would like to broaden my horizon with lures and am trying out the wacky worm. what i like to do is go to my favorite lake or pond and bring just the one type of lure im practicing, nothing else. have done this twice with the wacky worm, but no luck yet. couple questions, are these suppose to be fast? slow? i have been trying a real slow presentation. letting it flutter down, and then twitching it back up a couple feet and so on. have been going weightless. have been fishing it around weed beds too. thanks!

Here is a good article on wacky rigging.

http://www.insideline.net/weeklynews/2009/09-0415.html

I prefer using a fin-acky hook with a 1/32 oz weight on the hook shank or if I'm using a #1 gamy hook without a weight, then I use a roofing nail or similar weight. I do want them to fall slightly faster than weightless, but thats just me.

the art= dont fish fast. slow down with this technique.

okay, what type of soft plastic do you guys like to rig wacky? i personally went to academy and bought the weedless wacky worm. its just like a regular plastic worm, but has an extra attachment in the middle which serves like an "arm" to rig your worm hook into

heres the exact one i prefer. this is, has always been my goto for wacky worming. confidence bait for me on this technique.

http://www.lftlures.com/categories/soft-plastics-lft-twitch-worm/products/979

Senko type baits. But you can wacky just about any soft plactic worm type bait.

I like the Netbait salt lick. But if you want to save money I also like the Rat Tail baits that Barlows sells. 100 count for less than $15.00 for the 4 inch and around $25 for the 5 inch.

http://www.barlowstackle.com/3-5-inch-soft-plastic-worms.html

Zoom trick worms are generally my go to worm for this, you can also use the Lake Fork worms for this as well. I use the slugo weights.. they are soft lead sticks that can be broken off at different lentghs to provide you a different rate of speed for the fall you are seeking..
When twitching.. do not twitch much.. no need to raise if by FEET... you want inches...

Get a Falcon weightless rod (about $100) or GLoomis Poppin Rod $275... ...nice PFlueger real.. and some BPS 12lbs flourocarbon.

I use Gamakatsu Shiner hooks and I rig it long ways. through the egg sack of the worm.. Spike the tail most of the time...

and just twitch!!!!!

Keep a semi tight line as it falls.. cause they generally hit on the fall.

Don't get too complicated with it. A 1/0 strait shank hook and a small 3" senko. You probably think that you are fishing it slow but slow down some more. I sometimes dead stick it. If I think that there is a fish there, I will let it just sit on the bottom. Sometimes, I pick up a sandwich and a drink in between casts. I let the fish tell me what they prefer. Sometimes that don't work and they just want it to hit the water and shake it a couple of times before reeling it back in. Don't be affraid to try anything.

Lot's of good info above. One thing I might add is, be a line watcher. With this technique, a lot of times you will never feel the bite and sometimes just a light tick. The fish will pick-up the bait and swim off with it. The Zoom Trick Worm works the best for me.

Wacky rigged is the only time I prefer Yamamoto senkos over other brands. They're really soft and give a lot of wiggle on the drop. Most fish I catch when I use them are on the drop. The first drop or retrieve drops.

I like the Zoom trick worm, with a small Owner weedless wacky hook. I also use a small O-ring around the body of the worm and run the hook through the ring and worm. The o-ring will allow you to use the worm MUCH longer, and save a ton of backlashes while you are learning. The finish nail for weight is a great technique, but I find if I am wacky rigging a senko using the weight is not necessary.

I probally fish wacky about 80% of the time I am fishing for whatever fish and its great.

I only use yamamoto senkos they are pricey but work everywhere.
In your case of a small pond I use a 3" and just a plain eagle claw hook. If I cast it deep I let is sink for 5-8 seconds and twitch twice reel slack and contiune to do that. Most hits like others have stated are on the drop and very light watching the line and have that gut feeling there is fish on normally means it.

Bigger lakes I like 4"-5" and then picking the right color is key but white/silver shad, watermelon colors, chartruce (SP) are good bets.

You will lose plently of the worms when the bass jump or they get torn apart but I use them until they fall off.

I fish almost always weightless expect deep waters in Caynon lake and Borne lake.

