Shank Weight Hooks w/Stainless Clip-on Coil Keepers

New hook designs from every hook manufacturer get better every year, but no hook company has improved as much or as quickly as Mustad in recent years.

The major success Mustad has had in the bass fishing market revolves around its UltraPoint line of hooks. Mustad launched it's Ultra Point product line in the USA in 1997, and UltraPoint's reputation and market share is still growing strong today, over ten years later as Mustad continues to come out with better and better Ultra Point hooks.

One of Mustad's best-selling Ultra Point bass hooks in recent years has been the #91768 series which has proved to be an ideal hook for fishing soft plastic frogs and toads. Although popularity of the frog and toad frenzy has peaked, the #91768 hook model still ranks as one of Mustad's most popular bass hooks.

Although originally designed for frog and toad fishing, don't mind that. Instead, think of any soft bait you may otherwise rig on a 4/0 hook. Any soft bait that goes swell with a 4/0 - try it.

The shank-weighted version shown here is the most recent OEM implementation (by Cast Industries) of the Mustad #91768 that includes a fixed position shank weight (in 1/8, 3/16 and 1/4 ounce sizes) with a clip-on stainless coil keeper to hold soft baits securely in place.

The shape and position of the weight is the real beauty of it all. When allowed to fall on the drop, the weight will swagger and sway as it falls, causing the attached soft bait to wiggle and waver in a swimming motion as it falls. There's nothing too magical about the rig when you retrieve it steadily, it comes in straight. But pause and let it fall on a slack line, or let it pendulum swing in toward you on a semi-tight line - without reeling - and the shank weight starts swinging and swaying, thereby rocking the attached bait back and forth like a baby in a cradle.

Of course, baits that have tail action of their own - like GYB's Swim Senko - will swing the shank weight back and forth on a steady retrieve - and the shank weight will rock the bait back and forth when the retrieve is paused and the bait falls.

Some of my favorite baits to use with the shank-weighted Mustad #91768 4/0 include the Kinami 4-inch Swim Senko, the GYB 5-inch Swim Senko, GYB's 5-inch Senko, 5-inch and 5-3/4-inch GYB Kut Tail Worms, 5-inch GYB Hula Grubs, GYB Craws - or try anything you may have otherwise rigged with a 4/0 hook.

Shank Weight Hooks w/Stainless Clip-On Coil Keepers. All 4/0. L to R: 1/4, 3/16, 1/8 oz weights.

5 Shank Weight Hooks w/Stainless Clip-On Coil Keepers ~ 4/0 ~ 1/8 oz

5 Shank Weight Hooks w/Stainless Clip-On Coil Keepers ~ 4/0 ~ 3/16 oz

5 Shank Weight Hooks w/Stainless Clip-On Coil Keepers ~ 4/0 ~ 1/4 oz

GYB's 5-inch hula grub rigged on the 1/4 oz shank weight hook for swimming deep along the bottom.

With the 1/8 oz shank weight hook, GYB's 5-inch Hula Grub can be buzzed on top, leaving a rippling trail across the surface of thick grass mats - or open water. It's a deadly topwater presentation - with a GYB Hula Grub!

Even thicker, less active baits like GYB's Craw will flutter and shimmy on the fall. Thicker, less active baits require the heavier 1/4 oz weight in order to have the shimmying, shaking effect on them.

Slender, more supple baits like GYB Senkos, Kut Tail Worms and Swim Senkos will shake and shimmy even with the lighter 1/8 and 3/16oz  shank weight hooks.

Because the weight is positioned far back on the shank, the attached bait falls horizontally - as if it was wacky rigged or rigged on a wacky jig. Shown here are GYB's Swim Senko and world-famous Senko, both in 5-inch sizes.