If you are talking about sweet beavers or similar type baits I have always used a gamakatsu #3 or #4 with the barb buried back into the bait to make it weedless. The top would rip off after a couple fish. I would bite the top part off that ripped and keep fishing with it until they tore it up all the way. They would tear it by throwing the bait all over the line while fighting. Hope this helps.

Shawn