Ghost Baits Deadshake or the AIR

Wacky is my go to bait for all times of year. I like a Zoom Watermelon Red Fleck Trick Worm on a red Gamakatsu 2/0 hook. No weight. Be patient, dead stick it completely and line watch. The initial fall is normally when a strike will occur. Sometimes a quick rise and slack line dead stick. I have caught a lot of fish pulling out backlashes. You have to figure out the bite. Either one quick tick, or they will be swimming off with it, or they will just be there. It is a great all around bait. Take it out in the spring and throw it to the bank, I mean ON the bank. I hope you figure it out. i was in a tourney co-angler and the guy I ished with had never done it. After I caught a few fish to his none, he tried it and caught his first one. Good luck!

I don't wacky rig all that often. When I do, recently it has been with a Jackall Flick Shake rig. A 1/16 to 1/8 oz tungsten head with a small hook and a Flick Shake worm. I have thrown Zoom Finesse and Trick worms on this rig, but the Flick Shake worm seems to catch better fish. They are pricey though. Some of my friends up in Omaha have been doing well wacky rigging Lake Fork Ring Frys (both sizes). Reaction Innovations makes a bait called the Ball Breaker than works well. Lake Fork has a bait in their Hyper line of plastics for this as well. Senkos work great.

For me this technique is used when I think I am around fish, but they are not biting for some reason. I sure don't use it to locate fish. The reason is that I have found the slower you fish these rigs, the better they are. I can fish a Texas rigged Senko much faster than a Wacky rigged Senko for instance. That is what it is for me though, others that fish it more often probably have better advice for you. I do think you are trying to learn it the correct way (fish it until you start catching fish on it). Stay at it, eventually you will figure it out.

One hint, using a good fluorocarbon line might improve your catch. Fluorocarbon line sinks, which helps you in fishing a weightless (or lightly weighted) rig like this. Plus it stretches less than Mono.

+1

+1 on the zoom trick worm and slow. You want the worm to do the work.
Good luck

I use the Mustad Finaky worm hook with either with the 1/32 oz wieght or weightless. I generally will use a Zoom Trick work but a Senko works better in some conditions. If I'm fishing deeper than 6' I'll put 1/2"-1" finish nails in both ends of the worm to help it sink quicker. Finish nails are ALOT cheaper than the lead stick weights.

Lft makes a ring weight that you put the worm through it and hook the hook on the weight, it does not tear up the worm and you can catch numerous fish on one worm, I like the Wave Worms Tiki Stik 4" in Sweet Potato pie color or watermelon seed, and LFT now has a wacky worm that is pretty awesome

It takes some patience to fish it.

I use a small octopus hook and usually a 4 or 5inch yum dinger. And if i want to speed up the fall i use around a half of a slug-o weight to add some weight into it.

Do name search on "The Fishing Physicist". This is his favorite technique, and he has devoted a lot of time to perfecting what works for him. And he is willing to share what works and what doesn't. Send him a PM.

My own experinces with WW:

I can't fish that slow! The best I ever did with one was down on Amistad fishing the bigger trick worms on a 5/0 hook. A friend of mine showed me how to rig an offset shank hook "Weedless Wacky" style.

If you are like me, and can't stand to fish slow, try inserting a nail weight in each end of the worm. THis will allow you to work it fast, but still keep it down.

WW's catch some hawgs! Have fun!

This is the best hook for wacky worm. No moore nails and it is a weedless hook.CHECK IT OUT www.Bayoutackle.com

(THE WACKY WEDGE)

All good info and as you can see there are several different ways to rig and present the bait.

My personal preference for baits is always the Senko or the
Zoom Trick worm. In the spring do not overlook the bubblegum, chartreuse/blk flake colors either. But anything watermelon/green pumpkin will be get you bit most of the time.

Pretty much the same as everyone else, let the senko or trick worm do the work. I either dead stick with just a few short twitches, or a twitch, pause, twitch, twitch pause. Depending on how deep i am throwing it i will insert part of a nail into one end to make it fall just a hair faster and more worm like.

I'm guessing the water has to be fairly clear to fish this method ?

I have had success in all types of water clarity. I mean it is not QUITE as productive in coffee water, but I have caught fish.

Whats a Whacky Worm?

I think I bought some of those at LFM last time I was in there. I probably have about 6 different styles of hooks for wacky fishing, wacky pitching, wacky dropshottin'.

There are some innovative products available for this popular technique.

