I've been fishing the Neko Rig a great deal this year..every day to be exact. I've also been going through all the worms on the market (as much as practicable) to find the perfect Neko worm. And through all of this, it's become very apparent that there's a possibility of going through lots of bait and tackle fishing this method.

 

I would have worms slip off or break in a single fish. Or have perfectly serviceable, good worms lost after a only a fish or two. And so the best methods to remedy this are using either the Geecrack Neko Hack or VMC Crossover Rings (or generic silicone tubing). But both still are imperfect.

 

The Geeceack doesn't cover a lot of surface area on the worm even when using the Large size, so it has a tendency to pull through softer worms. And harder worms. Not so much when you're working it hard through vegetation but when you are setting the hook/fishing the fish is when the split happens.

 

The VMC Crossover Ring is slick. But I have had rather annoying sliding off.  And it didn't matter if it was sized down, either. The worm was either sliding off or splitting. I also noted sometimes the hook hole would split.

 

Well I've been using a method recently that's working well enough that I thought I'd share. It offers the best of both methods. I'm not sure if this idea is unique, so I'd be happy to hear if anyone is using similar or even a more refined version.

 

It's simple and cheap. You'll need silicone tubing (I'm using 5mm), Geecrack Neko Hacks (I buy in bulk 30 pack, size L) and you'll need a leather punch sized 1.5 mm. This is the secret sauce. Cost is about $5

 

First cut out a few silicone tubes. You can do as small or large as you like, but larger offers better surface area. I even made one the size of the worm's egg sack during my tests.

 

Next, with the punch, press down the tubing and move the punch so it's dead  center in the tubing. Lightly tap the punch with a hammer. It really takes no effort at all.

 

Now put the tubing on the worm as you normally would. Now stick the Neko Hack through the worm via the pierced holes in the tubing. Done.

 

This is much, much more durable. Fewer worm breaks. Worm can't slide off the tube because it's "pegged" with the Neko Hack.

 

A nice improvement IMO.

Good idea I will definitely give it a try.

14 minutes ago, bigbearstroop122 said:

Good idea I will definitely give it a try.

Please report back after testing! 

I've been using the crossover rings this season for both wacky and Neko rigging.  In the past, I used an o-ring.

 

I think I like the crossover rings better.  Sometimes a sunfish will grab the end of it and pull it right out though.

21 minutes ago, gim said:

 Sometimes a sunfish will grab the end of it and pull it right out though.

Yep, that's a definite issue. 

 

I've also had them slide off during a fight.

been using crossover rings for wacky rig, had no issues for a long time. This season, I started to use silicone tube which is pretty dart neat. I might try that on Neko with that Geecrack Neko Hacks that you provided, Just saved on my TWH account  

Very nice. sounds like you've tried all kinds of things. How long does it last if you stick the hook through the hole you made and out the worm? I don't have any of those Geecracks. 

 

Do you have an issue with the hook rotating since the points cant bury into the silicone the same way they can a rubber bait?

 

I've experimented pretty heavily with the Neko Hack and Crossover Rings this summer and the Crossover Rings are the clear winner for any worm style bait for me. The Neko Hacks tear up worms much faster, rotate in the worm, and rarely last more then one fish. I do find that I go even smaller than I think I should on the Crossover Rings to really get them to stay in place. 

 

I have seen the hook hole split on the Crossover Rings, though that seems to happen less now than when they first started producing them. Even so, I still believe they save me baits (and money) in the long run. 

 

Neko Hacks will always be in my box for rigging creature baits and other non-traditional Neko baits. 

31 minutes ago, JHoss said:

Do you have an issue with the hook rotating since the points cant bury into the silicone the same way they can a rubber bait?

 

I've experimented pretty heavily with the Neko Hack and Crossover Rings this summer and the Crossover Rings are the clear winner for any worm style bait for me. The Neko Hacks tear up worms much faster, rotate in the worm, and rarely last more then one fish. I do find that I go even smaller than I think I should on the Crossover Rings to really get them to stay in place. 

 

I have seen the hook hole split on the Crossover Rings, though that seems to happen less now than when they first started producing them. Even so, I still believe they save me baits (and money) in the long run. 

 

Neko Hacks will always be in my box for rigging creature baits and other non-traditional Neko baits. 

While they don't bury, the little hook things extend beyond the bottom of the silicone to prevent turn. I haven't had any notable issue yet. Curiously, I think it holds better and prevents turning. How? If you use the right size Neko Hack, it barely protrudes from the silicone. While it doesn't show in photos, the worm is actually protruding some from the tiny hole...oozing into the hole if you will. A little squeeze allows the  Hack to pass fully through worm and silicone. And the tiny hole I made allows the curve of the hook to sit in there..like a little guide or saddle.

