Hook size? I dunno, much depends on what your trying to do. Light line means small hooks......heavier line, bigger weights and faster trolling means bigger hooks.

For canoe fishing with a plastic worm I'm picturing something along the lines of a 1/0 or 2/0 and fishing with a fat grub or twister grub I'm thinking 2/0 or 3/0.

The slo death hook with a live crawler was tops last year on Erie with small spoons running a close second.

As per bottom bouncers they certainly have their place but its not usually my first option even with crawler harnesses. I am a big fan of these
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They come in a variety of weights and are quite effective. I am a huge proponent of imitating "one thing chasing something else". I believe that the bigger predators (be they fish or denizens of the forest) take advantage of prey that is preoccupied with making their own living. There might even be some dislike of smaller inferior critters having a good time on mr bigs turf. Such thinking is quite common and accepted in salt water circles.