On 6/12/2025 at 5:45 AM, Lottabass said:

Just put shrink wrap on a magnum trick worm...

Thank you, I'm glad to hear your experience.

Why didn't I think of that!  Thanks for pointing it out.

On 6/14/2025 at 10:26 AM, Tucson said:

Why didn't I think of that!  Thanks for pointing it out.

I've only fished with wacky worms with the tubing for 3 days so limited data.  I put some of the tubing on at 1 inch long and some at 3/8 inch long.  The longer tubing works better at preserving the worm.  All will get torn up eventually.  I've also been using the Lake Fork Tackle Hyper Wackn' System rig and it works well.  The 1 inch tubing works the best at preserving worms. 

The wacky hooks with the screw lock on the hook is the worst.  They will tear up any worm just on 1 catch.

No problem with hooking fish with any of these rigs.

18 hours ago, Lottabass said:

I've only fished with wacky worms with the tubing for 3 days so limited data.  I put some of the tubing on at 1 inch long and some at 3/8 inch long.  The longer tubing works better at preserving the worm.  All will get torn up eventually.  I've also been using the Lake Fork Tackle Hyper Wackn' System rig and it works well.  The 1 inch tubing works the best at preserving worms. 

The wacky hooks with the screw lock on the hook is the worst.  They will tear up any worm just on 1 catch.

No problem with hooking fish with any of these rigs.

I generally try to make my shrink wrap about the size of the egg sack on the worm.

 

 

I use either two o-rings overlapped and put the hook under where they cross, or I use the VMC crossover rings.

 

Yamamoto branded stick baits are the worst ones out there in terms of durability, so you might consider other brands. As someone stated, zman elaztech is very durable. But it floats, so you’ll need a way to make it sink.

@Pumpkin Lizard  I used the crush city pig stick yesterday and it's a great worm.  Thank you for your tip.  On the 4mm crossover ring like you suggested.  Worked well!

Still using regular o rings. I think I fell behind 

6 minutes ago, bowhunter63 said:

Still using regular o rings. I think I fell behind 

I just went with silicon tubing cut to length and one of these

 

DON'T pay $20 or more for a 'Wacky Tube Plier' - $9 for a 'Nasal Speculum' gets you the exact same thing.

1 hour ago, MN Fisher said:

I just went with silicon tubing cut to length and one of these

 

DON'T pay $20 or more for a 'Wacky Tube Plier' - $9 for a 'Nasal Speculum' gets you the exact same thing.

Not here, anyways. Cheaper to buy Wacky Pliers.

1 minute ago, RRocket said:

Not here, anyways. Cheaper to buy Wacky Pliers.

Amazon: $9 - $11 for the Speculums. $20 to $26 for the 'Pliers'

19 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Amazon: $9 - $11 for the Speculums. $20 to $26 for the 'Pliers'

Not here it isn't. (Canada). Same price as Wacky Pliers, VMC Crossover pliers, etc

 

It's really perplexing.

 

6 minutes ago, RRocket said:

It's really perplexing.

Now I see why you call it 'Canuckistan' - they really rip you off there, don't they.

silicon tubing Is my move.  I can pull a 5" Senko thru my tubing without any tools.  it roughens up the worm perfect as it pulls thru..lightens the color, dulls it.  

 

I kills em. 

 

Just now, MN Fisher said:

Now I see why you call it 'Canuckistan' - they really rip you off there, don't they.

On some things, they really do. Its so odd.

 

But I buy baits here often cheaper than in the US...especially when considering exchange! And most hardbaits are cheaper. A Megabass Karashi here is $24 CDN ($17 USD). They are generally $25 USD at your online retailers.

 

But the odd time on an odd item, price is bananas! 

5 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

I just went with silicon tubing cut to length and one of these

 

DON'T pay $20 or more for a 'Wacky Tube Plier' - $9 for a 'Nasal Speculum' gets you the exact same thing.

 

I paid 12.99 for my pliers.

I've generally been an o-ring user for years now but I am coming around to the cross over rings/silicon tubing thing.  I think it makes the stick bait last a little longer.

4 hours ago, gim said:

I've generally been an o-ring user for years now but I am coming around to the cross over rings/silicon tubing thing.  I think it makes the stick bait last a little longer.

 

In terms of durability and action, I like the action of the pigstick better than a Senko and it seems to last longer in general. 

I love senkos but am around enough grass / cover that once it gets to be late spring and there's more of it to deal with I switch from a wacky to an owner twistlock light. Older setup and I actually got the idea from an old post in this forum but it still works. Haven't seen much of a difference in terms of the number of fish I get but they do seem to last a bit longer on this setup and it's also weedless and there's no o-rings or $20 pliars required...that and the mini rage rig (which is a take on another older setup) are two of my favorites if I'm pond fishing.

On 6/18/2025 at 6:48 PM, gim said:

I use either two o-rings overlapped and put the hook under where they cross

This was what I did last year.

 

At least for me, it worked good until the worm broke into two pieces. Having the two rings sliced it in half after so long.

 

What’s crazy is that I haven’t even thrown a wacky worm this year after I  got into Neko rigs.

 

With a kayak and limited rod capacity, I just don’t have both rigged up.

 

Maybe I should. Idk.

5 hours ago, HawkeyeSmallie said:

At least for me, it worked good until the worm broke into two pieces. Having the two rings sliced it in half after so long.

 

Ya that's often what occurs.