I have been layed up recovering from surgery and have been watching man youtube videos some of the best are the Japanes guys fishing from shore with wacky rigged baits. They catch soem nice fish. Anyone use "O" rings on softbaits?

I have been using the "O" ring on wackys for a few years. Yes they really work. You can buy an "O" ring tool from Cabelas for about $5.00. Much easier to put them on with the tool and the ring will save a lot of tearing.

yea i use the wacky tool and go to home depot or lowes to pick up some o rings. use them all time saves your baits for awhile

Yep, they're great. Look BillM wacky rig tool. Bill's a friend of mine.

if youre fishing senkos without the wacky tool, you have more money than brains.

No.  I use shrink tubing which works great.

 

I set up my Senkos before heading out and so far I have caught 10 largemouths on one Senko using the shrink tubing.

I throw 4" and 5" senkos weightless wacky. I use rubber o-rings to maximize the longevity of each senko. I've used a variety of hook brands and sizes. I've currently settled on the Owner Weedless Wacky hooks in 1/0 size. Pretty happy with the setup, but I've honestly been throwing the drop shot more lately.

 

​And instead of the wacky tool, you just need the bottom half of one of these pens.

I throw 4" and 5" senkos weightless wacky. I use rubber o-rings to maximize the longevity of each senko. I've used a variety of hook brands and sizes. I've currently settled on the Owner Weedless Wacky hooks in 1/0 size. Pretty happy with the setup, but I've honestly been throwing the drop shot more lately.

 

​And instead of the wacky tool, you just need the bottom half of one of these pens.

Those work great but really any bottom half of a ball point pen will work also.

The advantage of the tool is that it holds spare rings.

Mike

I just remembered something that I saw months ago.

Insert a screw into the hole where the pen point sticks out. Instant rings holder.

Dunno why it had been buried in my brain until just now.

Those work great but really any bottom half of a ball point pen will work also.

The advantage of the tool is that it holds spare rings.

Mike

I just remembered something that I saw months ago.

Insert a screw into the hole where the pen point sticks out. Instant rings holder.

Dunno why it had been buried in my brain until just now.

Yep, good idea

Mike

Boom!

Another good tool is the gray barrel from a sharpie, not as messy as you would think. Some good videos can be found at youtube, searching by "bait finesse"

X2 on the shrink wrap. I can fish 1 Senko all day.

Has anyone tried the senko types that have an O ring molded in the middle of the senko? Cabelas andone other dealer sell them.

I'm probably splitting hairs, but I like an O-ring better than Shrink Wrap

because an O-ring is so slender that there's virtually no dead-spot. 

 

Roger

My lowes is crazy high on orings... Where else do y'all find them for a decent price

I use GYCB Senkos, and DO NOT use the o-rings....................some one has to make sure the cattle on Gary's ranch are well fed.

I like the wacky saddle kit. Using one oring puts the hook parallel with the worm, where the wacky saddle puts the hook perpendicular to the worm.

I was loosing a lot of fish with one oring and I didn't like using two and crossing them. The kit was the answer I was looking for.

When I was guiding my clients used hundreds of stik-o's each season - even with inexpensive stik-o's it was still  a good money saver to use o-rings - never saw the need for a tool.

When I was guiding my clients used hundreds of stik-o's each season - even with inexpensive stik-o's it was still  a good money saver to use o-rings - never saw the need for a tool.

I never have seen the need for the tool either--i just use my needle nose pliers that i keep handy to help get hooks out of the bass's mouth and slightly spread the o ring and pull the senko through 1/2 way and that's it

I use hair rubber bands. Cheap for a big pack and doesn't require anything special to put them on

Like BMG above said, I like the hook at 90 degrees to the bait, not parallel. Been using two and crossing them for years with no issues. No tool needed. Just wet the pointed end of the bait and slide it on. Can't see why you would need a tool but that's an individual choice.

if youre fishing senkos without the wacky tool, you have more money than brains.

Please explain quote above. I used my brain to get a simple round elastic ring on a soft round bait without having to spend an extra cent. If you need a tool that's fine. Insulting people that don't accomplishes little.

Big Money Grip- Did you get that name from an episode of Sanford and Son? Was one of my favorite all time shows.

I get mine from an industrial supply house like McMaster Carr or Grainger for next to nothing.

http://www.mcmaster.com/#o-rings/=rbnna0

Depending on bait you will need 5/16", 3/8", or 9mm

Yep, Sanford & Son.

Has anyone tried the senko types that have an O ring molded in the middle of the senko? Cabelas andone other dealer sell them.

 

If the o-ring is molded into the plastic, the plastic would actually be thinner there and tear easier.

 

I have not tried those specific baits but have experimented with Sticks I poured myself like that.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYK18yQVFsQ

I don't know why using or not using a tool or pen or whatever would create so much contention. At most, the tool costs less than $10. If that seems too much, then don't get it. It makes it very easy and fast, and if you use authentic senkos, you won't tear them getting the ring on.

Btw, I use two crossed rings. On tournament day, I just spear the bait. I don't really want to spend any extra time getting a bait rigged.