I've Gone Wacky, and I'll Likely Never Be the Same...

[rabidsquirrel]

I've read all the articles, watched all the video clips, and finally gave 'Wacky' rigging a shot.

Well, 'Wacky' isn't 'Whack'... I've discovered that it works extremely well in the ponds I frequent.

It's like the fish have never seen it before, and they cannot resist it. Brush hogs used to be my most productive soft plastic bait, but I've been just as productive with Wacky riggin' over the last few days.

I'm using a 3 ought Gamakatsu finesse hook through the mid section of a zoom finesse worms (Watermelon Red Flake). I'm killing it with this rig. Not running any weight on it, though, which practically demands you fish it on a lighter weight spinning rod and reel (It casts much better/farther than on my baitcasting rigs).

If you've put off learning this technique like I did, consider this a gentle nudge to give it a shot - from a recent non-believing convert! It works!

I caught around 15 keepers yesterday afternoon with this technique in a span of an hour and a half. I felt like I was cheating somehow!

You have to fish it real slow to be successful. It is definitely a slow finesse technique, and it certainly rewards the patient fisherman...

[Hook Set]

Wacky is my favorite pond technique, hard to beat.

If you start getting hung up around brush with the hook exposed thru the middle, you can texas rig it weightless and get the same results.

[hookset on 3]

Wacky is my favorite pond technique, hard to beat.

If you start getting hung up around brush with the hook exposed thru the middle, you can texas rig it weightless and get the same results.

Try what my brother Hook Set says with this deadly t-rig worm.

[tmorgz]

I gave it a shot last year on a trip to Minnesota and it truly does work when there is a tough bite.  I use a 1/0 shiner hook and a strike king zero ( I found they hold up much better than a senko).  My 10 year old won't hardly fish anything else now.

[Wayne P.]

That is my most productive presentation everywhere and just about anytime.

[K_Mac]

That is my most productive presentation everywhere and just about anytime.

Is that a piece of shrink tube? Do you hook through it or just under? I get many good ideas from you. Thanks.

[Wayne P.]

K_mac, the hook is inserted thru the 1/4" heat shrink tubing and about 1/2 way into the worm before bringing it out from under the tubing to insert the point. It holds the hook eye in when fishing thru heavy weeds, pads, docks, and timber.

I fish this stuff a lot and rarely get hung up unless a fish is attached---

[.ghoti.]

Now you're ready for the wacky jig. Better for fishing a bit deeper and faster. You can also use a baitcaster.

Try these.

http://www.***.com/Damiki_Kaiser_Wacky_Head_6pk/descpage-DKWH.html

and these

http://www.***.com/Gamakatsu_Wacky_Head_4pk/descpage-GWH.html

Neither of these jigs gets hung up as often as you would think. The weight placement keeps the hook point upright, and, if you keep it moving, it will seldom get hung up .

[fishermantony]

That is my most productive presentation everywhere and just about anytime.

Is that a weight in the tail, if so what size, and how deep will you fish that setup?  Thanks.

[Wayne P.]

fishermantony, no there is no weight in the tail, it is just the way the light shines on the last segment.

I do add weight if needed but put it in the head of the worm. I have fished the weedless wacky rig to depths of 30' so far.

I don't do the jig thing, I'm in no hurry for it to get to the bottom and only add weight to overcome wind or current to lessen the bow in the line. With many thousands of bass caught that way, it is the fall that attracts the bass-the faster the fall the less fish caught.

Someone else asked the same a while back.

[fishermantony]

fishermantony, no there is no weight in the tail, it is just the way the light shines on the last segment.

I do add weight if needed but put it in the head of the worm. I have fished the weedless wacky rig to depths of 30' so far.

I don't do the jig thing, I'm in no hurry for it to get to the bottom and only add weight to overcome wind or current to lessen the bow in the line. With many thousands of bass caught that way, it is the fall that attracts the bass-the faster the fall the less fish caught.

Someone else asked the same a while back.

