Wacky Rig

[NittyGrittyBoy]

I've done plenty of research but cant really find an answer. So confession, I've never caught a bass on a wacky rig. So I'm using my spinning setup 20lb braid to 8lb flouro. 

 

I have some 2/0 Trokar wacky hooks, my question is, what has the best hookup ratio, o-ring (ziptie), or through the worm?

 

Each rig turns the hook different ways so I was unsure of best way to rig it. 

[NYWayfarer]

The exposed hook is what accounts for the great hookup ratio of this rig. Go with the O-Ring though.

 

The O-Ring is used as a way to avoid the damage that putting a hook through the worm causes. That in turn helps to limit the amount of times a Bass shakes the worm off the rig.

 

[NittyGrittyBoy]

@Frog Turds I was going to buy some heat shrink and rig it like that, but dont have time to go to the store today. 

 

I have a trip planned to a private pond tomorrow and it's super clear water so looking for all the advantages I can get. All I have is tiny zipties or hook through the worm

[Hook2Jaw]

1 minute ago, NittyGrittyBoy said:

@Frog Turds I was going to buy some heat shrink and rig it like that, but dont have time to go to the store today. 

 

I have a trip planned to a private pond tomorrow and it's super clear water so looking for all the advantages I can get. All I have is tiny zipties or hook through the worm

Where's my invite at!?

[FryDog62]

O-ring or shrink tubing.  As far as hookup percentage, best I have had is with a Size 1 (not 1/0) VMC weedless Neko hook.  Rarely ever lose a fish and almost always hook them in the roof of the mouth.  

[Bird]

I like using (2) 0-rings.

[NittyGrittyBoy]

@Hook2Jaw- So what you got going on tomorrow lol

[Hook2Jaw]

5 minutes ago, NittyGrittyBoy said:

@Hook2Jaw- So what you got going on tomorrow lol

Bah.  Working.  Babysitting my kid.

 

I'm down to come bust some banks whenever, though.  Well, not Monday-Friday.

[NittyGrittyBoy]

FG knots are a pain to tie...

We gotta load up and hit some farm ponds sometime!

[swhit140]

6 hours ago, Bird said:

I like using (2) 0-rings.

2 O-ring is better for wacky set up, your lure sits strait and your bait last longer. Usually size 1 or 2 depending on size of bait.

[NittyGrittyBoy]

Went Alberto knot instead. So much easier. 

 

2 O-rings crossed over right? 

[PhishLI]

38 minutes ago, NittyGrittyBoy said:

2 O-rings crossed over right? 

Yes. Hook through the intersection of the crisscross. Hook will be 90 degrees to the worm.

[Hook2Jaw]

1 hour ago, NittyGrittyBoy said:

FG knots are a pain to tie...

We gotta load up and hit some farm ponds sometime!

Well, when we crush some farms I can show you how I FG.  There isn't any easy way.  The tension annoys my hands/teeth and when my wraps overlap I start over all the time.  I forgot how to tie the Crazy Alberto, though.

 

As far as wacky rigging goes I'm as lost as you.  Always been a weightless Texas guy myself, but did read a few tips and one guy mentioned not overworking the  bait.  Seems like he works it like you work a drop shot, by allowing slack into the line and tightening back up with a rod lift before reintroducing slack.

 

I don't even know what hooks to grab.

[PersicoTrotaVA]

I like going through the bait. I have tried o rings and I did not like the action I was getting from it. I stopped using Senkos for wacky and use zoom finesse worms.  There are 20 in a pack and they are cheaper than senkos so losing baits is no big deal for me. As far as hook up ratio, mine is great. Watch that line and if it’s subtle you will feel it when you lift again, they rarely let go and all you have to do it reel. Don’t set the hook and lower your drag. You want that line taught at all times to keep that hook pegged. Even if you are reeling drag, keep that line tight. If that line goes loose, the hook will too and will be much easier for the fish to spit it. Try and keep them down and not on the surface and don’t let them jump. If they jump, try and move with them and keep that line tight. I love to fish wacky rig. It produces the most fish for me and the biggest fish. I use owner weedless wacky hooks.  Any hook will work really...as long as you keep the line tight. 

