When to use a weighted wacky hook???

[Luke Barnes]

I have 1/8 and 1/32 oz weighted wacky hooks. Do you all have a specific depth for when you go weighted vs weightless? I got them because I know they have the most action on the fall and the more weight the more movement and.... I'm impatient and dont want to wait for a weightless stick bait to sink. Also I use Elaztech stick baits which I figured needed weight or they would just float on the surface.

 

So when to go weightless and when to use a weighted? 

[detroit1]

I go weightless with Senko only.  With dingers i use a weighted wacky hook, and both less than 10' deep. Any deeper i wacky dropshot. 

[Team9nine]

Simple - I almost ALWAYS go weighted ? ...and mostly with Elaztech plastics, too. Only time I go weightless is with trickworms around the spawn/post spawn in very shallow water.

[Luke Barnes]

25 minutes ago, detroit1 said:

I go weightless with Senko only.  With dingers i use a weighted wacky hook, and both less than 10' deep. Any deeper i wacky dropshot. 

Ive got a variety of sticks. SK Shimy Sticks, Dingers, SK Ocho, zman bang stickz and Zinkerz, Gambler Ace??,  Berkley general and flute worms. I think thats it. No actual Senkos. So of course the Zman ones float, the others I don't know how fast they sink except the Ocho. They sink pretty fast. 

[813basstard]

Wind..how much wind?

Enough weight to keep your line semi slack. That should be the ultimate indicator of how much weight 

[GetFishorDieTryin]

19 hours ago, Luke Barnes said:

I have 1/8 and 1/32 oz weighted wacky hooks. Do you all have a specific depth for when you go weighted vs weightless? I got them because I know they have the most action on the fall and the more weight the more movement and.... I'm impatient and dont want to wait for a weightless stick bait to sink. Also I use Elaztech stick baits which I figured needed weight or they would just float on the surface.

 

So when to go weightless and when to use a weighted? 

The majority of the time when Im using a weighted wacky head or nails its just to cover water faster.  A little extra weight goes a long way, the heaviest I use is 1/16 and most of the time im using a 1/32.  Zinkers wont float right out of the bag.  Zinkers density will decrease as it loses salt content so the ROF will gradually drop until the bait wants to float, at that point I use save them for ned rigs.    

[J Francho]

I wacky jig a lot more than wacky rig, and I often use a different bait.  Usually it's a slimmer, finesse style worm.  My 2nd biggest LMB came on a wacky jig Flick Shake worm.

 

[galyonj]

I use a 1/16oz wacky jighead a lot more often than I fish them weightless. Even in the pockets that are out of current.

[Luke Barnes]

3 hours ago, J Francho said:

I wacky jig a lot more than wacky rig, and I often use a different bait.  Usually it's a slimmer, finesse style worm.  My 2nd biggest LMB came on a wacky jig Flick Shake worm.

 

Whats a wacky jig? Jig with a trailer rigged wacky?

3 hours ago, GetFishorDieTryin said:

The majority of the time when Im using a weighted wacky head or nails its just to cover water faster.  A little extra weight goes a long way, the heaviest I use is 1/16 and most of the time im using a 1/32.  Zinkers wont float right out of the bag.  Zinkers density will decrease as it loses salt content so the ROF will gradually drop until the bait wants to float, at that point I use save them for ned rigs.    

I wonder if the Bang Stickz are the same way? Ill have to test it out. So the salt makes it more dense and sink. Good info. Thanks!

[galyonj]

13 minutes ago, Luke Barnes said:

Whats a wacky jig? Jig with a trailer rigged wacky?

 

There are jigheads intended for use with wacky-rigged plastics. 

[Luke Barnes]

2 minutes ago, galyonj said:

 

There are jigheads intended for use with wacky-rigged plastics. 

I have weighted wacky hooks but I'm guessing these aren't considered Jig heads. One is Bass Pro and the other is Owner. 

[galyonj]

1 hour ago, Luke Barnes said:

I have weighted wacky hooks but I'm guessing these aren't considered Jig heads. One is Bass Pro and the other is Owner. 

 

No, that's them.

 

I honestly don't know what else to call a hook with a weight molded around the eye unless I'm calling it a jighead, you know?

