If you want to learn how to wacky rig a senko, there are few steps you need to take. First of all, the wacky rig is one of the most popular and effective bass catching techniques out there. It doesn’t matter if you want to use the original Yamasenko, a Yum Dinger, a Shim-e Stick, a General, or any other stick bait. The main thing you need to realize is that they all work well on a wacky rig and they all catch fish. It is usually up to you to decide on your favorite brand name.
The main thing you need to understand about this rig though is that it can be as simple or as complicated as you want it to be. It could be something as simple as piercing a regular bait hook through the center with no weight or something as complicated as buying specialty wacky equipment such as the best wacky hooks, o-rings, and other things. You are the one in charge.
The way to rig it is fairly straightforward in concept but things can get a little complicated too. Always make sure to be versatile on the water and don’t be afraid to try new things to enhance the effectiveness of your wacky rig. Make sure to try them all out at least once.
What On Earth Is A Wacky Rig And What Does It Mean?
Likely, the very first question on your mind is regarding what a wacky rig actually is and why it’s used. First, it is one of the best bass fishing rigs in the world. It catches largemouth, smallmouth, and even spotted bass almost everywhere in the world.
It produces some of the most effective action in the tackle box. It is a way of rigging soft plastic worms. It catches huge fish too. It catches very huge fish. Many anglers love to use it for confidence. They know it just catches big fish.
To be very specific and direct without causing confusion, the wacky rig is a fishing rig in which the hook is inserted through the center of the bait. Very odd for a fishing setup. This is how its named. When an angler casts out, the lure body slowly twitches as it falls to the bottom. This is most common for stick baits or trick worms although it is not exclusive. This action just works.
The most popular fishing lure for this rig is the Gary Yamamoto Yamasenko. This is a very soft worm and has a lot of enticing action on the fall. It is the standard by which all of its competitors are compared. Other popular options include lures like trick worms. You can even use the rig for soft plastic jerkbaits, tubes, and even crayfish trailers or creature baits. It has much more to do with how the hook is inserted instead of minor and unimportant details that modify approach.
How To Wacky Rig A Soft Plastic Stick Bait For Success
The most fundamental and basic way to wacky rig a worm or stick bait is to hook it through the center. No bells and whistles. Just a hook, a worm, and fishing the stick bait. While this technique can work better or worse depending on what worm you use, it very easily rips off the hook. The fish can tear it off very easily. It’s also much easier for the fish to swallow the bait this way.
Instead, there are five different ways that we can suggest. All of them have their pros and cons and each of them may work better or worse for you based any litany of criteria. We suggest that you give all of them a try at least once and decide on your favorite method after.
1. On An O-ring – Why It Is The Recommended Setup To Use Everywhere
A very popular and effective method for a wacky rig is to use an o-ring. An o-ring is nothing more than a piece of rubber in the shape of a circle. The rubber ring goes on the middle of the soft plastic worm. This is what you hook through. The ring keeps it on the hook without having to penetrate the plastic with the hook point. It takes extra equipment but its worth it.
This may be a much better technique for a few reasons. The first reason is durability. You can get so much more life out of a single bait then if you just hooked it through the center. The bait body will rip in half before it comes off the hook. Also, the o-ring provides a very nice action in the water. Most of the rubber rings are pretty snug around the plastic. This helps amplify the natural enticing action of the stick bait. It constricts them to be thinner in the middle.
- Single O-rings And How To Rig Them Up – Using A Single O-ring On A Stick Bait
To properly insert an o-ring onto a worm for fishing, you will first need to purchase a wacky tool and some o-rings. You put the o-rings on the wacky tool, put the worm’s body inside of the tool, slide an o-ring in the center and take it out. All you have to do now is slide your hook under the rubber ring before you start fishing. I also do not suggest that you penetrate the plastic with the hook either. The ring should do all of the work keeping the hook on.