I want to thank all of you that have taken the time to post techniques and suggestions to this thread. I read through them a couple of days ago and went out this morning to give it a try. Although I had some difficulty in the beginning, I worked out some of the kinks and began to catch fish! They were small, but it was still enough success that I will continue to work on getting better at this technique.

Thank you for taking time to share your fishing knowledge.

This is a great read, I've not used the wacky style much, now I've got to try it.
Thanks guys,
Jay

Shoot i had a lizard break and fished it wacky and it still worked and ive reelled in a wacky worm as fast as i could and it worked so it seems like when i do stuff wrong it works so i dont know

Info. like this is one of the reasons I really like TFF. I have never tried wacky worming but after reading this post I'm going to give it a try.

Have to try these

i have heard over and over. when you think your fishing it slow then fish it slower! i perfer a wighted wacky hook with a 5 in. wacky crawler from berkley. i fish a lot at fork and perfer junebug with a chart. tail.

i use a tornado on a 1/8oz jig head 4/0 hook. let it fall then twitch the rod dramatically 2 seconds then let it fall again...after you twitch and let it fall this is where the strike occurs. you fish it how you want to fast/slow it doesnt matter...what does matter is the action that you create by twitching the rod...again let it fall, twitch like crazy, let it fall, twich like crazy..... you are actually causing the fish to bite when they see the "wacky" action that you are creating by twitching the rod. you don't need to carry nails along either. i use an 1/8oz jighead to give the bait/worm more action at the middle causing the worm/bait to shake like crazy and fall a little bit faster. the tornado has tons of action on the fall being that it floats and the rings around it cause vibrations that the fish pick up on....check this video out...watch the twitch action from the rod that gives the presentation it's name......
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lE4DCPSgjU


tip: hubbard creek fishermen this works great out there!!! don't say i never helped out......

V&N trick worms ,,no need to buy fancy spring hooks,just hook the point thru the egg sack,turn the hook back in top side,and just sink the barb below the surface of the plastic,wain till you have slack coil on the bottom,,,then twitch & shake do not pick up your rod as you would Texas rig,more of a drag & twitch

Hey guys,
My favorite wacky worm is the Lucky Strike Jogger Worm,can not beat the price and it holds up and last long than other baits,ya'll ought to try it you will be pleased,comes in awesome colors,Acadamy carries them.

I must be doing something wrong because I get more bites on a standard 4 inch Tx. rigged ring worm or baby brush hog than I do with a wacky rigged trick worm.

http://www.fishstanley.com/wackyhook.html


Try this hook too!


I have about 5 different hooks I use too. One of my favorites is just a plain 2/0 Gammy straight worm hook. This is the hook I first used over 15 years ago when I learned to wacky worm! As others say hook thru the egg sack. One other thing ... I'll give away one of my secrets here (I have only a few) ... I use stripped copper wire as an insert weight. Just cut to length either 10,12, or 14 guage.. Works great. I wacky about half the time I'm plastic fishing ... and I should do it more as its is very productive!

I use Creme, Zoom, and Netbait straight worms. Also the Senko. Wanna try something try wacky style with a fluke!

This has to go as one of the best “description of presentation” of the year. Good job ocswacknoffsteele.

Great info!

I really think you did okay with weedless wacky worm. So many like the senko it's heavier works great with a bait caster. Use a medium action 6'6" spinning rod with wacky and a small pinch weight on a 2 ot hook. If it isn't watermelonred it's the wrong color! This is my confidence. Great around isolated trees boat docks. Better over grass beds. What ever you do, never through this at Rayburn in the spring. You may get ruined for life.

Several years back I was talking to a guide at Toledo Bend and we were comparing notes on Wacky worming. He said something I have always remembered and it works most of the time.

If you are getting a good wacky bite use the Trick Worm for Quality Fish.. if the bite is slow use the 4" Finesse Worm for Quantity. One of my favorite all time Wacky Baits is the Zoom Speed Worm.. that paddle tail is killer.

If the water is off colored/ stained or you are fishing areound thick cover use a worm rattle in the worm or heat skink one to your hook.