[J Francho]

I like the Zappu Inchi jigs. Very sharp!

[MGF]

22 hours ago, Luke Barnes said:

Ive got a variety of sticks. SK Shimy Sticks, Dingers, SK Ocho, zman bang stickz and Zinkerz, Gambler Ace??,  Berkley general and flute worms. I think thats it. No actual Senkos. So of course the Zman ones float, the others I don't know how fast they sink except the Ocho. They sink pretty fast. 

I only have one bag of zman zinkerz but they don't float.

 

I usually fish a wacky rigged worm weightless except in the river when I want it to sink a little faster. I put a tiny carpet tack in each end of the bait. 

[galyonj]

5 minutes ago, J Francho said:

I like the Zappu Inchi jigs. Very sharp!

 

Are they as sharp as the ones Hattori Hanzō makes?

 

[Michigander]

11 minutes ago, galyonj said:

 

Are they as sharp as the ones Hattori Hanzō makes?

 

Got a link? I'm always in the market for murder-sharp hooks.

[Bird]

18 minutes ago, MGF said:

I only have one bag of zman zinkerz but they don't float. 

No need to add weight to the Zinkerz as they have a progressive drop rate......my preferred " senko " in heavy cover. 

[galyonj]

 

11 minutes ago, Michigander said:

Got a link? I'm always in the market for murder-sharp hooks.

 

Unfortunately, I hear he's real hard to get ahold of.

[Michigander]

28 minutes ago, galyonj said:

 

 

Unfortunately, I hear he's real hard to get ahold of.

Well, being dead for centuries will do that to you. I was hoping someone branded their hooks with his name. ?

[MIbassyaker]

I use 1/16 or 1/8 oz heads whenever I expect strikes deeper than about 5 feet.

[GetFishorDieTryin]

5 hours ago, Luke Barnes said:

I wonder if the Bang Stickz are the same way? Ill have to test it out. So the salt makes it more dense and sink. Good info. Thanks!

The baits meant to be fished on a ned head like the TRDs and Hula Sticks dont have as high of a salt content as the Zinkers because I think the ned baits are designed to be fish with a jig head or nail.  Zinkers have more salt to add weigh so they are easier to cast.  Zman has baits with very little or no salt at all for maximum buoyancy out of the bag like the floating worms, tubes and TRD hogs.  Ive never used the bang sticks, but I would assume they are just a longer Hula Stick with the same salt content.

 

[Luke Barnes]

4 hours ago, galyonj said:

 

Are they as sharp as the ones Hattori Hanzō makes?

 

Just ask Bill. He knows. 

 

Ok so I have wacky jigs then. I assumed they were just weighted hooks but whatever. I guess I ought to find a clear, shallow spot and test the sink rates of all the different stick baits I have. Then judge which need a little weight and which ones are fine weightless. I like the idea of weightless because I can switch to Neko quickly. 

[J Francho]

9 hours ago, Luke Barnes said:

Ok so I have wacky jigs then. I assumed they were just weighted hooks but whatever.

Any weighted hook used to rig a bait is called a "jig."  

 

9 hours ago, Luke Barnes said:

I guess I ought to find a clear, shallow spot and test the sink rates of all the different stick baits I have. Then judge which need a little weight and which ones are fine weightless. I like the idea of weightless because I can switch to Neko quickly. 

Sounds a little complicated.  I just go out and fish them.  They are different than a wacky or neko.  All will catch.  Outside of pre-spawn, I generally use a wacky jig, not a neko or wacky rig.  I feel a lot more connected to the bait, and can tell better where it is and when it gets bit.  It takes some practice to get good with it, like any other bait, so you may have to put in the time.

[mheichelbech]

Is a wacky jig more effective than using a split shot or squeeze on sinker?

[J Francho]

Just now, mheichelbech said:

Is a wacky jig more effective than using a split shot or squeeze on sinker?

It's a different bait.  I keep little pinch on bullet weights that are probably 1/16 oz. for times when wind kicks up and keeps my senko from sinking.  For wacky jigs, I pretty much never use a senko.  The bait is a thinner finesse worm, and responds better to gentle input to the jig.  A pinch on weight doesn't do the same thing.