Wacky Rig Question?

[Brett Strohl]

I didn't know what hooks to use for a wacky rig, so I ended up with a pack of Eagle Claw "Wacky Hooks," and they are fantastic hooks, except they're so small that I'm running into the problem of hooking the fish on (I'm not sure what it's called) the sphincter in the back of their throat.  I actually hooked one so bad tonight that I had to tuck a little bit of it's innards back into the sphincter.  

 

So in my estimation the problem is being caused by two things:  #1 the hooks are very small, and #2 I sometimes don't know when I'm getting bites until I reel in.  I think this is partially b/c I'm letting the stick bait fall to the bottom with some slack and the fish just sit there and try to swallow the worm, or if I'm getting a fish 10" or less I sometimes don't even feel them on the line.  

 

I know bad hook ups are just going to be part of fishing, but is there something else I can do that might prevent this problem?

[Bluebasser86]

Learn to watch your line. A lot of wacky rig bites can be detected before they're ever felt just by watching the line. Using a braid main line with a fluoro leader makes this much easier. Sometimes the line with "jump", other times it will stop falling before it should, sometimes it speeds way up. 

 

Also check out the link on here on how to unhook deep hooked fish. That little hook is very easy to remove even when they're hooked deep. Pinching down the barb also makes removing the hook easier. 

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/12981-how-do-i-remove-a-hook-a-bass-has-swallowed/page-2

[Crestliner2008]

Try using circle hooks instead of regular wacky hooks. You'll lip a much higher percentage of your fish using these. Just make sure you get the IN-LINE circle hooks and not the off-set style. I also crimp down the barb and have experienced no less success with landing fish. Just makes unhooking your catch easier, in my opinion.

 

With the 5" Senkos I find that the Gamakatsu Inline Octopus Circle hooks, in size 1/0 to be perfect for this presentation. Finally, remember that with circle hooks of any style, you just start reeling your fish in - no hook set is necessary. If you try to set the hook in normal fashion, you'll pull the hook right out of the fishes' mouth every time.

[Sam]

Circle hooks if possible as Crestliner2008 mentions above.

 

Also, use a 1 or 1/0 for the wacky rig.

 

Remember, a bass may pick up your bait and walk slowly off with it so it is up to you to keep watching our line for anything out of the ordinary.

 

It costs nothing to set the hook, as pontificated by Hank Parker, so set that hook!

[James Pondscum]

  Try Mustad w37754r.  I use the 1/0 size and weaken the wire weed guard. If a fish picks it up just pull and reel. Hooked through the top of the mouth 90% of the time.  I bought these hooks because thy were highly recommended on this website by others and work well.

[Darren.]

All good advice above.

 

For me line-watching is the number one

method to avoid this, and I've experienced

it a number of times over the years.

 

One of the reasons I use a yellow braid plus

a leader. As bluebasser said, the braid will

jump, or stop falling, or start moving off. 

Quite often I feel the bait getting taken.

 

Now this isn't a hard/fast rule. Sometimes 

there is zero indication a fish took the worm

until you start reeling in.

 

And FWIW, like Sam said, 1 or 1/0 is a great

size. Personally I use Gamakatsu split/drop

shot hooks in those sizes, and I've gone all

the way up to 3/0 in Gamakatsu Wide Gap

Finesse hooks. I make my own weed guards

out of 20lb Malin nylon coated wire.

[James Pondscum]

Sorry they. Type faster then brain functions.

[Darren.]

Sorry they. Type faster then brain functions.

 

Just edit the post and fix the typo

[the reel ess]

It's not the hook's problem. Any hooks do this except for circle hooks. Fish won't drop this lure as they move away. Sometimes they won't move away. They'll just chomp it and try to swallow. If you use the circle hooks, let us know how it goes. 

[Fishes in trees]

After a lot of experimenting with different brands and styles of hooks, weighted Falcon K-wacky weedless hooks seem to work best for me.  A 1/16 oz weight on the shank of the hook seems to add to the feel, for me, as opposed to a non weighted hook.  I don't think that the slightly faster drop speed gets me any fewer strikes.

