Wacky wormin'

[nebass]

: Wacky wormn', Does it matter to use an O ring? With an O ring the hook will be perpendicular to the worm, will this affect the perormance or hook up rate as oppsed to just running the hook through the worm? I understand from reading that an O ring saves the bait but......just looking for opinions on hook ups. I have purchased a brass O ring tool and now I am wondering if it was the right thing to do. I have not tried wscky wormn' yet and each year I try to expand on my bass applications or methods. Thanks in advance to all ;D

[captaininsaneo]

I am also extremely curious about wacky wormin'.  Not so much the ring part, but more when and where you use it.  I have heard that a favorite worm is the Zoom Trick Worm.  What colors do you like, and do you fish it like a fluke or what?

[eyedabassman]

I fish the Wacky worm around docks,rocks,weed lines, deep points. I have a friend that won a tournament fishing a wacky senko,and letting them sink to a a 18 ft.weed line with no weight on them.My best colors are brown with purple flake,brown/orange,geenpumpkin,white.I have used the "O" ring and it doesn't bother you hook up's.

[tbone31]

I have used the wacky rig quite a bit ( live up north around clear water) It can be deadly. I never use a ring. I just hook it through the center. Also sometimes if I want it to get down deeper i will put a short nail in the center of the senko,or put your hook all the way through to the shank and then take the barb and put it back in to the senko worm to make it weedless, Do this so the hook is at a 45 degree angle to the worm. This will make the senko worm fall a little faster but not to fast.

[jomatty]

o rings work fine and before i started pouring i used them with good results.  i usually dont bother anymore just because the baits dont cost me nearly as much anymore, but i had no problems with hook ups or action when i did use them.

[nebass]

hey jomatty.... do I use a size 1 circle or octopus hook when wacky wormn'? If not then what size do you recommend?

[RecMar8541]

Personally I think wacky is the next best thing to sliced bread.  I wacky just about anything, but favor trick worms, and flukes.

In florida here I like junebug, redshad, and plain black.  

I use the circle hooks, and find that on most days and conditions I get a significant increase in bites.  One thing to remember, do not set the hook, circle hooks are funny like that just reel down and keep pressure on them, they will hook themselves.

Good Luck!!

[John J.]

Contact Wayne (Wayne P.) he loves the wacky rig!

As far as me, the wacky rig is my #1 rig. I love it in shallower cover such as logs, trees, docks, etc. With it's weighless presentation you can easily skip it under docks, etc.

I use a 1/0 or 2/0 wide gap Finesse hook

and I usually wacky either yum dingers, culprit finesse worms (for colder weather; smaller lures for lethargic fish), senkos, or any other stick plastics.

Be a line watcher with the wacky rig. For deeper water clip on a few split shots. If you need to tie on a sinker with the split shot, the best bet is to go with a texas rig lol!

Good luck!

[Wayne P.]

I do not recommend the circle hook for any artificial bait presentations. Some people get the two different hooks (Octopus and Circle) confused. Gammy has a "Octopus Circle Hook". The best hooks for open hook applications are the Octopus hook by Gamakatsu or the Mosquito hook by Owner, they are shaped the same. Those Gammy Finesse Wide Gap hooks work OK to but I use those with Senkos exposed point because of the wider gap. My preference for sizes are a 2/0 for finesse worms and 3/0 (the Mosquito is not available above size 2/0 ) for Trick worms. In the Finesse Wide Gap, I use the 2/0. I main difference between the Gammy and Owner hooks is the Gammy has a slightly larger wire size. When I am fishing in waters with very large bass or fishing waters with objects to get hung up on, I use the Gammy. The model # for the Gammy hooks is 2/0- 02412 and 3/0-02413. For the Owner 2/0-5177-121. Especially the Gammy hook, the overall size is small to present less metal for the bass to detect and the wire size is strong enought to handle the biggest bass or hardest hookset without a chance of straightening. On the "fishing tackle" section I posted a picture of the Gammy hook rigged open hook and weedless on one of the threads about wacky rigging. I have tried the "O" ring in metal or rubber and loose just as many if not more worms when the bass shakes it's head than I do without them. Shrink tubing works a lot better for worm preservation, which I don't worry about.

