Hi Randy, I use my folding pocket knife body to bend a "kirby" into my hook. I put the point half of the hook into the slot the blade of the knife folds into, then turn the hook and knife in opposite directions until the bend suits me. Pliers can ruin the barb sometimes. An old fishing friend showed me this when I was in my twenties and I think of him when I use the knife trick. We used to catch a lot of fish together. I like your kind and polite way of showing folks what you have earned and learned over your many good years of fishing. Smiling , George.
i’ve been fishing for over 60 yrs and learned several things from watching your videos. thanks keep them coming. some off the stuff you have shown, i have already done but i’ve learned more from u that i knew
Your cool signature that blows other RUclips "How to videos" completely out of the water, is when you put on your glasses right before you get into the how to part of your video. Man that blows me away this man is about to get serious what hes going to talk about.The BASS FISHING DOCTOR is in the house...VERY COOL! 😎👍💈
I’ve been worm fishing for 40 years and I didn’t know this tip. Thank you! As many fishing shows as I have watched through the years and I had never heard anything like that. Again, great tip!!
Randy a better way to rig Ribbon tail worm is to bring your hook thru the seam of the worm in the same direction of the hook in the tail . Much better action , and no line twist. Rigging in the flat portion of the worm is the common mistake. Rig all my Zoom ol’ monster & mag ll ‘s in this fashion.
Haha! Way to call me out on my lack of skill rigging straight shank hooks. It being easier to get a bait looking right on an offset is exactly why I use them, and it's like you were speaking right to me. I'll pick up a couple packs and give it some more effort now :)
Thanks for this tip on offset worm hooks . I’ve been losing a lot of big bass out here in falcon lake (Texas)on offset hooks . I’m going to try your tip on bending the hook . I hope this helps with hooking up the fish.
Had the honor of fishing with David Dudley on Smith mountain lake about 10 years ago, and hung out talking about fish finders, and locating bass, nice guy, great angler.......,.. But Randy.. This is the only subscribed fishing channel I have.. It really means something here, like a family. Your subscribers are loyal, and you as well, thanks bud!
Thanks Randy, I hear what you’re saying but I fish heavy cover because that’s where the fish are. You have to bury that hook tip if you ever hope to get that Ol’monster worm through without getting hung up. I can see your method would be better in less clutter structure, just like you said. My waters are far more cluttered though. Thank you.
Yeah, once I saw how the offset hook came through the worm I thought "Checks out, makes sense." Then reality hit and the immediately next thought was "Oh yeah, mostly fishing that there city river. I catch too many shopping carts as it is." You haven't fished soft cover till you fished a sofa. Let me tell ya.
I had an epiphany with those offset hooks...I fished them on tubes and craws (shorter baits) that I used for spotted bass and smallmouth...if the hook point is in or near the same plane as the eyelet, the tendency is to skin hook the fish or not even have the hook bite. On the Coosa/Alabama river system I had too many fish fighting and just mysteriously let go...then it hit me. If I use that style of hooks, I specifically look for brands that are out of plane or bend the hook in such a way so as to avoid this phenomenon. And just like magic, I no longer have that issue...SHAZAM. I wrote to Owne0 Hooksr suggesting they make a very short shanked, wide gap offset hook with point and eyelet far out of plane but I'm just a guy and have no pull...Randy, you could maybe make it happen and it might be a huge hit....remember my tip if you do!
Sitting here wondering how many fish I missed over the last 40 years................... dang. Thanks for making this video and sharing this with everyone. Maybe there's some old coot out there like me that also didn't know any better than to hook the dang worm hook point into the middle to make it weedless.
I’m going to try the offset approach you recommended in this video. However, I have found that when you stick the hook all the way through the back of the worm without burying the tip of the hook a little bit back into the worm, where we fish here in Texas, you tend to stay hung up a lot. I usually just go through the worm and hook the hook back into the flat spot like you said was a mistake a lot of people make. But, we fish in a lot of thick cover, and there’s line and all kinds of trash. Next time I go bass fishing though, I’m going to try that offset method though. Good information though. Thank you!
I like to keep mine in the center. We have lots of vegetation band wood in the pnw so I like to keep the hook buried. I will try this out to see how it works tho. Probly be good on cleaner points idk
I have recently started fishing and taking my wife and 7 year old son. We love the family time, but we have had zero luck landing a fish. I have used cranks, jigs, spinners you name it. I am going to use live worms next lol
I’ve been making that exact same mistake, thanks so much for the great advice. If there’s a better way, I’m all about it! God Bless and good luck on the 50K, 👍🏻🇺🇸🎣
Good info a always. I don't tend to use an EWG style hook for worm, but I don't use purely straight shank either. I mostly use the Gamakatsu Offset Shank, O’Shaughnessy Bend 07413, 07414, and 07415. As such, would you rig it more like using a straight shank hook?
