Hook sizes
What size hook for bass
Most bass soft-plastic rigs use a 1/0 to 4/0 hook, sized to the length and bulk of the bait: smaller plastics on spinning tackle take a 1/0 to 3/0 offset worm hook, EWG worm hook or jig hook, and larger plastics on a baitcaster a 3/0 to 4/0 EWG worm hook. Live minnows, nightcrawlers, leeches and crawfish take 1/0 to 3/0. Go smaller for smallmouth and drop shots: about #4 to #1 for smallmouth and a #2 or #1 drop-shot hook. Big shiners go larger, and crankbaits, jerkbaits and spinnerbaits keep the hooks they came with.
Hook size by bait
Where a bait appears twice, each row is a different technique, because the presentation can change the hook. A hook marked "comes on the lure" is the size the lure usually carries, not one to choose.
Scroll the table sideways to see every column.
| Bait or lure | Technique | Hook size | Hook style |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nightcrawler | Spinning, baitcasting or jigging | 1/0–3/0 | Octopus hook |
| Live minnow | Spinning or baitcasting | 1/0–3/0 | Octopus hook |
| Live minnow | Jigging | 1/0–3/0 | Jig hook (leadhead) |
| Leech | Spinning or jigging | 1/0–3/0 | Octopus hook |
| Crawfish | Spinning or baitcasting | 1/0–3/0 | J hook |
| Large live shiner | Spinning or baitcasting | 4/0–6/0 | Circle hook |
| Plastic worm | Spinning | 1/0–3/0 | Offset worm hook |
| Plastic worm | Baitcasting | 3/0–4/0 | EWG (extra wide gap) hook |
| Soft stick bait | Spinning | 1/0–3/0 | Offset worm hook |
| Soft stick bait | Baitcasting | 3/0–4/0 | EWG (extra wide gap) hook |
| Creature or craw bait | Spinning | 1/0–3/0 | EWG (extra wide gap) hook |
| Creature or craw bait | Baitcasting | 3/0–4/0 | EWG (extra wide gap) hook |
| Creature or craw bait | Jigging | 2/0–4/0 | Jig hook (leadhead) |
| Soft paddle-tail swimbait | Spinning | 1/0–3/0 | EWG (extra wide gap) hook |
| Soft paddle-tail swimbait | Baitcasting | 3/0–4/0 | EWG (extra wide gap) hook |
| Soft paddle-tail swimbait | Jigging | 2/0–4/0 | Jig hook (leadhead) |
| Tube bait | Spinning or jigging | 1/0–3/0 | Jig hook (leadhead) |
| Plastic grub or curly tail | Spinning | 1/0–3/0 | Jig hook (leadhead) |
| Plastic grub or curly tail | Jigging | #1–2/0 | Jig hook (leadhead) |
| Hair or marabou jig | Spinning or jigging | #1–2/0 | Jig hook (leadhead), comes on the lure |
| Skirted jig | Spinning, baitcasting or jigging | 3/0–5/0 | Jig hook (leadhead), comes on the lure |
| Crankbait | Spinning or baitcasting | #4–#2 | Treble hook, comes on the lure |
| Jerkbait | Spinning or baitcasting | #4–#2 | Treble hook, comes on the lure |
| Topwater lure | Spinning or baitcasting | #4–#2 | Treble hook, comes on the lure |
| Lipless crankbait | Spinning or baitcasting | #4–#2 | Treble hook, comes on the lure |
| Casting or trolling spoon | Spinning or jigging | #6–#1 | Treble hook, comes on the lure |
| Inline spinner | Spinning | #10–#2 | Treble hook, comes on the lure |
| Spinnerbait | Spinning or baitcasting | 3/0–5/0 | Jig hook (leadhead), comes on the lure |
Sizes are ranges because hook numbering is not standardized. Two hooks stamped the same size in different styles or from different brands can differ noticeably in gap.
Hook size by rig
The common bass rigs and the hook each one takes.
- Texas-rigged worm
- #1 to 5/0 · Offset or round-bend worm hook. Size by length: about #1 for a 6-inch worm up to 5/0 for a 10-inch one, with the steps between in the table below. Brands size differently, so check that the gap clears the worm.
- Creature or craw bait
- Sized to the bait · EWG worm hook. The extra-wide gap leaves room around a bulky plastic so the point can still reach the fish.
- Drop shot
- #2 to #1 · Drop-shot hook through the nose of the bait. A 5-inch straight worm is a common start, with about a foot of line below the hook to a 1/4-ounce weight in shallow water, up to 3/4 ounce deep.
