Gamakatsu Worm Offset EWG Hook

Gamakatsu is one of the most recognised hook manufacturers in the world, supplying quality hooks for lure anglers, carp anglers, trout anglers and everything in between. Sharpness and quality are at the core of everything they make.

Gamakatsu Worm Offset EWG Hook

EWG stands for Extra Wide Gap, and that wide gape is what sets this hook apart from a standard offset hook. Most offset worm hooks are built with a relatively narrow gape - ideal for slimmer, worm-shaped soft plastics, but problematic when you rig up bulkier shads or other high-backed soft lures. With a narrow-gape hook, there simply isn't enough room for the lure to slide clear at the point of the bite, leaving the hook point partially buried and causing missed takes.

Gamakatsu designed the Worm Offset EWG Hook specifically for this situation. The extra-wide gape gives even chunky, high-backed soft lures plenty of room to slide aside on the take, so the hook point clears cleanly and the predator is hooked securely.

Despite that wide gape, the hook's geometry still allows you to rig soft lures almost completely weedless, so you can fish confidently through heavy weed and dense cover without constantly snagging up. Soft jerkbaits and weightless-rigged pike soft lures in particular benefit from this setup.

As you'd expect from Gamakatsu, the point is ferociously sharp straight out of the packet. The small barb barely slows penetration yet holds the hook firmly in a predator's jaw. The wire gauge has been chosen to combine elasticity with serious strength - this hook bends back into shape rather than folding flat or snapping under pressure.

The EWG is available in two finishes. The Black Nickel finish is extremely corrosion-resistant and stays discreet in the water. The red version adds a visual trigger point that can make a difference with light-coloured or translucent soft lures.

How to Fish It

Rig soft jerkbaits and weightless pike soft lures on the EWG weedless and work them through heavy cover. The extra-wide gape ensures the lure clears the hook point cleanly on every take, even with bulkier, high-backed soft lures.