Wacky Worm Rigging: Hook Point's Direction ?

[Robertqq]

Hello,

I fish small ponds here in Mass.  Crappies and small mouth mainly; nothing "big".

Would appreciate some advice as to the "best" or correct way to rig a plastic work for

the Wacky Worm style of presentation.

Have looked at a bunch of videos, and they seem to show both of the following ways:

a. the way I do it now, is I slip a piece of electrical shrink tubing over the worm, and then thread the hook point thru the tubing AND the worm body.

So, the plane of the hook, and the point, is at right angles to the worm's long axis.

b. For the folks that use an "O" ring, then slipping the point right under the O ring results, of course, with the plane of the hook, and it's point

being parallel to, and right along the worm long axis.

So, which is "better" ? Why ?

Pros and cons ?

Thanks,

Bob

 

 

[georgeyew]

The way that I hook my wacky worm is with the hook inline to the worm. I don't have a problem with hooking the fish.

[Wayne P.]

For the best hookups and more hangups, perpendicular is best.

I rig like my avatar to have less hangups and use worms that are soft enough that hookups are not affected very much. I catch thousands of bass that way.

[IndianaFinesse]

First off, in order to get the right wacky action, you should definitely rig it perpendicular.  A good way to do a weedless wacky rig is to wacky rig like normal, and then insert the hook point a half an inch to one side of where you first inserted it and push it part way through.  But don't push it completely through the worm, stop just short of going through the skin of the worm.

[Darren.]

Perpendicular is best in my experience.

[Will Wetline]

When I first started wacky rigging 4" and 5" Senkos I used heat shrink tubing and inserted the hook through the 1/4" - 3/8" length of tubing so it was perpendicular to the length of the bait. This worked fine although if I was in too much of a hurry to remove it from a deeply hooked bass, I'd cut the worm on the edge of the tubing.

Then I came across Wacky Saddles. These are gizmatics comprised of two O rings with a web of rubber between them so I can still rig the hook perpendicularly. This is what I use now.

However, I had debated two other long-experienced bassmasters about the perpendicular vs. inline orientation. Seemed to me that logic dictated perpendicularity; these two guys said, "Stop worrying about it!" I eventually tried the single O ring/inline arrangement, got bit twice and landed both fish.

So I say to you: "Take your pick." I'm sticking with the Wacky Saddles . . . or - I haven't tried these yet but they come highly recommended -

http://www.ecoprotungsten.com/pro-wacky-weight/

 

 

 

[Robertqq]

Hello,

 

Great Forum; have learned a lot.

Regarding the ecopro tungsten weights that Will Wetline mentioned:   http://www.ecoprotungsten.com/pro-wacky-weight/

Looks like an interesting approach.

Question: re the hook-eye in the middle of the weight that the hook point is ultimately threaded thru:

is this metal loop from the weight supposed to be pushed all the way thru the worm until it exits on the other side, or should it be just buried 1/2 way thru the worm's diameter ?

And, any hints on using or rigging ?

Thanks, and best regards,

Bob

[Airman4754]

From my personal experience perpendicular is the way to go. 

When I would catch one with it in-line the hook would be in different places all over in their mouth. With it perpendicular it's on the top of their mouth every time which is consistent with T & C-rigs, punch, jig rig, drop shots, and shakey heads. To me that means your presentation and rigging are correct. To each their own though. 

[BobP]

If you prefer using the O-rings, you can put 2 of them on the bait, cross them, and then place the hook where the rings cross so that the hook point is perpendicular to the axis of the bait.  Saw this on YouTube somewhere and it's a neat solution.

[Comfortably Numb]

Single o-ring and a Weedless 2/0 Mustad 37140 hook parralel to stick. I rarely miss a fish and never gut hook 

[Crestliner2008]

If you check in "Sticky" notes in the Smallmouth forum you will find a description of how I rig wacky with "Goodies". Been doing this now for over a dozen years. This set up allows you to rig either way. with the hook point parallel or perpenticular, your shoice. To be perfectly honest with you, I've tried it both ways and find no difference in my hook up rations. Whatever gives you the most confidence is what you should be using, regardless of who is telling you what.

[buzzed bait]

On 3/20/2016 at 11:10 AM, Wayne P. said:

For the best hookups and more hangups, perpendicular is best.

I rig like my avatar to have less hangups and use worms that are soft enough that hookups are not affected very much. I catch thousands of bass that way.

i read Wayne's article from another bass fishing site on his method and using the heat shrink tubing.  I much prefer his method over the perpendicular, especially if fishing around any type of cover and MOST especially if skipping the worms under the docks.

[ChrisD46]

I have used heat shrink tubing with hook rigged perpendicular , PVC clear tubing to size cut in 5/8th inch to 3/4 inch length with hook in line between the tubing and Senko (hook never penetrates the Senko) and lastly O-Rings with hook in line to Senko . All work but for me it's a visual confidence thing  , so my vote is for perpendicular hook rigging in relation o the Senko.