I have just started fishing "wacky style" and having a hard time turning a good bite into a hook-up. Lots of bites, few hookups, and generally small fish. What kind of a rod and line should I be using for this setup. Any other suggestions? I'm using a "2 weedless hook, braid and fluorocarbon leader.

What rod? Do you have a swivel in the setup or no? Keep enough tension on the line, but here is the kicker... you'll feel the small ones most times, but the big ones will just suck it in and swim away, no pecking at it, no tick...tick...boom... Just a moving line or pressure, or it feels "spongy".

Most pros will fish it with a medium to medium light spinning setup. I like my medium heavy/fast action rods and 12-17 lb line (mono mostly, I have some serious issues with flouro coiling.

I have the same issue. I've found there's a lot of false bites from bluegill who seem to love those smaller sized senko worms. Lately I've been waiting until I get a few tugs and then set the hook straight up. I still miss a lot though.

For hardware I use a G Loomis NRX 822S SYR with 10 pound yellow braid(so I can see bites easier when there's slack) with 10 pound fluoro leader with a Shimano Stradic 4000XGFKG.

I seem to have a higher hookup rate when wacky rigging over texas rigging the weightless senkos

+1

Sounds like your set up is okay, braid to fluoro leader. Chances are if you are missing fish on a wacky rig, it is bluegill or very small bass. If a bass is much over a pound you won't miss them.

Agree with above. Wacky rigging is probably one of the highest hook up ratios I've found. I never set the hook until I feel my line start moving or at least feel the weight on it.

I have customers that fish a lot of Wacky rigged Senkos in Mexico. When you are catching that many fish in one day it doesn't take long to know a few things about rigging and hookups.
- Use an unguarded hook whenever possible. We have two rigged for the cover. One with guard for heavy bushes and one without for just rocky banks.
- We don't worry about loosing the baits. NO O-Rings. It positions the hook in the horizontal position which reduces hookups.
- Place the hook straight through the senko so the hook is in a vertical position. When we want weight I have steel rings with slots in it to allow this vertical rigging.
- We catch more fish with a nail in one end which makes it fall in a spiral next to the bushes. It is a good representation of a wounded minnow. This increase is around 20 more fish per day on a 100 fish day. It also will produce larger Bass. This is because they are nesting fish. If the wind is dragging a bait they will let it pass by. If it falls straight down and is going to hang around they will eat it.

Don't comment to often. It felt like I needed to for this. I love wacky rig and I think everyone has a preferred method. I agree with no guard whenever possible. I do use the o ring and have found no issues with hook up ratios but that is just me. I use a medium moderate action bait caster with 10lb Flipo all the way I also use a hammy wicked wacky hook but I cut off the brush guards. The key I have found is to reel down until I have solid pressure the. A light sweeping hook set. Most wacky hooks are very similar to circle hooks and if you do a hard hook set it will pull it out of the mouth but if you reel down the hook will get in the position like it is designed to do. Brim will peck at it a lot of times and you just have to learn to distinguish the bites. If you use the reel down method they will generally let go and you know you don't have a bass that the hook can set in. Also like someone else posted. The big ones will generally suck it in and swim off. You might feel it you might not but you will see your line moving. Love fishing this way and with practice you can get really good. I feel like I land over 90% of the bass that hit it utilizing the reel down method.

Fluro and gammy. Auto correct.

Isn't it amazing about FISHING ........
everyone has their own FAVORITE when it comes to EVERY aspect of the sport.
for Wacky Worm rigging ...........
6'6" MH Fast pole
17# Suffix Elite
Gamma 2/0 hook "with" a wire guard
medium size clam weight crimped on the line just above the hook
hook a Senko right in the middle with the hook, apply the wire guard and throw it in the weeds or right next to the hard wood stumps..........
....wait.......
BOOM !!!!!!

But like I said ........ everyone has a favorite.

I like a Gamagatsu "G-Finesse" wacky hook with the titanium weed guards. I fish it on a medium light rod spooled with 15lb braid and a 6lb leader.

Gotta be careful when a big fish hits it....but the hook up ratio is really good.

I cut the wire guard where it is designed to loop over barb. Gives me two open wires that I bend to my liking. Weedless, but open. Most of my bites feel like when a crappie hits jig. Very subtle tick. I assume it is when the suck it in

I throw a VMC Ike 4/0 wacky worm hook on 20lb line. I've caught an 8.86 and several more over 5 with zero issues this year on it. I do cut the weed guard off!!

try 30# braid, and sweep the hookset. I use the finacky weighted hooks.

Where are you getting the finacky hooks? Haven't seen them in a while.

I use several methods but prefer this hook:

2/0 and 3/0 are what I use the most.



Very soft weedguard. Consistent hookups. Good around vegetation.

I've used these but don't like them as much:



If hanging up is not a big issue I started out using and still will use the Gamakatsu round bend straight shank light wire hooks. Great hookup percentage.

I also use Stanley T-Wacky hooks in heavier grass:


For adding my own weight I carry stripped copper wire and cut for whatever I want in weight then stick it in the head of the bait. I carry 10ga., 12ga., and 14ga., wire. It is sharp when you cut it with diagonal cutters and goes in the bait easily.