Some Wacky Rig Questions

[Rolltide09]

I am just nnow getting to draw some interest on wacky rigging. I am using a St. Croix AVS68mxf w/ 8lb invisx if that matters. Tried it the other day with the Owner Weedless Wacky 1/0 with trick worms and did quite well and caught 40 bass but missed a decent bit of fish too. I am looking to try different worms like a zoom finesse and possibly 4-6" senko style baits. My questions and concerns comes to what hook sizes are y'all using for the type of baits mentioned and is there a trick to not missing so many fish? Also if anyone has any bait reccommendations or anything I will be more than thankful for the help.

[ww2farmer]

1/16th oz. Jackall wacky jig with the 4.8, or 5.8 size Jackall Flickshake worm. Cast it out, eat a sandwich, if I fish isn't on it by then, lift it up, make it dance, let it sink again, and eat another sandwich.

[MarkH024]

I am just nnow getting to draw some interest on wacky rigging. I am using a St. Croix AVS68mxf w/ 8lb invisx if that matters. Tried it the other day with the Owner Weedless Wacky 1/0 with trick worms and did quite well and caught 40 bass but missed a decent bit of fish too. I am looking to try different worms like a zoom finesse and possibly 4-6" senko style baits. My questions and concerns comes to what hook sizes are y'all using for the type of baits mentioned and is there a trick to not missing so many fish? Also if anyone has any bait reccommendations or anything I will be more than thankful for the help.

I have the exact same rod that I use for wacky fishing with a Symetre 2500 FJ, however I use braid because I can feel the bites much much easier with braid. Maybe give that a try one weekend of fishing to see if you like the difference.  I tie straight, no leader 95% of the time.

[Darren.]

I am just nnow getting to draw some interest on wacky rigging. I am using a St. Croix AVS68mxf w/ 8lb invisx if that matters. Tried it the other day with the Owner Weedless Wacky 1/0 with trick worms and did quite well and caught 40 bass but missed a decent bit of fish too. I am looking to try different worms like a zoom finesse and possibly 4-6" senko style baits. My questions and concerns comes to what hook sizes are y'all using for the type of baits mentioned and is there a trick to not missing so many fish? Also if anyone has any bait reccommendations or anything I will be more than thankful for the help.

 

There's really no one best way to do wacky (IMHO).

 

This season I am using weighted wacky rigs more than in years past. I'm using Buckeye rigs I picked up at BPS in 1/16, 1/8, 3/8 oz. Heavier weight on my baitcaster. All the hooks are 1/0, larger than I normally have used for wacky presentation, but it hasn't mattered.

 

My main non-jig wacky hooks are Gamakatsu Wide-Gap Finesse in a size 1 or 2 (I go down to 4 as well). Caught my PB on a size 1 of these hooks.

 

As far as baits, I love the Zoom Finesse worms, and I love GYCB Senkos. But I also use BPS Stick-O worms, all predominately in the 4-5" range.

 

As far as hookups, you can have a bad hookup on virtually any hook. Some like long shank hooks for wacky, some like short, among others.

 

IMO try several varieties of hooks and see which you like the best. I personally think small hooks are plenty capable of handling large fish, but they need to work with the bait you're using. Too big a worm on a #2 hook and you may miss that hookup simply because there was too much plastic to hold well....

[bass1980]

Keep in mind some miss hook sets are not really because of you. Sometimes bass, especially smaller ones, don't inhale the whole worm and only take the worm by the end. So no matter what hook or who you are you really can't set the hook. I didn't realize this until one day I fished a really clear lake and smaller Bass was kept messing with me and I could see they were just grabbing the end and take off.

[mjseverson24]

if you are experiancing poor strike to land ratio, check the type of hookset you are doing. I typically do more of a reel set myself only because there is a lot of plastic in that mouth and a little bit of hook, too big of a set will blow the hook out of the fish's mouth. try the more subtle and controlled reel set it might help your ratio(it has for me).

 

Mitch

[Wayne P.]

The main "trick" is to use a hook size for bass fishing and then match it to the lure size.

 

I use a 3/0 Octopus hook for Trick worms and a 2/0 Octopus hook for finesse worms.

If I use the fat worms like Senkos, I use a 4/0 Octopus hook.

 

If you are missing fish, switch to the finesse size worms. I have caught some of my largest bass with the finesse worm weedless wacky rigged.