[NittyGrittyBoy]

Alberto was easy, I tried 5 or 6 times to do FG and gave up.

 

I've Texas rigged a senko plenty but never wacky. Dont overwork the bait? Hmm I do have that problem. If it works for so many people seems it's time for me step up my game ?

 

Here's the hooks I have.

 

@PersicoTrotaVA dont set the hook? I'm new to 8lb flouro wacky game

[pauldconyers]

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Mustad_Wacky_O-Ring_Replacement_Pack_25pk/descpage-MWO.html

[Hartwood71]

First off, i dig the honesty.  
 

Wacky couldn’t be easier and def doesn’t deserve too much thinking. With a sharp hook (5” senko, 3/0 ewg), my hookup ratio has gotta be 90%.  
 

I’m most often fishing in 2-10’ of  wry clear water with braid and leader (I haven’t found the “stealth-factor” of mono or flouro has mattered much - if the fish wants it, they quickly take it on the fall (straight braid or leader).  If they don’t take the fall, I rip it in about 20 feet for some crack at a reaction hit and then let it fall again.  That’s it.   If there’s no hit, I re-cast.   
 

The wacky hook and the o-ring (both of which I’m fine with) are marginal benefits.  The main thing is identifying if the fish care at all about a finesse presentation.  If yes, rock it all day.   (This is where I like the o-ring as it just saves baits and cost - the o-ring doesn’t improve hook-up ratio or # of hits, IMO).  If not, abandon and move on to another strategy; prob some reaction play.   
 

My three biggest largemouth have been on wacky (2 in NY, 1 in Fla).  To me, Wacky is a pure finesse game which benefits from sensitive equipment.    Making the choice to fish wacky in the first place is wayyyy more important step than deciding what hook and how you rig it.  

[bholtzinger14]

I dont feel like i have the knowledge or time on the water to answer most question, but wacky rigged senkos are the exception. I have yet to lose a fish once hooked with this hook and 99 % of the time if I feel the slightest bite they are hooked.

No need for a hook set. When you feel the nibble just reel. Thats it. I went over a year only fishing a wacky rigged senko before i decided i need to learn other techniques.

[Hartwood71]

Oh, and on the Alberto vs FG: for LM bass fishing, go Alberto all day long.   To me, no benefit to struggling with FG.   1-Alberto is very easy to tie.  2-Both knots smoothly flow through guides equally.  3- Alberto has 99.5% of the strength of an FG.   Save the FG for serious tension associated with offshore fishing.   

[Bluebasser86]

IMO, weedless wacky hooks are horrible. Hookup ratio goes way down with them and it's not a bait that's to be thrown in heavy cover or has a tendency to hang up a lot when it does come in contact with sparse cover anyways so it's really a waste. The hook tends to ride with the point up and will slide over cover if you're careful. All my opinion, but I do fish a wacky rig a lot, so it's with a lot of trial and error that I'm saying that.

 

Take it easy on the hookset. It's really just a reel and lift like a dropshot when you have the right setup. 

[Catt]

[Choporoz]

Great discussion,  but I'm not sure we've gotten near an answer to OP question....or at least, my interpretation of the question: 

Is there a difference in hookup ratio using wacky senkos, between:

hook parallel to worm, and

hook perpendicular to the worm?

 

I'm not sure I ever read a convincing answer, but I have to believe that there is a difference. 

[moguy1973]

I use a small Goody hair rubber band that when I put it on the stick worm it needs to be doubled.  Doubling it creates an "X" and I put the hook through the worm under the "X" perpendicular to the worm.  I have really good hook up ratio doing this, and I can usually get 10 or so fish out of one worm before it's cut in half from the rubber band.  Two O-rings can do the same thing but the Goody bands are about 100 for $5 at Walmart so it's a cheaper alternative.

[NittyGrittyBoy]

50 fish day, all pound an halfers, wacky rig for the win.

 

Went with ziptie method, with hook I posted. Used about 4  GY senkos, and whole pack of Yums. Wacky rig is ridiculously fun. Thanks for all the help and suggestions 

[5/0]

7 hours ago, Catt said:

Catt,

Why the swivel? Purpose?

Can’t really tell from the pic. Is the hook through the worm perpendicular or is it through the worm and buried back in?