Fall Rate

[papajoe222]

I'd bet that you thought this was going to be about the fall rate of a jig/trailer.  It isn't, but the information can be applied to jigs. I'm talking about the fall rate of your wacky worms, tubes, neds and plastic worms.

  I'd venture to say that the majority of anglers fish a wacky worm either weightless, or with a very light weight. After all, it's that slow fall and enticing wiggle that'll get you bit.  What if I told you that there is a time when a faster falling presentation will put more fish in the boat?  That time is NOW! Most seasoned anglers know that faster retrieves work better in the summer, but never consider a faster fall rate for their vertical presentations. 

I started experimenting with heavier weights on these baits a couple of years ago.  The weeds at a local lake would reach the top in 15ft. of water and I needed a punch rig to get through them.  That 3/4oz. weight rockets to the bottom, even with a bulky plastic, yet almost every fish I tied into hit that thing on the fall. When I fished my home lake, which has very few weeds and is very clear, I experimented with heavier weights. First with my tubes and later with rigging straight tail worms. Originally I figured; If nothing else, I'd be able to cover water faster. What I found was that a faster fall rate worked exceptionally well when the fish preferred a vertical presentation. 

 

 

[Catt]

Yes sir ?

[gim]

When I'm fishing deeper weedlines this time of year (12-20 feet) with a wacky rig, I stick a nail weight into one end so the fall rate increases significantly.  Quite often, the fish will grab it on the way down.  Technically once the nail weight is inserted, its called a Neko rig.

[Bankbeater]

A couple of years ago the bass refused to go after weightless plastic worms in a lake filled with coontail.  You had to add weight to get a bite.  The bass were following it down to the bottom, and when the bait stopped falling they would bite.

[WRB]

10 hours ago, gimruis said:

When I'm fishing deeper weedlines this time of year (12-20 feet) with a wacky rig, I stick a nail weight into one end so the fall rate increases significantly.  Quite often, the fish will grab it on the way down.  Technically once the nail weight is inserted, its called a Neko rig.

Only recently before a few years ago it was a nail weight worm.

Tom

[GRiver]

I haven’t caught a lot on wacky rigs…. I’ll start changing up the weight. 

[padon]

never done it with a wacky rig but this time of year a heavier weighted worm , jig or creature bait can definetely get more bites. same with a faster retrieve , bigger hops etc.

[KP Duty]

Glenn posted a vid of a pro speaking about pitching, and he said he always uses a baby d bomb with a pegged 1/2oz sinker.  I thought "He is appatently going for the reaction bite and trying to cover water....that thing probably falls 5ft a second".

[papajoe222]

8 hours ago, KP Duty said:

Glenn posted a vid of a pro speaking about pitching, and he said he always uses a baby d bomb with a pegged 1/2oz sinker.  I thought "He is appatently going for the reaction bite and trying to cover water....that thing probably falls 5ft a second".

I punch my way through a 1/4mi. stretch of lilly pads that sit in 2ft. of water. There are many times that it never touches bottom.

[Catt]

There's this notion that when throwing soft plastics the lightest weight you can get away with is the best option.

 

Or they base weight selection off water depth.

 

Both on occasion can be true but both on occasion can be wrong.

 

Rate Of Fall regardless of water depth or time of year is key to getting bit.

[LrgmouthShad]

2 minutes ago, Catt said:

There's this notion that when throwing soft plastics the lightest weight you can get away with is the best option.

 

Or they base weight selection off water depth.

 

Both on occasion can be true but both on occasion can be wrong.

 

Rate Of Fall regardless of water depth or time of year is key to getting bit.

Terry Oldham I guess agrees with you, and for jigs as well. I ran into this video while doing more jig research 

[KP Duty]

34 minutes ago, papajoe222 said:

I punch my way through a 1/4mi. stretch of lilly pads that sit in 2ft. of water. There are many times that it never touches bottom.

I bet...1/2oz is light for punching.  This guy was pitching wood (no pun intended).

[river-rat]

 

This time of year in south Louisiana I'm using jigs weighing 5/8 - 3/4 oz. in water 4-5' or less. I also use 3/8 - 5/8 oz. tungsten slip sinker for plastics - I especially like a standard Brush Hog with the 1/2 oz. weight.

 

When I'm punching grass I'll use a 1 oz. jig or slip sinker.

 

[Bass Rutten]

Water clarity is a major factor imo in any discussion about fall rate. I lean heavier if it’s on the clearer side, and vice versa obviously.

[Deleted account]

Fish don't know techniques, if it wants a fast or slow sink rate, it doesn't care where you hook a bait or what you call it.