I've always used the texas rig weighted and was in shallow water this weekend so decided to try weightless. I was using a berkley tequila sunrise 7" ribbon tail worm and I could barely get the cast past 10-15 feet max. I'm using the 6'10" tatula MH casting rod with a tatula ct and 15# big game on a 2/0 worm hook. Is it the gear or what am I doing wrong, how do people fish these without dropping to really light gear? 

not sure.  i fish Yamamoto Senkos exclusively.   both the 4" and 5".  both are girthy enough to fly.  

 

the Owner Haymaker hook in 3/0 helps.    my line is usually 12lb flouro.  14 if i am less feeling frisky.  

You’re going to get a bunch of opinions.  It can be done on a baitcaster but it would be much easier on a spinning outfit.  Also ribbon tails and not very aerodynamic and will be harder to cast than say a Senko.  Finally weightless plastics cast better on lighter line.  It takes a fair amount of experience to back the drag off a baitcaster or to even freespool it to get good distance with a soft plastic.

Glen just sent this via e-mail.........https://www.bassresource.com/

Wrong rod MHF is too stiff to load up using 1/8 oz worm.

You didn’t mention the reel. The basic spool adjustment is loosen until the worm can fall with ease. My guess is your brakes are stopping the cast. Try loosening the spool tension and add length of line to about 3’ hanging down before you try to cast.

Tom

Spinning rod thing IMHO.  With a baitcaster go as light on the line as you can and change your brake settings and use a heavily salted stick worm and you'll have much better luck.

Thanks for the replies, didn't realize I could step down to a spinning rod for texas rig, would a medium fast spinning rod work okay or should I go down to medium light? I was worried about medium with the hookset...

Weightless plastics - whether it's a T-Rigged or wacky rigged worm or a fluke on an unweighted swimbait hook - I go with a Medium/Fast spinning rig.

5 minutes ago, Conclusion said:

Thanks for the replies, didn't realize I could step down to a spinning rod for texas rig, would a medium fast spinning rod work okay or should I go down to medium light? I was worried about medium with the hookset...

 

I've used both, and both are fine.

4 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

 I go with a Medium/Fast spinning rig.

 

 

                                                    

Medium Fast spinning combo would be a better choice imo.

Owner 4107 size 3/0 Cover Shot hook is a medium wire hook with worm keeper ideal for your spinning tackle.

Skin hook the worm.

Tom

Okay haven’t seen the comment I was looking for. Tip: add a swivel ahead of the bait. Adds a little weight but still preserves a nice natural horizontal fall. And yes, I agree with those saying use a spinning rod

Agreed on the M/F spinning setup suggestion.

 

Also, braid (and probably a leader) is a must for weightless plastics.

You can throw it on a baitcaster but not that worm. Need a heavier stick bait. Gotta use lighter gear for the ribbon tail 

I just double checked and it's actually a 3/0 worm hook not the 2/0, not that I imagine that makes a huge difference. Sounds like I'll be dual purposing my wacky rod for weightless texas rigs as well, as my other two spinning rods are ML/F (shakey head) and ML/XF (ned rig).

I will use my 7' med spinning rod for anything up to 1/2 oz, hard or soft baits. Except for a jig, will only go to 3/8 oz. I don't have a mh spin rod, but they make them.

31 minutes ago, detroit1 said:

I don't have a mh spin rod, but they make them.

I have an Okuma Reflexions 7'0" MH/F spinning rod with a Supreme-30 mounted. 20# Braid to 12# YZH leader. I use this for my jig skipping as I can't skip with a casting rig to save my life.

Rod is rated to 1-1/4 oz, so I can toss quite a bit.

I fish with weightless flukes and senkos on my baitcaster.  For the rest of the weightless plastics, I use spinning tackle.

6 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

I go with a Medium/Fast spinning rig.

 

The only baits I fish as a weightless TR on baitcasters are “heavy” soft plastics. Senkos. Fat IKA’s. Neko Machos. Mostly on a M/F rod. In fact, I just respooled a Black Max a few days ago with 10 lb. Big Game on a 6’ 6” Daiwa Aird-X M/F rod, and with a 5” Senko on a 4/0 EWG, I almost casted it all the way across the pond. 
 

Light baits like Zoom Tricks, Roboworms, etc. I’ll fish with a spinning rig. But I do like fishing those heavier baits with a baitcaster. I can cast more accurately.