[dodgeguy]

the o rings are the way to go when wacky rigging a senko.you will save a lot of senkos because they slide up the line.just remember like any other presentation wacky rigging does not work all the time.

[Guest avid]

I have to agree with recmar about circle hooks.

While I don't use them exclusively, I do use them often.  They really work.

It's hard for alot of people to accept them.

I understand because when you look at them it looks like the hook is turning so much that it would never "stick"   Just the opposite is true.  The hook is turned so far because it is designed to hook on the lip.

90 % or better of all circle hook catches will have the hook in the lower corner of the jaw, which just so happens to be the strongest part of the bass' mouth.

Octopus hooks are similar, and very good for certain applications, but the circle hook is an excellent choice when using lighter line because no hook set is required.  You reel in and keep tension.  The fish hook themselves.  This is why they are used on trot lines.

the added benefit is that you will rarely injure a bass with a cirlce hook.  Even if they swallow the bait, the hook will pull out of the stomach with no damage and stick in the lower jaw.  

Amazing.

[RoLo]

It's hard for alot of people to accept them. I understand because when you look at them it looks like the hook is turning so much that it would never "stick" Just the opposite is true. The hook is turned so far because it is designed to hook on the lip.

90 % or better of all circle hook catches will have the hook in the lower corner of the jaw, which just so happens to be the strongest part of the bass' mouth. Octopus hooks are similar, and very good for certain applications, but the circle hook is an excellent choice when using lighter line because no hook set is required. You reel in and keep tension. The fish hook themselves. This is why they are used on trot lines. the added benefit is that you will rarely injure a bass with a cirlce hook. Even if they swallow the bait, the hook will pull out of the stomach with no damage and stick in the lower jaw.

Amazing.

Nice coverage Avid

Actually, Circle hooks are nothing new, they're just new to the recreational community.

During the 1800s, longliners in the Atlantic Ocean used circle hooks exclusively (Swordfish was the main quarry).

It was clear that the round configuration of the circle hook was far superior to the J-hook when dealing with unmanned baited hooks,

where the fish hooks itself. Circle hooks may be incorporated with artificial lures as long as the fisherman remembers to

surrender the hook-up to the fish and simply maintain a taut line. If you have the irresistible need to use a jaw-breaking hook-set,

then forget about circle hooks

Roger

[FatBoy]

I'll add one more vote for the circle hooks.  And the o-rings work great.  Just slide or roll them up the senko.  When I first saw it rigged up I was skeptical.  But the hookup are great.  Like butter!!!

[Sam]

Ok guys, here is the secret to fishing a wacky rig but don't tell any others as it will be our secret.

Purchase at your local hardware store Polyolefin Heat Shrinking Tubing in the sizes of 3/8 and 1/4.

Cut off a 1/4 inch section of the tubing and pull the worm through it so that it sits in the middle of the worm.

Take a match or a lighter and heat the tubing. It will shrink around the plastic.

Then, take your 2/0 or 3/0 wacky worm hook and run it under the tubing, but not into the plastic.

There you go!  Ready to fish and the tubing is very strong and will not slip and you can use catch about 20 bass on each wacky rig.

[Gorgebassman]

I have used circle hooks for a long time on my whacky rigs as well as when I am dropshotting wacky and regular style. I would also like to say sam what a awesome idea going to the hardware store in a few minutes just to buy some shrink tubing. Once again this shows why this is the best bass fishing site on the web.

                                     

[Randy Beasley]

i have used both hooks... and my favorite hooks are the owner Mosquito hooks. The trick to what i do is to smash the barb down, so that it's easier to get the hooks out.

as far as worms i dont use the Oring because i use Zoom Finesse worms in watermenlon/red or anything with a red flake in it

[Brad_Coovert]

I use the Orings with no hookup problems and very few lost baits.

In fact, I once fished 3 hours with the same Senko using an Oring and caught dozens of fish on it.

My hook of choice is either A weedless Gammy wide gap finesse hook in 1/0 for 4" baits or 2/0 for 5" baits.  I also will use the Owner Mosquito hook in open water.

Brad

[bassman00012]

I am also a fan of the O'ring. It has a great hook up percentage. Don't let its look fool you.