- Ned rig
- #2 to #1 · Light-wire mushroom jighead. Heads run from about 1/20 to 1/5 ounce, paired with a small soft plastic.
- Live minnow or crawfish
- #4 to 3/0 · Light-wire bait hook. For largemouth; go down to #4 to #1 for smallmouth.
Published sizes by soft-plastic length
Scroll the table sideways to see every column.
| Rig | Hook style | About 3 in | 4–5 in | 6–7 in | 8–10 in | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas rig | Offset or EWG worm hook | — | — | #1–3/0 | 2/0–5/0 | Take Me Fishing and Gamakatsu |
| Ned rig | Light-wire mushroom jighead | #2–#1 | — | — | — | Z-Man and Take Me Fishing |
| Drop shot | Drop-shot hook through the nose of the bait | — | #2–#1 | — | — | Virginia DWR |
| Weightless fluke or soft jerkbait | Offset-shank worm hook | — | 2/0–4/0 | 4/0–5/0 | — | Zoom and Lunker City |
Sizes as published by the hook and bait makers, Virginia DWR and Take Me Fishing named in each row; a dash means no size is listed here. Lengths are approximate, and the same printed size can differ in gap between brands, so check that the gap clears the bait.
Sources for this guidance
- Take Me Fishing — Fishing Hook Sizes Bass hook sizes run #1, 1/0 and 2/0: the smaller size for worms around 6 inches, the larger for 8-inch worms and 6-inch lizards. Read through the Internet Archive's copy of May 19, 2026, because the live page did not respond. Checked October 6, 2026.
- Gamakatsu — Key worm hook styles Manufacturer sizing by bait length: a 3/0 round-bend hook for a 7-inch worm, a 5/0 for 10-inch worms; offset-shank hooks for long, narrow plastics and extra wide gap hooks for bulkier ones. Checked October 6, 2026.
- Gamakatsu — Offset Shank EWG worm hook Manufacturer example of an EWG worm hook used for Texas- and Carolina-rigged soft plastics and bulky baits.
- Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission — Bass Hook sizes of #4 to 3/0 for largemouth and #4 to #1 for smallmouth on crayfish, minnows and similar baits. Checked October 6, 2026.
- Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources — Drop shotting A size 1 to 2 drop-shot hook through the nose of the bait, a 5-inch straight worm to start, and a 1/4- to 3/4-ounce weight. Checked October 6, 2026.
- Z-Man — Finesse ShroomZ jigheads Ned rig mushroom jigheads built on light-wire size 1 and 2 hooks, from 1/20 to 1/5 ounce, paired with Z-Man finesse plastics of about 2½ to 3½ inches.
- Take Me Fishing — Bass fishing rigs The Ned rig as a 3-inch soft plastic on a 1/16-ounce mushroom jighead made with a size 1 or 2 hook.
- Zoom Bait Company — How to rig the Zoom Super Fluke (2009) Bait maker's rigging post: the Super Fluke weightless on a 3/0 or 4/0 hook.
- Zoom Bait Company — Super Fluke The Super Fluke is 5¼ inches long, with a hook slot in its belly.
- Lunker City — 4.5-inch Slug-Go Bait maker's rigging for its soft stick bait: weightless on a 2/0 or 3/0 Texposer hook.
- Lunker City — 6-inch Slug-Go Weightless on a 4/0 or 5/0 Texposer hook.
- Lunker City — Standard offset hooks Offset-shank hooks with an extra-long shank, made to balance a Slug-Go or other soft jerkbait.
- 6th Sense — Bodega Jig Manufacturer spec table for a skirted bass jig: a 3/0 hook at 1/4 ounce, 4/0 at 3/8 and 1/2 ounce, and 5/0 at 3/4 ounce.
- 6th Sense — Divine Spinnerbait Manufacturer spec table: a 3/0 hook on the 1/4- and 3/8-ounce spinnerbaits and a 4/0 from 1/2 to 1 ounce.
- Z-Man — SlingBladeZ Double Willow spinnerbait A 3/8- or 1/2-ounce bass spinnerbait built on a 5/0 hook.
Get a size for your exact setup
Get a hook size and hook style for what you are actually fishing, the sizes either side of it, and when to move up or down.
Related hook size guides
- Hook size for trout
- Hook size for crappie
- Hook size for surf fishing
- Full fishing hook size chartSelected common sizes from #28 to 12/0 with typical uses.
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