Wacky Rigged Senko. Weight Or No?

[BigTerp]

Thanks!! I'll give both a try when the situation arises.

[BuckMaxx]

We fish a rig we call the idiot rig when smalleys are in summer pattern. This is a 1/4 oz head wacky style crawled along the bottom. This year I am going to use a drywall nail in one end to get it to stand up in the bottom.

[Siebert Outdoors]

I'm not a fan of fishing stickbaits with weights.  I think it kills the natural action that's built into the bait.  The exception to that would be wacky rigging in deeper water or drop shotting.  For shallow water like you describe, I would fish it weightless.

 

 

This is my same opinion.

[Catt]

It's no different than any other plastic bait when it comes to weightless or not. It depends on currents, depths, and the type of fishing that suits you.

I rarely fish a wacky rig weightless, even in shallow water. Some of my friends prefer to fish them weightless, even in deeper water. You'll need to experiment to find what suits you best.

YELP!

[ww2farmer]

Both, and both ways texas rigged too.

[Felix77]

I prefer weightless.  As a co-angler in tournaments there are times when we are moving at a faster clip.  In those cases I can put a flick shake on and get the wacky worm down there faster.  Helps me keep pace with the boater and get some sick strikes when this is on.

 

[Fishing Rhino]

I prefer weightless.  As a co-angler in tournaments there are times when we are moving at a faster clip.  In those cases I can put a flick shake on and get the wacky worm down there faster.  Helps me keep pace with the boater and get some sick strikes when this is on.

 

Ah, a Jackall.  I used to use them all the time.  But I now prefer these.  When fishing in vegetation, grass and other plant stems can wrap around the eye and the shank.  After a while, the weed guard falls off from getting bent and realigned.

 

This thing sheds grass and plants like water rolls off a duck's back.  The weed guards are titanium and are like spring steel.  You can twist 'em, flex 'em, and they snap right back into shape.  Notice where the eye is located.  No shank for grass to wrap around.  My problem is they are lead, and cannot be used in Massachusetts waters.  But, when I'm out of state, on waters where lead is not banned, it's what I use.  Price is around the same as the Jackall or the Inichi wacky hooks.

 

[Darren.]

Ah, a Jackall.  I used to use them all the time.  But I now prefer these.  When fishing in vegetation, grass and other plant stems can wrap around the eye and the shank.  After a while, the weed guard falls off from getting bent and realigned.

 

This thing sheds grass and plants like water rolls off a duck's back.  The weed guards are titanium and are like spring steel.  You can twist 'em, flex 'em, and they snap right back into shape.  Notice where the eye is located.  No shank for grass to wrap around.  My problem is they are lead, and cannot be used in Massachusetts waters.  But, when I'm out of state, on waters where lead is not banned, it's what I use.  Price is around the same as the Jackall or the Inichi wacky hooks.

 

 

That'd be the Gamakatsu G-Finesse, right?

[Fishing Rhino]

That'd be the Gamakatsu G-Finesse, right?

You are correct.  Gamakatsu G-Finesse Series Wacky Jig Head.

[Darren.]

You are correct.  Gamakatsu G-Finesse Series Wacky Jig Head.

 

On my list to eventually try. Cost has kept me from them for now. Happened to pick up several packs of the Owner Wacky Jig Head in 1/8 oz. But so far they've disappointed me -- in so far as the hook strength is, well, not strong. At least it bends easy on a snag.

 

I've brought in 4" diameter waterlogged branches on Gamakatsu hooks without bending so easily. Which would explain why I like the Buckeye Flick-It wacky jigs. They use Gammy hooks!

[Fishing Rhino]

One important note.  Because of the configuration of the tying point on the jig head, the line is susceptible to damage, particularly on rocky bottom.  With a Jackall type of jig head, it's the front of the weight that is making most of the contact with rocks, not the line.  With the Gamakatsu, the knot is the leading edge.  Even if you do not detect fraying on the line, the loop(s) around the tying "bar" are taking a beating. 

 

On a couple of occasions, The bait has parted company from the line.  I have found there is a partial loop at the end of the line, showing the failure was due to that leading edge gradually wearing away.  Retie frequently, whether you think it needs it or not.

[bitsandbass]

How much would you guys say a weightless wackey rig weighs (1/0 bass hook, 5" senko)?

 

Just trying to work backwards and figure out what rating rod would be best for this setup.  Thanks.

[PAbasser927]

A 5” Senko is 3/8 oz by itself.  I’m not sure a 1/0 hook would even register a meaningful difference on the kitchen scale I used to get my baselines (measured in grams and converted to oz).

[FishDewd]

Depends on what stickbait it is, and what the conditions are like. A senko doesn't usually need much help getting down unless it some current/chop on the water. Sometimes when you get a current it can cause some side-side shimmy that will carry the senko kinda weirdly as it falls. Easy to mistake for a fish, for me at least. In such a case I like to use a wacky hook with a small 1/16oz or so weight attached to it. This makes it come down true, and also tends to make it fall weight-first which means the hook is in an easily strikeable position as it sinks. I also like a small weight for buoyant baits, like a TRD or similar. Without a weight it's going nowhere lol. Otherwise, for sinking baits like a senko, if there's no chop or current to worry about, just rig it weightless and let it do its thing. I've caught a few both ways.

[FishDewd]

Depends on what stickbait it is, and what the conditions are like. A senko doesn't usually need much help getting down unless it some current/chop on the water. Sometimes when you get a current it can cause some side-side shimmy that will carry the senko kinda weirdly as it falls. Easy to mistake for a fish, for me at least. In such a case I like to use a wacky hook with a small 1/16oz or so weight attached to it. This makes it come down true, and also tends to make it fall weight-first which means the hook is in an easily strikeable position as it sinks. I also like a small weight for buoyant baits, like a TRD or similar. Without a weight it's going nowhere lol. Otherwise, for sinking baits like a senko, if there's no chop or current to worry about, just rig it weightless and let it do its thing. I've caught a few both ways.

[FishDewd]

Depends on what stickbait it is, and what the conditions are like. A senko doesn't usually need much help getting down unless it some current/chop on the water. Sometimes when you get a current it can cause some side-side shimmy that will carry the senko kinda weirdly as it falls. Easy to mistake for a fish, for me at least. In such a case I like to use a wacky hook with a small 1/16oz or so weight attached to it. This makes it come down true, and also tends to make it fall weight-first which means the hook is in an easily strikeable position as it sinks. I also like a small weight for buoyant baits, like a TRD or similar. Without a weight it's going nowhere lol. Otherwise, for sinking baits like a senko, if there's no chop or current to worry about, just rig it weightless and let it do its thing. I've caught a few both ways.

[Graham]

I like a 1/8 oz weighted wacky hook. If I’m going weightless I like a t rig.

[bassin is addicting]

weightless 80% of the time

 

if weighted...1/16, 1/8 Gamakatsu G-finesses wacky hook.....by far the best weighted wacky hook I've found...for me.

[Sam]

You want the Senko to "fly like a bird" in the water so no weight, ever.