The problem with the wide gap hook is not that it is a wide gap but that they usually have a heavy wire making the hook itself too heavy. The trick is to find a light wire hook - whether it is a regular round bend, O'Shaughnessy, or Wide Gap. I've caught fish on the Salt Shakers using both heavy wire and light wire. The light wire seems to give the bait more action but I often wonder if that's better. Sometimes I think the more subtle the action of a bait the better. The Salt Shaker on a heavier hook as a very subtle tail wiggle (almost a vibration) that I think drives the fish nuts. I found some wide gap hooks at Stamina tackle that seem to have a lighter wire. I just got them and haven't tried them yet.

For free samples send in a Self-Addressed Stamped Envelope - info here:
http://www.assalt.com/assalt.htm

A $.60 stamp will get you some Salt Shakers, Salt Stix, and a few other baits.