 

The Gammy Finesse Wide Gap hook will cause missed hook set due to the hook point and hook eye being so close together. The best application of those if you must use them is to treat it like a Circle hook.

[Comfortably Numb]

Most likely the fish you are missing are not bass. Bluegills will nearly rip the rod out of your hand when they take off with the bait.

[MarkH024]

Most likely the fish you are missing are not bass. Bluegills will nearly rip the rod out of your hand when they take off with the bait.

Dang...I'd like to fish some bluegill by you if that's the case.

[Fishes in trees]

I seldom wacky rig anything other than a senko (original)  I most often use a 1/16 oz weighted Falcon K Wacky hook.  I always run the hook around an o-ring on the senko and not ever through the bait.  This bait/hook combo weighs enough so that it pitches great.   I generally use 14 lb. fluorocarbon, a decent

pitching rod (currently a 6'10" Falcon Bucco MH) and a Calcutta 200 TEGT reel.

 

For me, the key to working this bait is to NOT work it.   Feed it line and let it drop as naturally as possible.

No additional action, no twitches, no nothing, just let it drop.

[BassAddict1911]

my new favorite rig, won a tournament with it a week ago.

 

My favorite worm is a YUMdinger, in junebug or peanut butter jelly color. For a hook I go with a 2/0 widegap ... with this setup you cant go wrong brother! Good luck to ya

[Sam]

Hook sizes - You can use a #1 to a 3/0 depending on size of bass. I like the 1/0 weedless hooks.

 

Is there a trick to not missing so many fish? - Yes. Let them run with it a little. If they are holding on to the tail you will miss them no matter what you do.  Always use scent on your plastics so they will hold onto the bait for an additional second or so. Always watch your line and keep a finger on the line to feel any taps.  If you cast and  the bait does not hit the bottom SET THE HOOK! If you reel in the wacky rig fast back to you be ready for a strike. And be sure to set the hook hard over your head but don't fall out of the boat or onto the ground.

 

Any bait reccommendations - Senkos; Zoom Trick Worms, Swampcrawlers; the new oversized Zoom Trick Worms; any plastic you want.

 

Anything I will be more than thankful for the help - Use the Gardner Bender Plolyoefin Heat Shrink Tubing (size 3/8 for Senkos and 3/16 for Trick Worms and finesse worms. Cut the tube into small sections of less than a 1/4 inch. Run the worm through the cut tube and put the tube in the center of the worm or where ever you want to place it. Place the worm's tail on a table and have the rest of it off the table and then using an ignitor (for bar-b-q pits) heat the tubing by turning the worm so the tube gets snug against the worm. Run hook between tube and plastic and you can use the plastic over and over again.

 

No additional weight is needed on bait. If you do want to add a little weight try the smallest black bullet weight you can find and place if above your hook.

 

Spinning rig with 6 or 8 pound flourocarbon works great. Go with a 10 pound flouro test if you are in heavy cover. Your goal is to be able to throw the bait without any weight so it floats like a butterfly to the bottom and then everytime you lift and drop it to the bottom.

 

Flip and pitch it or cast it out and let it fall. I mostly throw it out and then bring it back, watching the line at all times. But I do pitch it to any targets I see, from a small stickup to a tree stumps and even skipping it under docks and piers. Yes, skip it under whatever you can find and hold on.

 

Cast, let hit bottom. Lift rod tip six-inches and let drop and sit. Repeat same back to you.

 

Throw in any wood, structure or grass you can find. Throw adjacent to any wood, structure or grass you can find. Throw around lilly pads. Throw it where the bass are. The weedless hook will minimize your snags but you will get snagged but that is where the fish are. As stated above, skip it under docks and piers.

 

ALWAYS RUN LINE THROUGH THUMBNAIL AND FOREFINGER NAIL TO CHECK FOR NICKS, CUTS AND ABRAISIONS IN THE LINE AFTER COMING OUT OF HEAVY COVER AND STRUCTURE. If you feel anything cut the line and retie.

 

RETIE HOOK AFTER EVERY THREE FISH.

 

Catfish, small bass and bluegills will steal your bait by taking it by the tail and running off. When this happens you will have only the tube on your hook. So don't worry about it and rerig and throw again.

 

Senkos work great due to their weight.

 

Now rig up and go get 'em.