Wacky rig

[Chaddy]

Why do the fish pull the worm either through the rubber ring or if I’m not using a ring they pull it off the hook. Anybody ever have this problem?

[roadwarrior]

Hmm...

Maybe trying to eat it or kill it?

[BrianMDTX]

I think when the point of the hook sticks in the jaw, the bait is pushed up the hook onto the line. 
 

All I know is using an O-ring saves a lot of Senkos!

[Chaddy]

They don’t get the hook. They pull the worm out of the O-ring. 

[Finessegenics]

I don't think there's any reason. They're just pulling the bait from one of its ends because they're trying to eat it. It could be smaller fish which are not able to inhale the whole bait, so instead they miss the hook. Don't overthink it. Maybe try a smaller worm and see if the bites result in more hookups. 

[roadwarrior]

14 minutes ago, Finessegenics said:

They're just pulling the bait from one of its ends because they're trying to eat it. It could be smaller fish which are not able to inhale the whole bait, so instead they miss the hook. 

Little fish and most likely bream, not bass.

[BrianMDTX]

I’ve lost Senkos, but normally after a hookset that likely wasn’t great and the bait came off during the brief fight. I can’t recall ever losing one on just a strike with zero hookset. 

[Bluebasser86]

The O ring has never done much for saving the bait for me. I just hook them through the middle instead.

[Hammer 4]

14 minutes ago, Bluebasser86 said:

The O ring has never done much for saving the bait for me. I just hook them through the middle instead.

Ditto..

[JustJames]

I vote for little bass too or even a good size bluegill that only take part of the senko but not whole. Another problem is you set hook too hard to be able to pull the hook out of senko while in small fish mouth. This is open hook application, just a quick jerk or reel in fast should be enough to set hook and if don’t loose the lure of hook is not in fish mouth.

[BrianMDTX]

1 hour ago, Bass_Fishing_Socal said:

just a quick jerk or reel in fast should be enough to set hook and if don’t loose the lure of hook is not in fish mouth.

I never “set the hook” on a WR. When the line starts moving I reel in until the line is tight and 95% of the time the circle octopus hook sets itself. And you’re right. If the hook isn’t in the fish’s mouth it tends to simply pull the WR away from the fish without losing the Senko or other stickbait. In cases like that, I often reel the WR in and find the hookpoint slightly embedded in the underside of the Senko. It’s a good sign a fish was on it, but didn’t inhale it. 

[FryDog62]

Be sure to put the hook through both the O ring and the worm. 

[BrianMDTX]

11 minutes ago, FryDog62 said:

Be sure to put the hook through both the O ring and the worm. 

I must disagree. The whole purpose of the O ring is to prevent (or at least reduce) the ripping and tearing of the stickbait with the hook through it (especially a Senko). Why use an O ring if you put the hook through the bait? 

[NorthernBasser]

How tight is the o-ring you're using? I don't think I've ever had a fish pull an entire Senko through the ring like you're describing. 

[BrianMDTX]

Mostly #10’s (1/4” I.D.). I have used #11’s (5/16” I.D.) but the #10’s are a tighter fit. 
 

What I described is not a bass (or other fish) pulling the Senko thru the O ring. I’m talking about I have caught bass and the hook is set in the lip, and the Senko/O ring is 3”-5” up the line. Unhook the bass, let it go and slide the O ring back down under the hook. Which is way better IMO than having the bait ripped when it’s rigged with the hook through it. 

[je1946]

You can also use shrink tube.  Usually saves a few baits.  Losing baits and rigs is all part of it. 

 

 

[FryDog62]

6 hours ago, BrianMDTX said:

I must disagree. The whole purpose of the O ring is to prevent (or at least reduce) the ripping and tearing of the stickbait with the hook through it (especially a Senko). Why use an O ring if you put the hook through the bait? 

My experience it is overall much stronger when you get some meat in addition to the O-ring. O-rings are very thin and when fighting a fish the ring will stretch and cut through the soft/salty Senkos. You get more surface area when you run the hook through both the plastic and the O-ring IMO. The O-ring then reinforces the strength of the plastic vs. working alone. 
 

The other thing I use many times instead of an O-ring are the “Wacky Worm Sleeves” that Cadman Jigs sells (aka shrink tubing). It’s 3/8 in. wide and when you stick the hook through that plus the plastic worm, you get a lot of surface area and it holds even better than a thin O-ring. 
 

http://cadmansjigs.weebly.com/wacky-worm-sleeves.html

 

And best of all, no tool needed to put the sleeve on. 

 

[BrianMDTX]

I don’t get the need for the tool. It takes me 3 seconds to put a 1/4” O ring on a 5” Senko. It’s simple. 

[JustJames]

5 hours ago, BrianMDTX said:

I never “set the hook” on a WR. When the line starts moving I reel in until the line is tight and 95% of the time the circle octopus hook sets itself. And you’re right. If the hook isn’t in the fish’s mouth it tends to simply pull the WR away from the fish without losing the Senko or other stickbait. In cases like that, I often reel the WR in and find the hookpoint slightly embedded in the underside of the Senko. It’s a good sign a fish was on it, but didn’t inhale it. 

I am not sure now, who I answered too. It seem like you don’t have any problem with your wacky rig like OP stated. Now let help OP aka @Chaddy

[NittyGrittyBoy]

Heat shrink w/ hook through it. You'll never lose another

[Bluegillslayer]

17 hours ago, Bass_Fishing_Socal said:

I vote for little bass too

I fish a few ponds where the average bass is 8 to 10 inches and have never have had any stick baits stolen and I don't use the o-ring.

[joshuaray83]

If you're not set on using Senkos, a local Youtuber who fishes the wacky rig often uses the GrandeBass RattleSnake. I think the ribs keep the o-rings in place a little better. He also uses two o-rings, crossing them over each other and putting the hook in the 'X' that is made by the o-rings crossing. This keeps the hook perpendicular to the bait as well without needing to purchase some special o-ring that's likely more expensive anyway.

 

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/GrandeBass_RattleSnake_Worms/descpage-GRDBRTS.html