I lost some good fish do to ewg hooks this year I started bending the hook point up to get a good hook set but getting hung up in grass a lot will try this next spring for sure to see if it the same I went to straight shank flipping hooks as well to help
Hey Randy I’d like to get your thoughts on something. I have one hook that I Texas rig with no matter what I’m doing. I use a Trokar screwlock hook. It gives me the weedless ability of an ewg but also gives me the better hookups that you get with a straight shank. Just curious if you have ever tried this style hook very much and your thoughts on the pros and cons. Thanks and Happy New Year.
you just blew my mind....but i know it works cuz ive seen hooks made that way, where tip is slightly offline of the eye. It makes sense in every way. like if it's not bent, and the fish eats it, they have to bite down just right, or you have to set the hook just right where their lip gets in between eye and point at you're setting hook for the point to catch. But if they engulf the whole thing and you set the hook theres just as good a chance if they have it in mouth sideways or whatever that you are just gonna pull the whole hook and bait out of its mout without anything catching cuz eye hits mouth first, pops it open and everything comes out. If the point is sticking off the side, then there is a much better chance it grabs on something. makes perfect sense.
Hi Randy, I use my folding pocket knife body to bend a "kirby" into my hook. I put the point half of the hook into the slot the blade of the knife folds into, then turn the hook and knife in opposite directions until the bend suits me. Pliers can ruin the barb sometimes. An old fishing friend showed me this when I was in my twenties and I think of him when I use the knife trick. We used to catch a lot of fish together. I like your kind and polite way of showing folks what you have earned and learned over your many good years of fishing. Smiling , George.
That’s a great tip! Thanks so much!
great useful tip
You and Matt Stefan have quickly become my two favorite go-to fishing channels. Great, easy to understand tips. Thank you!
Sooo agree!!!
You are a great blessing to the average Bass fishing community..no one else has been so honest with the public.. thanks so much !
i’ve been fishing for over 60 yrs and learned several things from watching your videos.
thanks keep them coming. some off the stuff you have shown, i have already done but i’ve learned more from u that i knew
Your cool signature that blows other RUclips "How to videos" completely out of the water, is when you put on your glasses right before you get into the how to part of your video. Man that blows me away this man is about to get serious what hes going to talk about.The BASS FISHING DOCTOR is in the house...VERY COOL! 😎👍💈
I’ve been worm fishing for 40 years and I didn’t know this tip. Thank you! As many fishing shows as I have watched through the years and I had never heard anything like that. Again, great tip!!
Randy a better way to rig Ribbon tail worm is to bring your hook thru the seam of the worm in the same direction of the hook in the tail . Much better action , and no line twist. Rigging in the flat portion of the worm is the common mistake. Rig all my Zoom ol’ monster & mag ll ‘s in this fashion.
Rigging it the way Randy did it is the wrong way. It will twist the line bad.
I’ve got an old bag of Culprit worms that have instructions on the back to rig them this way, and I’ve been doing it since the 90s. Works great.
@@j-me6317 I know exactly what you’re talking about. Works like a charm.
Good on the 10 inch,not the 7 inch
@@datruthhurts3984 that’s what she said.
I've never seen anyone do this, or talk about this. I can't wait to try this!! Thanks Randy.
Haha! Way to call me out on my lack of skill rigging straight shank hooks. It being easier to get a bait looking right on an offset is exactly why I use them, and it's like you were speaking right to me. I'll pick up a couple packs and give it some more effort now :)
Once again...I've been doing it wrong for years. Thanks again for showing me the way to do it right!
What a great video! I fish mostly bass all year and this tip about bending the hook is magic! Can’t wait to try that method!
Excellent advice and a very well done video. Thanks!
I like the tips you give! Anything I can learn to help me put more fish in the boat, is really appreciated!
It's nice to find a channel that is local and loaded with great tips on lakes that I fish. Keep the info coming Randy
Thanks for this tip on offset worm hooks . I’ve been losing a lot of big bass out here in falcon lake (Texas)on offset hooks . I’m going to try your tip on bending the hook . I hope this helps with hooking up the fish.
I can't believe I just found your channel! So much great info and tips! Thank you so much!
I've been doing it wrong for a LONG time! Thanks for this and correcting me!
Never knew about the turning slightly of the hook for the straight shank. Awesome !
