The hook dilemma is an on going experiment. The only time the short shank hook has made a measurable difference to me is live minnow fishing. Live minnows here are hard to come by in high quality so I just skip buying them. If I am fishing a hand tied jig I like my shorter hook and tie a short tail. then and Berkley live gulp for dressing. I am a hook bender though. I will bend the hook out to the side several degrees and it improves hookups. Not in heavy brush though. Great discussion here folks.