Wacky vs weightless Texas rigging

[deep]

For senko-style baits.

What are the factors for choosing one over the other?

Bottom compositon (rocks vs mud or grass)?

Fishing pressure?

Vertical or horizontal presentation?

Something else?

Do you generally use a smaller (4" compared to 5" or 6") worm for wacky than for texas rigs?

[WanderLust]

I usually start weightless T-rig and switch it up to wacky if the bit is slow.

For weightless presentation I look for two things... Relatively shallow and favorable current.

Rocks, weeds, whatever is never really a factor.

[Crestliner2008]

For me, the determining factor is cover. If it isn't heavily weeded, I'll go wacky every time. If it's thick, Tx rigging has the edge. (Keeping you weed free.)

In in-between situations, I tend to lean wacky; only because it's more of a finesse "edge" than the Tx rigging. But as far as I'm concerned, there is little advantage between them. If the bass take one, they'll probably take the other with equal abandon.

[BassThumb]

It's the cover's thickness for me too. A weightless T-rig is more weedless than any weedless wacky hook I've tried. I also choose wacky over T-rig when skipping Senkos under docks. A wacky Senko skips more easily than a T-rigged Senko and the bait doesn't take as much of a beating so they tend to last longer without tearing. The weeds in the shade under a dock are usually very sparse anyway.

[John J.]

The way I wacky rig my worms is weedless. So it's not often I use weightless t-rigs. The instances I do is when I want to use a weightless t-rig worm as a topwater, i'll twitch it along the surface kind of like a snake.

Or if I don't get bit on my wacky (which is rare) and I want to change things up a bit. My weightless wacky rig is my go-to presentation. Regardless of pressure or temperature.

[A-Rob]

I like both methods.

If I'm fishing for smallies, I sometimes miss them by wacky rigging, I don't think they get the center of the senko in their mouth. If that's the case I'll downsize my senko or go T-rig.

For largemouth, I often go wacky until the structure tells me otherwise, which isn't often and probably more my own fault for getting it snagged up haha.

[BassinBoy]

The main difference for me when choosing which one to fish is how you want to fish it.

If you're looking to fish the lure on the fall, go for texas rigging. If you want to retrieve the the bait and work it back to the boat, I prefer wacky rigging. I fish a 5" Yum Dinger in Watermelon no matter what. It's my go to.

Also wacky rigged worms work well on high pressured lakes when you want to show the fish something different.

[John J.]

The main difference for me when choosing which one to fish is how you want to fish it.

If you're looking to fish the lure on the fall, go for texas rigging. If you want to retrieve the the bait and work it back to the boat, I prefer wacky rigging. I fish a 5" Yum Dinger in Watermelon no matter what. It's my go to.

Also wacky rigged worms work well on high pressured lakes when you want to show the fish something different.

I work my wacky rigged lures on the fall. As a matter of fact 99.9% of my strikes are on the fall. I don't think i've had a bass yet, hit it while it's on bottom or when i'm moving it.

I cast the wacky out and watch my line, once that line jumps, I set the hook!

[BassinBoy]

The main difference for me when choosing which one to fish is how you want to fish it.

If you're looking to fish the lure on the fall, go for texas rigging. If you want to retrieve the the bait and work it back to the boat, I prefer wacky rigging. I fish a 5" Yum Dinger in Watermelon no matter what. It's my go to.

Also wacky rigged worms work well on high pressured lakes when you want to show the fish something different.

I work my wacky rigged lures on the fall. As a matter of fact 99.9% of my strikes are on the fall. I don't think i've had a bass yet, hit it while it's on bottom or when i'm moving it.

I cast the wacky out and watch my line, once that line jumps, I set the hook!

I do the same for texas rigging. I guess it's just a personal preference on how to rig it when your fishing it on the fall.

Either way, stick worms rock!

[ww2farmer]

Also wacky rigged worms work well on high pressured lakes when you want to show the fish something different.

Nonsense. In every tournament around here at least 1/2 the field is throwing a wacky rigged Senko. all day, every day, no matter what. There couldn't be a more over used lure/presentation. Yet it still works.