I’m beginning to believe Randy is one of the few Pros that actually provides ‘real’ tips
Great tip! Have not heard this! Don’t know how I missed this video but glad I came across it.
Had the honor of fishing with David Dudley on Smith mountain lake about 10 years ago, and hung out talking about fish finders, and locating bass, nice guy, great angler.......,.. But Randy.. This is the only subscribed fishing channel I have.. It really means something here, like a family. Your subscribers are loyal, and you as well, thanks bud!
Thx man!
Great tip! I've been bending my hooks since you first mentioned it and I can definitely tell a difference in hookups.
Good juice right there. Swimming those ol monsters through eel grass and hydrilla here in FL is golden and that tip is excellent. Thanks, Randy.
Stunning, STUNNING video!!! Thanks Randy. I fish ewg hooks mostly and i will do this for sure.
Very sound advice Randy,this one of my favorite hooks and baits to use,never heard this tip before but it makes perfect sense
Thanks Randy, I hear what you’re saying but I fish heavy cover because that’s where the fish are. You have to bury that hook tip if you ever hope to get that Ol’monster worm through without getting hung up. I can see your method would be better in less clutter structure, just like you said. My waters are far more cluttered though. Thank you.
Yeah, once I saw how the offset hook came through the worm I thought "Checks out, makes sense."
Then reality hit and the immediately next thought was "Oh yeah, mostly fishing that there city river. I catch too many shopping carts as it is." You haven't fished soft cover till you fished a sofa. Let me tell ya.
Great tip randy, watch all your video's and Fish the Moment.
Simple fast free solution
Superbly well done
Randy - you always make common fishing techniques interesting and ideas to improve. Deeply appreciate your efforts and thoughtfulness.
@Dan Hancuff - most people confuse “catching” with “fishing” - which are not synonymous.
Thx man
YES. This is a great tip that everyone should know and use. VMC already does this with some of their hooks and jigs.
I had an epiphany with those offset hooks...I fished them on tubes and craws (shorter baits) that I used for spotted bass and smallmouth...if the hook point is in or near the same plane as the eyelet, the tendency is to skin hook the fish or not even have the hook bite. On the Coosa/Alabama river system I had too many fish fighting and just mysteriously let go...then it hit me. If I use that style of hooks, I specifically look for brands that are out of plane or bend the hook in such a way so as to avoid this phenomenon. And just like magic, I no longer have that issue...SHAZAM. I wrote to Owne0 Hooksr suggesting they make a very short shanked, wide gap offset hook with point and eyelet far out of plane but I'm just a guy and have no pull...Randy, you could maybe make it happen and it might be a huge hit....remember my tip if you do!
Wow Randy! Thanks for the "bend" tip. I will definitely try that! God bless you!
I have heard about this trick as in bending the hook slightly but not putting it off to the side like you have shown. Thanks for sharing!! :)
Thank you, I’m defiantly trying it tomorrow.
Love your videos. I can't wait to get back to fishing here in NH. Thank you!
Sitting here wondering how many fish I missed over the last 40 years................... dang. Thanks for making this video and sharing this with everyone. Maybe there's some old coot out there like me that also didn't know any better than to hook the dang worm hook point into the middle to make it weedless.
I’m going to try the offset approach you recommended in this video. However, I have found that when you stick the hook all the way through the back of the worm without burying the tip of the hook a little bit back into the worm, where we fish here in Texas, you tend to stay hung up a lot. I usually just go through the worm and hook the hook back into the flat spot like you said was a mistake a lot of people make. But, we fish in a lot of thick cover, and there’s line and all kinds of trash. Next time I go bass fishing though, I’m going to try that offset method though. Good information though. Thank you!
I like your idea of offset the point. Great tip, thank you
How do you keep all this information in your head ? I’m over here taking notes in my book lol. Thank you brother for sharing your knowledge. God Bless
Thank you for sharing this tip! I've been fishing offsets for a long time and usually skin hook it on the top. Gotta try it next time!
Great information as usual. Thanks Randy
Wow! I never heard that tip before. Thanks
Glad you have covered using smaller hooks.
Thanks, here in Lithuania our hooks come in bent like that usually :)
Thanks Randy for all the great tips. It has made me a much better fisherman.
Good info. I’ve been doing it the wrong way for years!
Thanks Randy. Power worms are my favorite to fish with. I like the twisted hook idea.
More great tips. Thank you Randy!
Good tactics! can't wait to try it for smallmouth on lake Michigan next spring.
Thanks for the tips Randy.
