Wacky Rig Questions

[vagabond]

I've never fished plastic anything other than Texas rigged. My father-in-law fishes ALL the time and I've never seen him fish anything but Texas rigged either.

So if I am understanding it correctly, you don't thread the worm or anything. You just hook the middle of the worm? (Kinda like how a five year old probably would bait up, having never been showed)? Do you go completely through the plastic, or do you back the hook a little bit to prevent snags? (seems as if the bait would just fall off this way).

Also, do you fish it weightless, use a bullet weight or does it matter?

Thanks,
Aaron

[Rebbasser]

I fish them weightless probably 70% of the time. The other 30% I put a small finishing nail in each end to help it sink a little faster. I guess you could put a small bullet sinker on it if you are fishing real deep, but I never have-the finishing nails do the job very nicely. You are correct on the rigging:



It looks goofy but it sure works. Some folks put an O-ring on the bait and slip the hook in between it and the bait to protect it. I do occasionally when I remember to . You can also use a weedless hook-the kind with a weedguard-if you are concerned with getting hung up, or just stick the point of the hook back in the bait.

[betursweetbass]

I have some faith in this technique, but I have not used it as often as some folks here. The problem I experience with wacky wormin is the lack of contact or the ability to feel the strike as quickly as with a weighted rig. (I guess this is where braided line would payoff)
I find myself tuggin on the line in an attempt to keep in contact with the bait. This tuggin moves the bait around and sometimes out of the strike zone in my opinion. I have also noticed a higher foul hook ratio for myself anyway, when I do use this technique.

[GorillaWarfare]

I have recently discovered the joys of the wacky rig. At first I had trouble feeling strikes. I went with lighter line and that seemed to help quite a bit. Another thing that helps is watching your line. Sometimes I won't feel the strike but my line will jump. Then its time to cross their eyes . Finally if you are having trouble with weeds what I do is wacky rig it then turn the hook down the worm and push it back through until the point of the hook is right at the top of the worm. I usually do this right around the egg sac. (zoom finesse worms). Hope this helps.

Gorilla