Hi everyone,

I am looking at getting a new wacky setup. Trying to stay under 400-500. I have always thrown wacky on bait caster, but I have heard people say you will catch more fish on spinning and a lighter line. I was thinking about a 7ft medium with 12 pound line. I do fish were there are some monster bass and have always
worried about a monster bass snapping my line and going into a deep depression .) Thoughts?

What setup do ya'll like?

Spinning or baitcaster?

Line size?

Either way you go, I would use a braid to flourocarbon leader setup. Spinning means that the bait will sink without any restriction on it, as long as you don't close the bail. Yes, you can pull out extra line on baitcaster, but I prefer the spinning setup.
BD

702 Dobyns Fury is fine but you can spend up to $350 on a champion XP.

3000 Shimano. Sahara is fine but you can jump up to a Stradic for $200.


Haven’t caught huge fish but caught a few 4’s and 5’s on 8 pound co poly. Some may say a 703 dobyns but I also use this setup for drop shots, shaky heads, and flukes so it is just about the perfect all around setup for the techniques mentioned.

I never ever risk loosing a fish on light line.

I use a Falcon Lowrider 7’ medium “shaky head” rod. The reel is a Shimano Stradic Ci4. Line is pink 20lb power pro braid to a 7’ InvisX 12lb leader(as Bill suggested above). Hook I use is a YeahBabeeBaits custom made wacky jig head. He builds them with VMC hooks that are slightly heavier gauge than a regular VMC wacky hook. I use the VMC when he is out of stock. I like a 1/16-1/32oz weighted head.

I caught every fish a few weeks ago in Media Bass with this setup. Fishing docks. Biggest was 7-3/4 pounds and it wrapped a dock piling. The rod and line held up to the task. It can easily handle fish up to 10 pounds. After that, luck and structure will have to work for you.

You can skip a Senko on this setup about 35-40 ft with a little practice.

Me neither. I set my drag accordingly.

DO yall think that using 10 pound fluro line makes a difference on catch rate compared to say 12-17 pound line

I use a 683 Dobyns Sirerra bait caster rod paired up with a Daiwa Tatula Elite reel. Great set up for wacky rigging either a senko type bait or a trick worm. I use 15# test Invizx fluorocarbon line.
The Daiwa Tatula SV TW would also be a good choice and it is a little less in price than the Elite. Get the 2020 model in either reel.

You can use 12# test line on either reel I suggested and it will work just fine. You don't have to use a spinning rod for this technique.

"Catch rate" yes, you will break off more with 10# line unless you are fishing a lake with no cover for them to get tangled up in.

I would use heavier than 12pound if I could tie a palomar knot on the tiny VMCs. 12 pound is almost too thick.

I can say I don’t think the 12 costs me bites vs 10 or 8. I do have to retie after every good fish though. I also might change a leader if it gets dock rashed.

I tested out two drop shot set up's, one with 12# invizx and one with 15# Invizx and I got the same amount of bites on both, so I go with 15 for the extra strength.

Any good 7' medium spinning rod (err on the side of a heavier medium power like a 703 for dobyns) with shimano stradic Ci4+ 2500. 12 pound sunline SX1 to a 8-12lb leader

Daiwa power spin 7'1" rod with Daiwa LT 6:1 spinning reel. About $350 total.
Suffix 832 15 or 20 pound neon lime braid. You can watch the line even with old eyes.
Sunline FC Sniper 10 or 12 lb with a 6 ft. leader. Tie it with the crazy alberto knot (fg is best but too meticulous)