Wacky Rigged/texas Rigged Worm Problems

[NC bassin]

Ok, So I have been having a problem with this rigs, they have worked great and I've got fish to bite, but the hook never sets when I set it, It always ends up coming out during the fight, any tips?

[Blues19]

What kind of hook are you useing? If you are not using a wide gap with a thick bait, there may not be enough gap to effectively hook the fish

[NC bassin]

gamugotsu 3/0-5/0 wide gap worm hook, on a 5 in strike king shim e stick and other worms like that.

[K_Mac]

Gamakatsu EWG hooks are not the problem. What rod and line are you using? What is your method of setting the hook? How are you hooking your plastics? Inquiring minds want to know!

[NC bassin]

12 lb test, medium action spinning rod, normally when I texas rig it, I use my bait caster, with a dawa reel, and an abu garcia vendetta rod. the normal rod tip up then when I set it I pull it over my shoulder, about half in inch into the worm, pull it out and back in, best way I can explain hooking them, and for the wacky rig, I fold my bait of choice inhalf and use an octopus type hook.

[Darren.]

Might you be setting the hook too hard/fast? My experience is sometimes setting the hook too soon, and the fish only had ahold of the worm, not the hook, or the fish was merely short-striking the worm, not taking it in.

 

For the wacky, do you do the reel-down and pull back the rod? No need to really set the hook with a yank that goes from NJ to California if you catch my drift.

 

Lots of variables that could play a factor in your "problem"...

[K_Mac]

NC, Medium is a power rating. Action is a measure of the speed of the rod. There are several good descriptions and charts showing this. Check out the search feature for more info. A Med power Fast action spinning rod and 12# mono should be adequate to get a decent hook-set with a T-rigged bait and those hooks, if you generate enough speed when you set the hook. With a proper sized octopus hook it should be plenty-just lifting the rod and applying pressure with the reel should work fine.

 

If your baitcasting rod is Med or Med heavy, and Fast action the problem is likely technique. If the rod is slower or a lower power, then your equipment may be part of the problem. Check out this video to get some good info:

 

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-videos/texas-rig-video.html

[NC bassin]

thanks! and I knew it ment power rating etc, I just said it wrong. but thank yall!

[K_Mac]

NC, here is a link to a thread with a chart showing action:

 

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/40141-extra-fast-vs-fast/page-2

 

 

Good luck!

[ClackerBuzz]

sounds like bad technique.  

feel bite...then reel in all slack while dropping rod parallel to water....sweep/snap 90 degrees up. if is a thin wire hook, less muscle is needed.  if thick gauge hook=more elbow grease.

also 12lb what?  mono has alot of stretch and requires better technique.  braid and/or fluoro have better hook set response 

[MichBassMan]

With T.Rig how deep is the hook point burried in your plastic? You could try skin hooking it.

[gall]

yeah i skin hook my worms on a t rig and i take out all the slack and set the hook with a side action i feel i get way better hook sets on smallmouth which have some serious thick skin

[lmbfisherman]

NC, Medium is a power rating. Action is a measure of the speed of the rod. There are several good descriptions and charts showing this. Check out the search feature for more info. A Med power Fast action spinning rod and 12# mono should be adequate to get a decent hook-set with a T-rigged bait and those hooks, if you generate enough speed when you set the hook. With a proper sized octopus hook it should be plenty-just lifting the rod and applying pressure with the reel should work fine.

 

If your baitcasting rod is Med or Med heavy, and Fast action the problem is likely technique. If the rod is slower or a lower power, then your equipment may be part of the problem. Check out this video to get some good info:

 

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-videos/texas-rig-video.html

This is good advice.  Also as Darren M stated they maybe short striking or they have a hold of the bait.

[NC bassin]

thanks guys!

[Sam]

1.  Reduce hook size. A 2/0 is a good size for Texas rigs and a #1 or 1/0 for wacky rigs.

2.  The ocotopus hook is a good selection for the wacky rig. Is it a heavy octopus hook? If so, that could be a problem.

3.  Go with flourocarbon line. 8-pound test on a spinning set up and 10 or 12-pound test on a baitcaster. Keep line test light.

4.  You are watching your line with both techniques so let the fish run for about two to three seconds and set the hook.

5.  Have you balanced the reel's line test and your bait weight with your rod's paramaters? Stay within the rod's guidelines stamped on it for maximum performance.

6.  Hook set over your head is fine. Just make sure not to allow any slack in the line after settng the hook. Any slack in the line will allow the bass to throw the hook.

7.  Do you put any scent on your plastics? Try MegaStrike or any favorite scent. Bass will hold onto a bait a little longer when it has scent or you are using Berkley Power Bait with scent already in the plastic.

8.  During the fight never point your rod tip at the bass. Keep line tight with rod tip at 10 or 11 o'clock. Don't "horse" the bass to you. Let her swim a little and enjoy the excitement of the fight. Be ready to run up and down the bank or around the boat. If the bass starts to jump you can put your rod tip in the water to stop the jumping but be careful about putting any slack in the line when you move your rod tip from the 10 or 11 o'clock position to into the water.

 

Since I throw into a lot of structure and grasses I use the Gammy 1/0 or 2/0 weedless hooks. I have used the 3/0 and 4/0 with some specific plastics but mostly use the smaller hooks. The smaller 1/0 and 2/0 work fine and hook sets are not a problem.

 

Go out and try your luck this week and let us know if you are more successful using the data presented to you in this post.

[Fishes in trees]

There are alot of things that could contribute to this issue.  It could be a "backbone" issue with the rod.  On the wide spectrum of rods that come under the "med" classification there are differences in how well they set hooks.  You might try lighter wire hooks.  You might try "skin hooking" as opposed to burying the barb in the plastic.  You might try "powerbait" worms or something similar, to try and dupe the fish into holding on to the bait longer.

 

As a serious bass fisherman, you should always be on the lookout for ways to dispose of any disposable income you might have on bass fishing tackle.   So, an equipment upgrade might be in order, it doesn't really matter whether the gear you've got now is fine or not, an equipment upgrade might  improve your self esteem for a moment and thereby improve your hook sets.

[dodgeguy]

use braid.feel the bite reel down and set the hook fairly hard.use 4.0 ewg hooks for most baits.if you fell machine gun taps it's not a bass it's sunfish.

[Sam]

And remember to use a medium heavy rod.

 

Use a heavy rod in grass and pads.

[NC bassin]

thanks guys! I reduced hook size/worked on my hook set technique, today i caught three in a local park pond, 2 on spinner baits and one on  a wacky rig and the other day I caught a nice one on a wacky rig thanks to you guys!