Bazz

I like to use 1/4-3/8 inch plastic tubing (which I cut with that red razorblade cutter like you use to cut PVC). It costs about 99cents per foot at the hardware store, and I cut it into small rings. You just thread the worm through the plastic ring and then put the hook through the tubing. It saves the bait so that you can re-use it over and over again. I love the Yamamoto senkos, but they're so soft that after 1 bass hits it, it's history. When the bite is tough, I use the Zoom finesse worms rigged wacky with the smaller diameter rings. The larger tubing goes with the larger-diameter Senkos. Much cheaper than the plastic O-rings sold commercially, and you save lots of money by being able to re-use even the softest of worms. Hope this idea helps someone else.

I'm with you. 90 percent of the time I use weightless t-rigged senkos over wacky rigging. To me they throw easier and work through cover much better.

Thanks Tommyc,,,,I dont post very much,but I love this method,,only method that has produced double digits for me,

You probably bought Kicker Fish worms. I prefer Zoom Trick Worms, Gambler Sweebo Worms, or Strike King 3X myself they all allow me to use the Fin-Acky hook while the Kicker worms requires Texas Rigging. All a matter of personal preference.

I have fished wacky worms for years as it's my favorite way to fish. I fish it weightless as is suggested by Gary Yama...the idea being to let the bait fall horizontally and it will twitch on both ends. However, my lady who can stay right with me always uses a small weight and fishes the same bait, Senkos. I remember one time in particular when the fish were at about 18-20' and her ability to get the bait down to the fish resulted in her kicking my butt good! IMO the bite is the same as it is with all plastic baits and I fish it just as fast as a T-rig...but I usually am fishing in aboutn 10' or less of water so it doesn't take a Senko long to drop 10'. As 90% of my bites come on the initial fall I just let it hit bottom, twitch it a couple of times, then reel up and make another pitch. JMO!

as far as baits go I really like some of the tiki sticks and wave worm stuff, they are a little stiffer than a name brand senko and somtimes it seems they want that more. You can make it "quiver" instead of really twitching it lol

I love rigging a Fluke stlye lure. . .lots-o-action. . .goooood stuff.

Your post was great info. Sharing a different technique in easy to understand terms

Has anyone tried using the Berkley sink worms?

Does this work better in shallow work 1-5 feet or deeper depths. I tried this in 15ft of water and it seemed like I couldnt get it to the bottom

Just super slow the deeper you fish,I have not caught any weightless past 18'

The wacky worm is my "go to" bait. It usually gets a fish or two for me, even on tough days. I use a 5" Senko, a Lake Fork ring weight, and a 2/0 Gamakatsu finesse weedless hook. I have caught ten Bass using the same worm due to the use of the ring weight. You can cast farther, plus the worm lasts ALOT longer not being directly hooked.

I curious if anyone has heard if Lake Fork Tackles wacky weight system is going to be available soon. It should work great for deep wacky fishin.

I have had success fishing wacky worms around docks. Sometimes they will hit it on the way down, even when the won't bite anything else. Always weightless and usually the same senkos I use for t-rigging, yamamoto and tiki 5" for the most part. I am going to have to try the smaller worms though.

I learned from the best - Rick Carter - a darn good guide on Fork.

I have gotten to where I throw wacky / 8'' trick worms almost everywhere I go, deep, structure, grass, shoreline

It's definitely my comfort bait

Yeah, I've heard Rick Carter and Joe Davis are two of the best out there using this technique. I prefer Zoom Trick Worms in warm weather and Finesse worms in cooler weather.

Zoom Trick Worm, Loomis IMX 7'M, 50MG, 12# floro

Finesse worm when its cold

I'm gonna get killed for this but I didn't know there was an art to wacky worming. I guess its been about 11 years since I threw one I wonder whats changed.

IF YOUR WACKY WORM'IN...YOU HAVE TO GET YOU A WHACKEE ROD FROM CUSTOM ANGLE RODS.

http://customanglerods.com/index.php?pag...c9a198348ff29c2

i use a gary yamamoto senko, or i have some from the amistad man, either way, ive got a lot of giants wacky rigging, its not the kind or color or type,its all presentation, slow is the key, i use a 3 hook, no weight in the senko, just hook and bait, its a takes painfully slow presentation but trust me, u work at it and its deadly, especially catching them off beds, main thing is you locate fish b4 u go throw it, u find fish and theres not a one of them that can resist

1/2"-1" finish nails in both ends of the worm to help it sink quicker. Finish nails are ALOT cheaper than the lead stick weights.

this I like