There are many soft plastic baits that catch piles of bass every year, but few can match the effectiveness of a stick worm like the Yamamoto Senko and the long list of similar baits. They can be fished many ways, but one of the best and most productive is the wacky rig. Simply putting a hook in the center of these baits will give the bait a seductive shimmy and fall as it sinks, and the bass can’t resist it.
If you’ve never fished a wacky rig, you should give it a shot, and if you are already a believer, the following tips and gear will let you take it to the next level.
Baits to Use
The Senko and other stick worms are great for a wacky rig, and they catch plenty of fish. The straight design of the bait gives them a perfect, non-intimidating fall that looks like an easy meal for any bass in the area.
The original Senko in the five-inch size is hard to beat and has the right soft plastic material that gives the bait even more action as it falls. Other good ones to try are the Berkley MaxScent The General, which has a slightly firmer feel that offers a little more durability without sacrificing too much. The added scent is a bonus for these baits. If you are looking for a more budget-friendly option, the YUM Dinger will do the trick, although they are a little tougher and may not get quite the action of the others.
While stick worms are the top choice for most anglers, any straight worm will do, and baits like the Zoom Trick Worm and Finesse Worm can be excellent. You can also go much bigger and use larger baits like the Deps Kincoo Air, which comes in sizes up to 13 inches long to show the bass a presentation that looks like a much larger meal.
Rigging Options and Accessories
The wacky rig is simple: just put a hook in the middle of the bait and start casting to targets. But there are some specially designed hooks and other accessories that will help you hook more fish and preserve more of your bait.
For hooks, there are some great choices, including choices from all the top hook brands. The Owner Jungle Wacky, VMC Wacky/Neko, and Gamakatsu G-Finesse Stinger Wacky/Neko are all excellent, and most come in both a standard and a weedless version. The Berkley Fusion19 weedless wacky hook is another great one, with a wider gap and hooks fish very well.
To preserve your baits and help them last a little longer, there are several rigging accessories that allow you to slide over your worm and then hook that instead of the bait. Some good ones to look into are the VMC Crossover Rings and G7 Worm Protect Tubes.
Another option is small plastic devices that insert through the bait itself and allow you to hook on the other side. These include products like the Geecrack Neko Hack and the Scholfield Fishing Super Baitlock Sticks, both of which allow for better rigging of your baits on a wacky rig.
Rods, Reels, and Lines
A wacky rig can be fished on baitcasting gear, but spinning gear is the preferred setup for most anglers, as you are able to cast the light setup much easier, and it also helps when skipping under docks and overhanging cover.
A standard 7-foot, medium spinning rod of your choice with a 2500 or 3000-sized reel is a great place to start, and there are many great options for both of them. When spooling up your reel, one of the best things you can do is use a high-visibility braided line, such as the flash green 10-pound Seaguar Smackdown braid or the passion pink 16- or 18-pound Seaguar PE-X8 braid. The brighter color of these braided lines will allow you to detect bites as the bait is falling, which happens quite often. You’ll see your line swimming away when a fish grabs your wacky rig and starts to run the other way.
For leader material, it can be wise to use higher-pound tests than you would in open water, because of the cover where these work best. When skipping under docks and other obstacles, a 12 or 15-pound leader of an abrasion-resistant fluorocarbon like Seaguar Pounce. A stiffer material like this can withstand the abuse from dock pilings, wooden posts, brush, and other objects that can cause broken line and lost fish.
Where and How to Fish a Wacky Rig
Now that we’ve gotten the gear selection out of the way, it’s time to get wacky. One of the best things about this rig is the simplicity, which makes it an ideal choice for bass anglers of all skill levels. Simply cast it to a target, let it fall, and then repeat the process, as many of your bites will happen during that initial descent.
Another plus for the wacky rig is that there truly isn’t a bad time or place to use it. While they shine in the spring and early summer when many bass are up shallow and cruising the shoreline and hanging around cover, it can work any time of the year. Some of the best places to fish them are docks and overhanging cover with shade, but the wacky rig will catch them just about anywhere, including around docks and especially around scattered vegetation and along weed lines.
Fishing with a wacky rig is something that bass anglers everywhere rely on to catch fish. It’s among the simplest rigs we use for bass fishing and works wonders when the bass are hungry and feeding, but it’s just as useful when the fishing is tough, and the bass do not want to chase faster-moving lures. A wacky rig is a must for any bass angler, and the gear and tips listed above will help you catch more bass this year.