I like to keep mine in the center. We have lots of vegetation band wood in the pnw so I like to keep the hook buried. I will try this out to see how it works tho. Probly be good on cleaner points idk
I have recently started fishing and taking my wife and 7 year old son. We love the family time, but we have had zero luck landing a fish. I have used cranks, jigs, spinners you name it. I am going to use live worms next lol
I’ve been making that exact same mistake, thanks so much for the great advice. If there’s a better way, I’m all about it! God Bless and good luck on the 50K, 👍🏻🇺🇸🎣
Interesting. I'm wondering though if I'm fishing in a low snag area and NOT tucking the hook tip into the worm, is this still more effective?
Great tip! Defiently going to use this!
"Nearly every" angler is doing it wrong? What were your empirical methods for determining that?
That’s awesome!! Thank YOU!!!🎣
Love the plum ol monster! My first confidence bait ❤️
Never know this trick, will try next time thanks for tips
50+ years ago I think went through a pack of jelly worms before I finally got it right. 😆 Wish you had been around then. Thx
Thanks buddy great video
Awesome!! I’ll try it!! Thanks buddy
Good info a always. I don't tend to use an EWG style hook for worm, but I don't use purely straight shank either. I mostly use the Gamakatsu Offset Shank, O’Shaughnessy Bend 07413, 07414, and 07415. As such, would you rig it more like using a straight shank hook?
Just got the MB Vision 110 Plus 1 Jrs. from BaitWRX. Can't wait to try them out...but will wait for a bit warmer temps.
Vmc hooks actually come with a 3 degree offset. Atleast some. Great tip. I knew this but forget to do it sometimes.
Would a snelled knot on an EWG, along with a bend in the shank provide any better hookup precentages??? Your thoughts... lj
Love it. Thank you.
Thanks for the tip. Use EWG offsets on zoom lizards for smallies. Will try that bend.
If the _bite gap_ is the distance between the point and shank ...
it seems bending it like that increases the _bite gap_ ; yes?
Thank you for sharing! 👍
Ok that’s what I’ll start doing thanks man! Hey can you show us how you hook creature Bates and the Shakey head?
Great video never thought about doing that I’ll sure give it a try
Great tip. Im gonna angle all my hooks on worm s
Thank you for the tips!
Did the old fashioned Mesler or True Turn hooks ever work the same way? Or work at all?
I lost some good fish do to ewg hooks this year I started bending the hook point up to get a good hook set but getting hung up in grass a lot will try this next spring for sure to see if it the same I went to straight shank flipping hooks as well to help
What a great tip, Thanks!
If I'm correct bending the hook turns it into basically a tru turn hook which I've been using for many years. Is this better than a tru turn?
I subscribed for this video alone!
WOW! That was a great tip.
Good tip today
Been watching since around 12k subscribers
Bought solar bats in December with the bogo deal…. Great shades….
Thx man!
I bought these shades too and they are great!!
Hey Randy I’d like to get your thoughts on something. I have one hook that I Texas rig with no matter what I’m doing. I use a Trokar screwlock hook. It gives me the weedless ability of an ewg but also gives me the better hookups that you get with a straight shank. Just curious if you have ever tried this style hook very much and your thoughts on the pros and cons. Thanks and Happy New Year.
What are your thoughts on the hybrid hooks replacing anywhere you use ewg? Ewg/straight shank
Super Tip, thx
Do you tie a snell knot anytime you use a straight shank, or just when flipping?
I really like the offset hook idea. Just wondering if that increases the amount of snagging on grass?
That color o'l monster is my favorite color in a 10" worm. Deadly in East Texas
Looks like a great way to get more solid hook sets.. any line twist with the hook bent though?
Does bending the hook out to the side not cause a ton of line twist?
I love how VMC offers some hooks with the offset already built in.
Great video Randy!
Already there what you just told me that is pretty neat idea now I know how to do it
Do you use a Snell knot with a straight shank hook Randy?
Do you bend your straight shank hooks?
Thanks fishing is improving
you just blew my mind....but i know it works cuz ive seen hooks made that way, where tip is slightly offline of the eye. It makes sense in every way. like if it's not bent, and the fish eats it, they have to bite down just right, or you have to set the hook just right where their lip gets in between eye and point at you're setting hook for the point to catch. But if they engulf the whole thing and you set the hook theres just as good a chance if they have it in mouth sideways or whatever that you are just gonna pull the whole hook and bait out of its mout without anything catching cuz eye hits mouth first, pops it open and everything comes out. If the point is sticking off the side, then there is a much better chance it grabs on something. makes perfect sense.
I use em often. Thank you.
Nice Fishing Tip.
Hi thanks fir showing how to do that didn't no. I can see be lot more hookups.
Here at Lake of the Ozarks we call that the "Osage River Twist".