- Crossing O-rings In The Shape Of An X – How To Cross Two O-rings Properly
Aside from the very basic way of using o-rings, there is a modified way that many anglers like to do. Instead of using just one, they prefer to use two of them and cross them like letter x. Then the hook is inserted exactly where they meet in the center. The process is also the same. All you have to do is use the wacky tool to slide on two rings before crossing them with your hands.
2. On A Drop Shot Rig – For When Fish Are Suspended Over The Bottom
A very effective way to set one of these up is to fish it on a drop shot rig. The drop-shot rig is a great rig for catching fish when they are suspended above the bottom. Again, you can simply hook the worm in the center or use one or two o-rings to get the job done. Using a drop shot rig is good because it keeps the bait in the strike zone as long as you want.
Especially if you have a stick bait with more action or softer plastic, you can catch fish by making a cast and waiting. The drop shot rig is one of the best bass rigs out there and can be used with a number of different artificial lures as well as live bait. A drop shot rig does best on certain tackle. Try throwing a drop shot on a medium to medium-heavy action rod with a slower reel.
This can be especially productive in colder weather when the fishing is slower and more precise. A drop shot rig that is well put together can put a lot of extra fish in the boat for you. Although it excels in cold water and even ice fishing, you can use this technique year round. The natural action provided by a drop shot rig will really increase your wacky worm success.
3. On a Special Wacky Jighead – To Add Some Weight And Speed To The Bait
A very effective way of getting the rig down to the bottom quicker is to mount it on a jighead. You replace the normal hook with a jighead. This adds weights and helps the bait get down to the bottom quicker. Sometimes, it is exactly what the fish want. It also speeds up the action. Jigheads can be used to fish deep water or on faster days when the fish are aggressive.
Don’t try to use your common lead head jig either. It will work but it’ll work not near as good as specialty jig heads made for this technique. Try throwing jighead worms on a a medium spinning rod with a fast action tip. Make sure to use a fast speed spinning reel for the most versatility.
Try throwing them around the spawn at bass that are on beds. Give them a good chance as fall transitions into early winter too. Try using braided line with a fluorocarbon or monofilament leader for the best results. Jigheads work well if you know how to use them and when.
4. On A Nail Weighted Neko Rig – To Get More Action As The Bait Falls
The neko rig is a very common but less popular method of getting the worm body to have some more action. The neko rig is nothing more than a traditional rig with a nail weight inserted into the head. This does a few things that can help you hook into a few more fish.
As it falls into the strike zone, the head always points towards the bottom. It looks identical to a Texas Rig in the water. The action is the same but it always falls nose down because of the added weight. This can easily mimic a creature that is feeding on the bottom.
Try using a neko rig all the way through summer and even into spring as it transitions into fall. Always make sure that you’re fishing deeper to give you the best chance of the fish honing in on your bait. The longer you can keep a neko rig in the strike zone, the better.
5. On A Carolina Rig – Get Fish To React By Showing Them Something New
If you want to fish with something a bit less traditional, you can throw them on a Carolina rig. The Carolina rig consists of a weight, a bead, a swivel, and a piece of leader. While many usually Carolina rig worms and other stick baits with the hook inside (Texas rigged), you can actually set one up with all the advantages of a wacky setup. It just takes some setting up.
This method of presentation is so different compared to many other rigs that it may even help on pressured waters. Is set it up the exact same way you would with a traditional Carolina rig. Instead of Texas rigging the soft plastic, hook it through the center or use an O-ring instead.
Try fishing it on a medium-heavy to heavy moderate-fast action baitcasting rod. It will provide enough backbone to haul in the fish and enough sensitivity to feel your rig even if it gets hammered by a huge female. You will catch some pretty nice bass on this one.
Finally, It May Be Concluded – Wacky Rigging Is Simple
There really is not much to learn when it comes to successfully wacky rigging one of the best largemouth bass lures. You can keep it simple or make it complicated. Either way, it is not hard to do at all once you learn how. Eventually, it is possible to get your lure rigged up and in the water in under a minute. There is always more to learn but you should always remember something. This is that rigging it is the easiest part of catching fish with it. It is just simple.
What is your favorite way of using the wacky rig? Let us know below in a comment!
