Cody Huff brings a refreshing twist to drop shot rigging, stepping away from traditional nose hooks to embrace the efficiency of straight shank varieties. While not always the best approach, straight shank hooks offer distinct benefits in certain situations. Huff shares essential straight shank rigging styles and how these hooks can improve hooking success.
FEATURED PRODUCT (retail links)
- FINESSE STRAIGHT SHANK – VMC RedLine Series Wacky Neko Hook: Buy as Bass Pro Shops, Buy at Tackle Warehouse
- OCTOPUS HOOK – VMC RedLine Series Drop Shot Hook: Buy as Bass Pro Shops, Buy at Tackle Warehouse
- PLASTIC (nose hook) – Missile Baits Bomb Shot Worm, color – Green Pumpkin Flash: Buy at Bass Pro Shops, Buy at Tackle Warehouse
- PLASTIC (straight shank) – Strike King 3X ElazTech Baby Z Too Soft Jerkbait, color – Arkansas Shiner: Buy at Bass Pro Shops, Buy at Tackle Warehouse
- ROD – Bass Pro Shops Johnny Morris Signature Series Made in USA Spinning Rod (new model): Buy at Bass Pro Shops
- REEL – Bass Pro Shops Johnny Morris Platinum Signature Spinning Reel – JPT3000: Buy at Bass Pro Shops
- LINE – Sunline Super FC Sniper Fluorocarbon, 10-pound: Buy at Bass Pro Shops, Buy at Tackle Warehouse
THE STRAIGHT SHANK ADVANTAGE
For Huff, nose hooking with a compact octopus-style drop shot hook excels for maximizing bait action but can reduce hooking success. The best drop shot rig setups feature a mix of hooks and rigging styles, including straight shank. He started using finesse straight shank hooks to address poor hooking (in certain situations) and limited rigging options. Huff attributes this to the physics of a longer shank (more leverage) coupled with a mid-positioned heavier gauge hook.
BETTER HOOKUPS AND VERSATILE RIGGING
The advantage of threading a plastic on a straight shank hook lies in its placement within the bait, ensuring a higher hookup rate even if the fish only partially takes it. Regarding hook sets, the longer shank coupled with a heavier gauge allows you to set harder and usually hooks the fish deeper, so you can bring the heat (necessary around cover). Huff also likes the ability to Texas rig the straight shank when fishing around cover like grass and brush piles.
For those accustomed to the traditional nose hook method, adopting Huff’s approach will improve your drop shot success.