 

I agree with everything you say. The Crossover rings are probably the best solution for most people. But when I sized down, that often contributed to worm breaking. If was obvious it was too tight. Like a sausage in too small a casing! LOL 😆

 

It's almost as though I needed half sizes for certain worms. 5mm was too loose...4mm too tight.

 

But yes indeed..the Crossover rings are a fantastic piece of kit I highly recommend and will undoubtedly save your plastics.

19 hours ago, RRocket said:

While they don't bury, the little hook things extend beyond the bottom of the silicone to prevent turn. I haven't had any notable issue yet. Curiously, I think it holds better and prevents turning. How? If you use the right size Neko Hack, it barely protrudes from the silicone. While it doesn't show in photos, the worm is actually protruding some from the tiny hole...oozing into the hole if you will. A little squeeze allows the  Hack to pass fully through worm and silicone. And the tiny hole I made allows the curve of the hook to sit in there..like a little guide or saddle.

I was using it the same way but found my hook would regularly rotate from parallel to perpendicular once the worm got "worn in". I had the most issues when using the Nekorama with the Neko Hack (tried Small and Medium). It was extremely rare to ever catch two fish on that combo, which lines up with what Drew Gill says about that setup.

 

19 hours ago, RRocket said:

I agree with everything you say. The Crossover rings are probably the best solution for most people. But when I sized down, that often contributed to worm breaking. If was obvious it was too tight. Like a sausage in too small a casing! LOL 😆

 

It's almost as though I needed half sizes for certain worms. 5mm was too loose...4mm too tight.

I do see that happen with a softer plastic like a Yamamoto Senko. But when I've used the Neko hack, I also had that mid section get worn out and torn up just as quickly. 

 

 

Do you pre-rig a bunch of worms like this before you head out? Seems like it would take a decent bit of time to set up, which I wouldn't want to be doing during a derby. 

31 minutes ago, JHoss said:

 

 

 

Do you pre-rig a bunch of worms like this before you head out? Seems like it would take a decent bit of time to set up, which I wouldn't want to be doing during a derby. 

I just punch a bunch of the silicone holes in the rings. That's the only pre-rigging I do. I keep  several in my VMC Crossring Pliers. I use the size Large Hack as it just easier to use and a bit more rigid. So it's easier to "thread". I'm currently using this set up with the 6th Sense Divine Shakey Worm.

 

Yes, Drew Gill used size Large with the Nekorama and says that he cuts the worm in half pretty much every fish.

 

I caught this nice sized beautiful Bowfin today and my worm was intact. Having caught these before on a Neko, there is absolutely no way the worm would stay intact or on. These fish fight hard and thrash about once close to shore.

 

I caught 2 of similar size. And the worm is still good.

 

I appreciate your concerns about time. Only you can say for sure if this is worth it.

 

3 hours ago, RRocket said:

I just punch a bunch of the silicone holes in the rings. That's the only pre-rigging I do. I keep  several in my VMC Crossring Pliers. I use the size Large Hack as it just easier to use and a bit more rigid. So it's easier to "thread". I'm currently using this set up with the 6th Sense Divine Shakey Worm.

 

Yes, Drew Gill used size Large with the Nekorama and says that he cuts the worm in half pretty much every fish.

 

I caught this nice sized beautiful Bowfin today and my worm was intact. Having caught these before on a Neko, there is absolutely no way the worm would stay intact or on. These fish fight hard and thrash about once close to shore.

 

I caught 2 of similar size. And the worm is still good.

 

I appreciate your concerns about time. Only you can say for sure if this is worth it.

 

Yeah, I'd say a bowfin is a pretty good test of durability. 

 

I've heard those Divine Shaky worms are fish catchers but lack durability because of the thinness of the core plastic, so if they're staying on your hack must be legit. 

9 hours ago, JHoss said:

 

 

I've heard those Divine Shaky worms are fish catchers but lack durability because of the thinness of the core plastic, so if they're staying on your hack must be legit. 

I think you might be confusing worms? 

 

The 6th Sense Boosa worm has huge, frilly ribs with a laughingly small core.

 

The Divine Shaky is normal worm sized but is ribbed with normal sized ribs.

 

I've added photos of both.

 

 

8 hours ago, RRocket said:

I think you might be confusing worms? 

 

The 6th Sense Boosa worm has huge, frilly ribs with a laughingly small core.

 

The Divine Shaky is normal worm sized but is ribbed with normal sized ribs.

 

I've added photos of both.

I sure was. Thanks.