Disclaimer: I don't fish a kayak, and have never fished a tournament.

 

Probably 7 of 10 kayak fishermen I talk to fishing kayak tournaments on my home lake have a wacky rig Senko tied on.

 

Coincidence?  Or just a really good "go-to" for putting numbers on the board?

 

If not a Senko, what are you using to put fish in the boat come tournament time?

No, it’s probably not a coincidence. 
A Senko is the most popular stick bait used most everywhere in most conditions by the most people who use them. 
The way they rig and how they use them is more telling than the brand. 

When I throw a stick bait, which is not often because I feel I have better options, I use the Berkeley General. 
 

 

 

 

Mike

 

 

 

The amount of whacky worm fishing on the Elite level is wild, and the leader of the AOY race Brandon Cobb uses it about 90% seemingly.   

 

Christie caught a 9.4 one at Lay on Saturday.

 

Traditionally power fishing has accounted for 60% of wins based on Jay Kumar's numbers, but I think the ever-growing fishing pressure is going to make finesse great again, which sucks for me lol.  

I don’t think it’s a kayak tournament specific thing. I think a wacky senko is just a go to thing in all bass fishing circles. 

All anyone throws is wacky rig regardless of trail 

Not me.

 

But the above seems wacky to me.  I can't fish a weightless worm in wind....or maybe won't is a better word.  And it seems like I fish in wind 3/4 of the time.  Ok maybe skipping docks or real shallow....but I got zero confidence in bite detection in more than 2 FOW with any wind at all.

4 minutes ago, Choporoz said:

I can't fish a weightless worm in wind....or maybe won't is a better word.  And it seems like I fish in wind 3/4 of the time.  Ok maybe skipping docks or real shallow....but I got zero confidence in bite detection in more than 2 FOW with any wind at all.

You could try sticking a nail weight into the end of the stick bait.  Not only is it easier to cast in the wind, but it obviously sinks faster too which really helps in deeper water.

 

The fish where I am are relatively shallow now, but when the heat turns on in the summer, a very established weed line will develop and they often sit right on that edge of the deeper weedline.  This is where the nail weighted wacky, aka "neko rig" will really excel.  Sometimes they even hit it right on the fall.

 

I do agree that when fishing shallow and/or around docks, then the extra weight isn't necessarily helpful.

@gimruis, for no great reason, neko falls in behind wacky for me.  Never caught a bass over 12 in. on a neko rig.  Your summer weedlines are a favorite of mine, too.  Usually found 11-17 FOW.  If I'm working it out from the grass, I use 1/16 or 1/8 (3/16, if windy) tungsten worm weight with a skinny-ish worm.   If fishing deep up to grass, I,ll usually go up to 3/4