~ ~
New Product Release
Yamamoto Innovates Large Size Splitshot Hooks
By Russ Bassdozer

December 1, 2002

Big bass prefer big baits and you need a big hook to handle them! That's why three new large sizes of splitshot hooks (approximately 1/0, 2/0, 3/0) have been designed by Gary Yamamoto and manufactured by Gamakatsu exclusively for use with larger sizes of Yamamoto Senkos, large Ikas and large Cut Tails.

Why is a Texas rig called that, and why is a Carolina rig known by that name? We can assume they had their origins in Texas and Carolina, but have since spread to nationwide and worldwide usage. Likewise, Gary Yamamoto's splitshot hooks had their origins in splitshotting, but have since become popular and appropriate for other uses - wacky rigging, dropshotting, weightless nose-hooking, in addition to splitshotting.

Now with the addition of three new larger sizes, the usage has been extended further to cover heavier rods/reels, stronger lines and bigger baits. "This is an innovative direction Yamamoto is taking," says Russ Bassdozer, adding, "Most hooks of this style in bass fishing are recent introductions, spawned by the dropshotting craze, and so far are mostly smaller sizes for light tackle."

"The original smaller size Yamamoto Splitshot hooks (invented by Gary fifteen years ago) are also for light tackle, but now the three new larger sizes in terms of strength and wire diameter, they are about as strong a bass hook as you'll ever see, and can be used with confidence for the biggest bass on the heaviest tackle," says Bassdozer.

From smallest to largest, the new sizes are 3, 2, and 1 (approximately equal to 1/0, 2/0, and 3/0 respectively).

Yamamoto's Splitshot hook (a fifteen year old idea), is fashioned on an ancient Hawaiian design which has been re-invented as the more rounded "circle hook" in modern times. Circle hooks are commonly used on unattended longlines by commercial sea anglers worldwide. Hooks of this nature are self-setting against pressure as a fish swims away with the bait. No hookset is required, which depends on the exposed point being free and clear to catch behind the upper lip or in the corner of the mouth every time. After it slips behind the lip, it catches there, and then sets itself past the barb with pressure of a fish or angler pulling steadily against the line. Hooks of this nature are also considered conservation-oriented due to fewer deep-hooked fish.

"Rates of fishing success and hooking percentage were comparable or higher for circle hooks [compared to traditional J-shaped hook catches]...in addition, use of circle hooks resulted in lower rates of deep hooking..." according to a recent scientific study by the American Fisheries Society.

SUGGESTED USES FOR LARGE SIZE SPLITSHOT HOOKS

In the four smaller sizes (4, 5, 6, 7) originally designed for smaller soft baits, the Splitshot hook is known as the "guide's dream" because clients do not even need to know how to detect a bite or set a hook to catch a high percentage of fish. Just steady reeling pressure is required.

In the three new larger sizes (1, 2, 3), the following examples illustrate some of the best uses with some of the bigger Yamamoto soft baits.

The exposed nature of the Splitshot hook excels for soft plastics fished vertically as "fall baits" or "drop baits" on the edge of cover or in open water. Great for suspended fish or above-bottom usage. They're also swell for soft plastics fished horizontally across shallow flats as subsurface "jerk baits" or to entice bass to rise up to the "jerk baits" fished in the subsurface layers over deeper water. Dropshotting also tends to keep the exposed hook above bottom, thereby avoiding the worst snags.

Splitshot hooks may not be the best choice for snaggy cover. The self-setting nature of the hook usually requires the hook to be exposed, free and clear of blockage by the bait (hence the reason to use larger hooks with bulkier baits). The exposed hook may allow the bait to fall down into snaggy cover no problem...but on the way out, due to line pressure, the exposed hook will often set itself in weeds, brush or wood.

WACKY RIG Bend the bait in the middle so both tips touch. Then poke the Splitshot hook straight through the bend in the middle. Both tips quiver as it falls. With the bigger Yamamoto baits, a wacky rig will tend to "perch" and rest across the top of bottom weeds or bottom debris where fish can see it, rather than disappearing down into it. Just leave it perched there for the longest, which gets bass so worked up they cannot stand it anymore...watch your line move off, and sweepset using the increasingly heavy pressure provided by the moving fish to set the hook.

CUCKOO BIRD RIG As the name implies, this rigging method creates an unpredictable erratic action when twitched or jerked as a "drop bait". Pin the Splitshot hook in the shoulder, about 1/4 of the way back, finding the "sweet spot" in the bait that produces the most off-kilter, unbalanced action possible. You never know what it will do next, except catch bass like cuckoo when other methods fail!

DROPSHOT RIG There's no reason to limit your dropshot fishing to light lines and micro-mini baits. Those are huge homemade "one ton" dropshot sinkers (1 to 2 oz) you see in the photo - and use the appropriately-sized baits and Splitshot hooks to match!

NOSE HOOKING The splitshot hook can be at its very best fished weightless under blustery conditions where slack is blown into the fishing line -- or whenever fish are biting lightly and you cannot detect their presence easily. Before you know it, the fish will probably move off and set the hook on itself due to wind or line resistance.

MOJO RIG As the sinker pulls the bait to bottom, the bait creates a spiraling mortally-wounded tailspin above the sinker on the way down. When the sinker touches down on bottom, the gasping, dying bait slowly flutters the last few feet to its final resting spot...then just don't move it for the longest time...which is more than any bass can stand.

Related Story
They're Baa-ack! Splitshot Hooks
By Russ Bassdozer

February 26, 2002

Our Splitshot hooks do so much more that just splitshotting! They also do dropshotting, nose-hooking weightless baits, shaking and doodling 7-Series Cut Tail Worms, and rigging wacky worms. Versatility in a small package, plus high strength for landing the big ones! That's our Splitshot! Read on for how Gary Yamamoto originally designed and still fishes the Splitshot hook.

As a child born and raised in Hawaii, Gary Yamamoto used an ancient Hawaiian style hook that didn't really require you set it. Whenever a fish gingerly slipped off with your bait, the Hawaiian hook simply slipped behind the lip, self-setting every time.

When he first began to bass fish later in life in Arizona however, Yamamoto faced a dilemma that every beginning basser dreads - knowing when and how to set the hook.

Recalling the ease of use of the hook of his childhood days, it inspired Yamamoto to design his self-setting Splitshot hook for modern bass fishing.

First designed about twenty years ago, our #4 Splitshot hooks are back in stock now! Crafted by Gamakatsu exclusively for Gary Yamamoto, the Splitshot is a modern day version of the type of saltwater bait hook first used by Gary as a kid in Hawaii.

With the self-setting nature of the Splitshot hook, it will work any time you DO NOT set the hook! You will miss almost every fish if you do try to set the hook. Learn how to let the fish move off with the bait against a tight line, which sets the hook merely using strong rod pressure.

It is at its very best under blustery conditions where slack is blown into the fishing line -- or whenever fish are biting lightly and you cannot detect their presence easily.

Nowadays, with the popularity of dropshotting, there are some copies on the market, but none are quite as strong or as weedless as the in-turned point of Gary Yamamoto's Splitshot hook.

~ ~