Thanks Wayne.  Does the bait fall vertically and does it stand vertically when it reaches bottom?  It seems similar to a technique I read about and have been anxious to try called the Hideki Rig, with the exception of the tubing and hooking through the worm. 

[Wayne P.]

fishermantonyt, the worm more or less falls vertically in the horizontal position, and lays flat on the bottom. Occasionally it will go left or right as it falls and end up on the opposite side of a tree or stump that it was cast to or even away from it, but it is a random occurrence. I use Zoom worms and they don't float.

[fishermantony]

Thank You very much for sharing the insight Wayne!

[Cobraguy46410]

I was fishing a pond away from my tackle when my worm was pretty much shredded. The only way my Senko would stay on was wacky rigging it. WOW! I caught more fish than t-rigged and I caught my personal biggest fish as well. This does work. I am going to buy some finesse hooks now just for rigging this way.

Sorry to brag, I am still stoked about catching a big one finally.

[SoFlaBassAddict]

I've become a big fan of wacky worms. Like Ghoti mentioned, the wacky jigheads are a great way to fish it a little deeper. I personally use the tru-tungsten flea flicker. But any of them will work. Senko's are nice on them, but I've really enjoyed using a Zoom Swamp Crawler. Plus you get a bunch of them in each package. If you use a Senko, I'd put a small piece of 3/8th heat shrink on it. Helps to stop the bait from tearing up.

[rabidsquirrel]

Wow, this thread generated a few responses!

I handed off my wacky rig to my friend yesterday evening, and he caught a 4.25 pounder with it!

That was the biggest bass he'd caught in that pond to date, so he's sold on wacky rigging now... He caught a few more in the 2 pound range as well...

Caught some more on a Brush Hog rig and a nice one on a Rage Tail Shad rig...

I was a good evening of fishing, for sure!

;D

[Andy Taylor]

I've become a big fan of wacky worms. Like Ghoti mentioned, the wacky jigheads are a great way to fish it a little deeper. I personally use the tru-tungsten flea flicker. But any of them will work. Senko's are nice on them, but I've really enjoyed using a Zoom Swamp Crawler. Plus you get a bunch of them in each package. If you use a Senko, I'd put a small piece of 3/8th heat shrink on it. Helps to stop the bait from tearing up.

Is 3/8" the inside diameter? If so, that sounds kind of fat. And do you run the hook thru the heat shrink or under the heat shrink? Thanks.

[Catt]

Carolina Wacky 

[SoFlaBassAddict]

I've become a big fan of wacky worms. Like Ghoti mentioned, the wacky jigheads are a great way to fish it a little deeper. I personally use the tru-tungsten flea flicker. But any of them will work. Senko's are nice on them, but I've really enjoyed using a Zoom Swamp Crawler. Plus you get a bunch of them in each package. If you use a Senko, I'd put a small piece of 3/8th heat shrink on it. Helps to stop the bait from tearing up.

Is 3/8" the inside diameter? If so, that sounds kind of fat. And do you run the hook thru the heat shrink or under the heat shrink? Thanks.

Through the heat shrink.  I don't remember if it was ID or not though.  Was from Home Depot.  It's garbage heat shrink, but for worms it works just fin.  Clear package with a red paper label stapled to the top of the bag.

[Andy Taylor]

I picked up some 3/8" from H.D. but they didn't have any 1/4". I read that 1/4" fits the Zoom trick worm. They had 3/16" and 3/8", but no 1/4".

[FivePoundBluegill]

That is my most productive presentation everywhere and just about anytime.

I rig senkos "wacky" but not like that. I usually use a small hook going from side to side of the body of a senko. I am going to try that set up in that pic though next time i fish. I have never seen that before and I bet it has an action the fish have not either.

[Wayne P.]

FivePoundBluegill, I don't rig Senkos or their knockoffs that way, only the Zoom finesse and Trick worms.

If I feel the need ( rarely ) to fish Senkos wacky style, I still use heat shrink tubing but I use a self installed weedguard on an Octopus hook with the hook perpendicular to the bait.