Stick Bait : When To Wacky Rig vs. T-Rig ?

[ChrisD46]

As the title states - is there a particular season , water temperature or other conditions that would cause you to select a wacky rig stick bait (or worm) versus a T-Rig (or vice versa) ?

[Bluebasser86]

I like a wacky rig for sight fishing and skipping, no real reason to it. 

[Preytorien]

In my experience I definitely wouldn't throw a wacky rig into much of any cover. The large and usually exposed hook will literally hook itself into almost anything - wood, grass, pads, etc. That's when I would pull out a weedless T-Rig at that point. For me it's all about cover, nothing more. 

[Dens228]

1 hour ago, Preytorien said:

In my experience I definitely wouldn't throw a wacky rig into much of any cover. The large and usually exposed hook will literally hook itself into almost anything - wood, grass, pads, etc. That's when I would pull out a weedless T-Rig at that point. For me it's all about cover, nothing more. 

This is exactly what I do.  Wacky if lack of vegetation/wood allows it.  If there's a pretty good chance of snagging I'll go T-rig. I always have to rods for plastics, one weightless and one with a weighted t-rig that I can peg the weight if I want. If it's shallow I'll just re-rig the plastic on the weightless between wacky or t-rig, if I need to get some depth I'll use the weighted.  I often change as I work along a bank to match that specific area so both rods are within easy reach of me in my kayak. 

[J Francho]

It's totally dictated by cover.

[Ruy Lopez]

I’ll echo what people have said above about not fishing a wacky rig in cover. But once in a while I will use a weedless hook and throw a wacky rig into cover

[ZebcoZak]

For a stick bait i almost never T-rig it.  I know that it is possible and that it is a proven fish catcher, but for me a normal straight tail worm is my T-rig.  Stick baits are 100% wacky rigged.

[NYWayfarer]

4 minutes ago, Ruy Lopez said:

I’ll echo what people have said above about not fishing a wacky rig in cover. But once in a while I will use a weedless hook and throw a wacky rig into cover

I use the new Berkley Fusion weedless hooks to throw into cover. Works well in all but the thickest of cover.

[J.Vincent]

Wacky Rig Stick worms are great for follow up situations, when a Bass might swirl and miss a Topwater style lure; and its also a great approach bait for working the perimeter of docks and fallen trees. But Texas Rig Stick Worms are generally a much better option when fishing a break line of Vegetation or when Pitching into Cover.....and then of course there are always exceptions to every rule 

[Crestliner2008]

In my opinion, I don't believe you can "force" a bite with your selection. Sometimes the fish want a straight stick and other times a more active wacky presentation. I make my decision on what they want. Most times I'll go with wacky and a weedless hook. Have yet to find cover where I couldn't get the bait down to the fish that way, but I'm always open to trying it straight - if I know there's a good chance a bass will be there and I'm not getting bit on wacky.

[J.Vincent]

1 hour ago, NYWayfarer said:

I use the new Berkley Fusion weedless hooks to throw into cover. Works well in all but the thickest of cover.

One of my favorite wacky rig hooks is the Eagle Claw Weedless, but it's more of a light wire and doesn't handle those bigger fish very well. Does the Berkley Fusion have this same problem ?

[NYWayfarer]

Just now, Active_Outdoors said:

One of my favorite wacky rig hooks is the Eagle Claw Weedless, but it's more of a light wire and doesn't handle those bigger fish very well. Does the Berkley Fusion have this same problem ?

I haven't had any problems. Biggest fish I caught on one last season was a 3lb,10oz Largemouth on a size 1 or 1/0 (can't remember which but that was all I was using.) and a 4" wacky rigged Yum Dinger.

[Angry John]

I feel like the question should read when not to wacky rig.  The superior action and hookups makes it the much better presentation.  Depth can be controlled by adding a weighted wacky hook or some split shot after the hook.  Wood is the only cover that changes my rigging and only after i hang up a bit.  The wacky was killing it on all of my outings in Austin last week and i just delt with the hangups due to all the action i was getting.  I dont even texas rig deep, i will shift to a shaky head most times.  If its during the summer and i want to use a large 10+ inch worm on a Carolina rig then i Texas rig

[Falkus]

Most of my senko style is wacky. I just use 2/0 Owners Wacky Hooks or 4/0 Gamakatsu Finesse Wide Gap Hooks with custom weedguard I made out of cabin fever moment.  

 

 

[ChrisD46]

Good replies to what may be an often overlooked topic - Bass Resource to the rescue (again ) !

[bowhunter63]

I have caught them on Wacky and Neko rigs all year,I t -rig when I want to stay really close to the bottom and bang it off the rocks.

[burrows]

I don’t always fish a senko but when I do it’s wacky:)