 

In years past, I threw this bait on bait casting gear, a 7' rod on the medium side of medium heavy and 14 lb fluorocarbon line.  This year, I've went to MH spinning gear, 14 lb Fireline Crystal and fluorocarbon leader, with the same bait, primarily because the easier to see line works like a strike detector.  Jury is still out on how much I like this rig.

[the reel ess]

After a lot of experimenting with different brands and styles of hooks, weighted Falcon K-wacky weedless hooks seem to work best for me.  A 1/16 oz weight on the shank of the hook seems to add to the feel, for me, as opposed to a non weighted hook.  I don't think that the slightly faster drop speed gets me any fewer strikes.

 

In years past, I threw this bait on bait casting gear, a 7' rod on the medium side of medium heavy and 14 lb fluorocarbon line.  This year, I've went to MH spinning gear, 14 lb Fireline Crystal and fluorocarbon leader, with the same bait, primarily because the easier to see line works like a strike detector.  Jury is still out on how much I like this rig.

Is the Fireline Crystal more or less visible in water? What about above water?

[Brett Strohl]

Try using circle hooks instead of regular wacky hooks. You'll lip a much higher percentage of your fish using these. Just make sure you get the IN-LINE circle hooks and not the off-set style. I also crimp down the barb and have experienced no less success with landing fish. Just makes unhooking your catch easier, in my opinion.

 

With the 5" Senkos I find that the Gamakatsu Inline Octopus Circle hooks, in size 1/0 to be perfect for this presentation. Finally, remember that with circle hooks of any style, you just start reeling your fish in - no hook set is necessary. If you try to set the hook in normal fashion, you'll pull the hook right out of the fishes' mouth every time.

 

 

Would these hooks be good?  They're a lot less expensive than the gamakatsus, but I am not sure if I should pay the extra money for a name brand hook.  Also I'm using a lot of 6" stick baits, so will 1/0 still work ok? 

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Black-Inline-Circle-Hooks-Size-1-0-Pkg-25-/121653308467?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c531a2c33

 

Thanks!

[Brett Strohl]

Learn to watch your line. A lot of wacky rig bites can be detected before they're ever felt just by watching the line. Using a braid main line with a fluoro leader makes this much easier. Sometimes the line with "jump", other times it will stop falling before it should, sometimes it speeds way up. 

 

Also check out the link on here on how to unhook deep hooked fish. That little hook is very easy to remove even when they're hooked deep. Pinching down the barb also makes removing the hook easier. 

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/12981-how-do-i-remove-a-hook-a-bass-has-swallowed/page-2

 

 

I read that and I don't totally understand step two and three (push down and pull on hook eye?)  It's a little confusing without being able to see someone do it.  I mostly only had trouble unhooking the one fish, it's normally pretty easy to use pliers to gently work the hook loose.  I would mostly just prefer not to hook the fish in what I assume is a much more sensitive part of their mouths.  

[Darren.]

Would these hooks be good?  They're a lot less expensive than the gamakatsus, but I am not sure if I should pay the extra money for a name brand hook.  Also I'm using a lot of 6" stick baits, so will 1/0 still work ok? 

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Black-Inline-Circle-Hooks-Size-1-0-Pkg-25-/121653308467?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c531a2c33

 

Thanks!

 

They might, good price, but in my experience,

with hooks, not all brands are equal...

 

I personally only use circle hooks in saltwater situations,

as we fish "live" baits like shrimp, etc., where the fish

will take the bait and swim off.

[Brett Strohl]

It's not the hook's problem. Any hooks do this except for circle hooks. Fish won't drop this lure as they move away. Sometimes they won't move away. They'll just chomp it and try to swallow. If you use the circle hooks, let us know how it goes. 

I appreciate all the advice from everyone and I'll give the circle hooks a try and see how they work.