Wacky Rig Barb Question

[buzzed bait]

I just haven't fish a wacky rig senko very much and want to start doing more of it.  Seems like there are a million opinions for the type of hook to use so i'll spare you all that discussion.  My bigger question being this, do you maybe use barbless hooks or smash down the barbs on your hooks when fishing wacky style?  i'm just assuming a greater rate of fish taking the bait deep so i'm thinking barbless would be easier to get the hooks out should they do so...

just looking for opinions or experiences on the matter.

thanks.

[Comfortably Numb]

I fish a 5" stick with a 2/0 Mustad weedless hook. I VERY rarely gut hook a fish (guessing maybe 1 out of 50). And I let them hold it a long time before setting the hook. Up to 15 secs.

 

If gut hooked, I remove the plastic and cut the line.

[Darren.]

I just haven't fish a wacky rig senko very much and want to start doing more of it.  Seems like there are a million opinions for the type of hook to use so i'll spare you all that discussion.  My bigger question being this, do you maybe use barbless hooks or smash down the barbs on your hooks when fishing wacky style?  i'm just assuming a greater rate of fish taking the bait deep so i'm thinking barbless would be easier to get the hooks out should they do so...

just looking for opinions or experiences on the matter.

thanks.

 

I have, a couple times only, mashed the barb on 

my wacky hooks. It works, but obviously you have 

to keep a tight line at all times.

 

That said, I don't often gut hook bass when wacky 

rigging. It does happen, especially on days where 

the bite is really "soft", and not detectable.

 

But yes, it would be much easier to get the hook out 

of a basses gut if barbless.

[buzzed bait]

ok, so maybe my assumptions of increased gut hooked fish are off base?? 

[Darren.]

ok, so maybe my assumptions of increased gut hooked fish are off base?? 

 

Not necessarily, but yes

[gulfcaptain]

If you're worried about gut hook fish, try the YM wacky hook or one of the circle hook styles.  

[Crestliner2008]

I crush the barbs down on most lures and hooks I use. As long as you play a fish properly, your chances of loosing that fish are not high. I do this with treble hooks, as well as worm and straight hooks. For wacky rigging I prefer a circle hook. Reason being is that sometimes you can't always detect a strike right off. That being the case, the odds of having a deeply hooked fish increase.  Using a circle, 99% will be lip hooked and those that do take it deeper will more easily extract the hook much....from yourself as well!

 

The only hooks I do not crush the barb on are my drop shot hooks. Smallies love to jump. With the dangling weight, when they do jump you have a high percentage of them coming unbuttoned. So, the barb works for me when making that presentation.

[PersicoTrotaVA]

I fish wacky, its my confidence, go to, pretty much everyday technique.  I rarely ever get a gut hooked fish(and I fish with #3 hooks sometimes).  It's all about the feel.  You really gotta know what it feels like without a fish so when one is on, you know to start your hook set.  Go out and throw it, I guarantee you will catch fish on it.  As far as barbless hooks, I never use barbless hooks, unless the body of water calls for it.  Some lakes are barbless hooks only, there is one down in San Diego Co. that was like this, very limited.

[buzzed bait]

thanks for the replies guys

[Bluebasser86]

Fish braid with a fluoro leader and be a line watcher, you should gut hook almost zero fish doing that. In the event you do, if you know the proper protocol for unhooking gut hooked fish, then you should be fine.