When it comes to bass fishing, there are a lot of different approaches and types of rigs that you can use. Here we are going to take a look at using a Wacky rig when bass fishing, in particular. Read on to discover more about what it is, when to use it, and how to fish effectively with this approach.
What is a Wacky Rig?
There is only one place to begin, and this is by explaining what a wacky rig is. This is a unique, finesse style of fishing, which incorporates hooking a soft plastic worm right through the middle. This results in a worm that wiggles and bobs on its way down through the water, creating a motion and effect that the bass is unable to resist.
Best Wacky Rig Setup
One of the great things about opting for the Wacky Rig setup is that you have many different options to select from. You are not limited to specific rigs for certain situations. This approach to rigging is a lot more than just putting a hook through the worm’s center and casting it out.
So, when we talk about the best setup for your Wacky Rig, we will take you through some of the different options. The simplest of them all is the Weightless Wacky Rig. We recommend using a Senko worm for this. All you need to do is grab typical plastic o-ring and then run it into the center of your worm. Use a size 1 gap hook, looping it through the hook. After this, you can line your hook and begin the process of fishing! A fancy fishing line is not required for this either, which is always good news.
Another option is to go for the Drop Shot Wacky Rig. If you are serious about Bass angling and you are looking to get technical, this is a great choice. To set this up, you will want to rig a typical drop shot that has a weight and swivel at the end. Next, your hook should be run through the meatier section of the worm, typically around one-quarter of the way down. Once you have lined this up, you are good to go.
These are just two of the options when it comes to bass fishing with a Wacky Rig. You could also opt for the Nail Weight Wacky (also known as the Neko Rig) or you could go for the Weedless Wacky Rig. This makes it such a versatile way to go about Bass fishing, ensuring that you can fish in a manner that is comfortable and enjoyable for you.
Now you know about some of the different approaches you can take, let’s take a look at the gear you will need if you wish to fish this style. The first thing you need to do is get yourself a good reel and spinning rod combo. This will be the most effective, as they will give you the greatest sensitivity and touch to feel every nibble. A fast action and light tackle is the preferred solution, ensuring not a single detail is missed.
In terms of the hook, you will need to purchase wide gap hooks, as they have been created specifically for this style of fishing. When compared with your typical size 1 hooks, they are a bit more costly, so do keep this in mind. It is not a necessity to go down this route. However, you will find it a lot easier. As you are puncturing the warm, it is helpful to have the added bit of opening because it enables there to be more room so you can fit the hook into the mouth of the bass.
Finally, you need to get the right warm. A lot of anglers debate which worm they feel is best for this style of fishing. A lot of people do seem to agree that a Gary Yamamoto Senko worm is a wise choice. They are thick in the middle, meaty, and a lot like a stick, which is ideal in terms of presentation. Should you find that your worm is on the limp side, it will not generate the correct action because it will not wiggle sufficiently on the way down. If it is not wiggling, you won’t be able to create the level of attention required, and this will mean that the bass won’t bite.
How to Fish a Wacky Rig
It really is simple to fish with this rig. It is a finesse style of angling and it does demand quite a bit of movement on your behalf, as well as an active and steady retrieval. However, once you get the hang of it, you will find it pretty straightforward.
Using a Wacky Rig is a finesse style of angling that has been designed for a bit of clearer and deeper water. You are going to be fishing toward the bottom, and a lot of the time a worm will be struck by a bass on the way down.
The strategy will tend to incorporate casting out and then allowing the worm to sink down and generate its action on the way down. You should then retrieve a little bit once you get toward the middle of the water, and then you can allow it to sink back down once more.
When to Fish a Wacky Rig
Spring is a great time for fishing this bait. This is because the fish will be moving upward and they are getting shallow. At this time of the year, the fish can be really skittish. Any sort of movement that you do, they will be gone. As a consequence, this is a great subtle bait for fishing during this time of the year. Once you cast the Wacky Rig, it will land in a soft manner, and it has a very subtle approach and an incredibly subtle fall, meaning it won’t spook them.
Fishing this Wacky Rig when the fish first start to move up shallow is a good idea, anywhere up to ten feet deep. As time progresses during the spring, the fish will move further and further up the fleets. A lot of anglers recommend fishing by the docs, as the fish will move up, getting underneath the docks. This is an excellent bait for skipping under the rocks during the spring months. Of course, there are now limits regarding where and when you decide to use the Wacky Rig, but you are likely to experience better results during this period, which is why it comes highly recommended.
Best Lure for Wacky Rig
There are a lot of different lures that you can use with the wacky rig. This includes the wacky rig finesse worms. You want to look for a small 4.5 to 6 inch straight-tailed worms, which excel when they are rigged in this way. Their slender profile creates a very wild wobble when falling and when hooked through the center, as this rig requires. They also skip highly effectively too as well, which makes them deadly around overhanging limbs, seawalls, and docks. To increase the casting distance, you may want to consider the addition of a small split shot approximately 12 inches above the hook.
Or, what about going for a wacky rig fluke? If you have ever spotted a dying minnow that is struggling just beneath the surface, then you will see that they have quite a distinct motion. They will shake a little bit while they are falling, and then they will display an erratic darting motion while they sink to the bottom. You will see the same action if you opt for one of the wacky rig flukes that are available. They all boast that bizarre action that we just explained, and they cast a mile too, which makes them an excellent choice if you are looking for the best lure for a wacky rig.
Another option to consider is a soft plastic stick bait. There are several options here, including the Savage Gear Armor Tube, Yamamoto Senko, and the BioSpawn ExoStick. A lot of anglers decide to go down this route, and it is not hard to see why. They will cast a mile, and they have a very subtle shine to them when they are falling, which simply cannot be replicated with any other type of lure.
So there you have it: everything that you need to know when it comes to using a Wacky Rig to fish for Bass. We hope that this has helped to give you a better understanding of this rig so that you can use it effectively when you are next bass fishing. The only thing to do now is to wish you good luck and lots of fun!
