
When it comes to increasing the gap very slightly I do it for short hitters and when using a crappie spin. The 45 degree hook point angle to the surface occurs as I set the hook no matter the distance to the fish. The high rod tip at over 45 degrees to the surface allows the hook point to penetrate upwards to the top of the fish's mouth or lip, keeps the hook embedded and rarely allows deep throated hooksets. Of course there's no need to adjust the gap for very aggressive fish as were caught yesterday. Perch and crappy in open water before the major storm, hit jigs with #6 and #4 adjusted to plastic lure size.
The 45 degree rule applies to all hooksets.
Note: the only way one would set the hook with the point being horizontal to the bottom is a side arm hookset which few do. As far as snags, no hook gap is immune from them especially thick pad stems, tree branches and stumps. Fortunately most of my casting & catching is in open water over depth-change/ dependent struture.
When it comes to a natural appearence, most lures rarely have one, and because fish can't think, they aren't fooled one way or another regardless jig and hook size. They simply react.....
Note: the only way one would set the hook with the point being horizontal to the bottom is a side arm hookset which few do.
This explains why alot of your fish are hooked up wrong and almost appear snagged.
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