Hi Welcome To fISHing With ISH You Tube Channel!!! I fish the Youghiogheny River in Pennsylvania Primarily for Big Smallmouth bass, BUT in doing so also manage to catch Largemouth, Trout, Muskie, Northern Pike, and even Catfish! Usually on a kayak of some sort, but also do a lot of bank fishing! Also manage to venture out to other bodies of water including the Monongahela River and hopefully will start to branch out into Some other major river systems in PA.
I have never used anything other than mono, i have noticed keeping rod tip down you feel most of your bites.I'm old school but honestly gonna get crazy and tryout braided and flour carbon to see the difference. Nice video ish!
Interesting, I know people use circle hooks for carp/catfish. What kind of circle hooks? Brand/size? That is a good idea, that actually could help prevent gut hooking! Thanks!!!
Gonna have to change your name to Fishin with Einstein! It's all about the science! Really good stuff man. Keep it up. Love your passion and excitement!
Hahaha, I felt like a genius for a little while until I had a conversation with a buddy and told him the secret was to just put your rod tip down. Hearing me say it out loud, I no longer felt like a genius 🤣🤣🤣 thanks for watchin man!!!!
🤣🤣🤣 yano, you could be onto something! 12 years welding pipe/pipe fitter as my profession but also being my own mechanic/capenter/plumber/electrictian/( probably a whole lot more Im not thinking of) my whole life has for sure taken its toll on my hands! Or maybe all these years of using braid made it soo easy to feel a bite I'm now desensitized!!!! Hahah thanks for watchin!!!!
Haha, #5. "Science bi!ch" - Jesse Pinkman You (we) learned something, so it was worth it. Even if it's something you do subconsciously, it helps to put your finger on it. I have way more time on streams than lakes where I am now, and would never have even tried braid on a ML if it weren't for some Pro-fisherman trying to complicate my life...I digress...so I am used to 6 and 8lb copoly and mono. You put words to it with your tip-down discovery! (line stretch in inches/ft + sag) probably = (tip up - tip down). I know a lot of those guys use 400 reels and get in a habit of reeling down 1st, not for me, I usually do shorter casts and keep my sag minimal like nymphing kinda. GO Ugly Stik, gotta be old school clear tip. Awesome for all moving baits.
Haha, I totally forgot about breaking bad til you said that!!! I remember binge watching that series to get caught up, watched hours of it literally everyday🤣🤣🤣 I think at this point I have so much time with braid I won't ever be able to go back to mono or fluoro. I am notorious for being a very far caster when I fish, didn't start out that way, but braid allows me to do so and I have seen enough benefits to continue being stealthy n making very far casts. Haha I was never much of an ugly stick kinda guy, mainly cause they always felt too bendy and heavy But you can't argue with how tough they are! Idk how many ugly sticks I've pulled out of the river, cleaned them uo n usually just give them away to people haha. Thanks for watchin!!!
Interesting how much difference between the medium and medium light cadence rods. The medium is on the stiffer side and the medium light is almost a light power rod. I have a 13 fishing fate black medium casting rod and it feels very stiff and in order to throw a 1/4 oz buzzbait I have to really load it to get it out there but the power comes in handy when a fish runs with the current. I enjoy these videos. Your willingness to explore and try different things makes life and fishing more interesting. Thanks Ish.
Yeah I was hoping the cadence medium light would be on the heavy side also, in which case would've made a perfect rod for me but like you said it's basically a light in my opinion. I have heard good things about 13 fishing rods! Glad you are enjoying them Paul! Thanks for watchin!!!
The cadence rod is a 6'10" medium light extra fast action (cr7 model). The cr7 line is a 40ton carbon blank and extremely lightweight. They have a step up called primo, I suggest not bothering with it. The primo version is nowhere near as light weight! My goto cadence is the 7'2" medium fast action (cr7). The cr5 looks to be Here is the link to the medium light rod on Amazon Cadence CR7 Spinning Rod, Fishing Rod with 40 Ton Carbon,Fuji Reel Seat,Durable Stainless Steel Guides with SiC Inserts,Full Assortment of Lengths, Actions for Spinning Reels a.co/d/3iGZAKy
@@fishinwithish thank a lot I've been looking at these rods for awhile and just realized in today's video that's what you have been using... Looks like my next purchase
This is not beneficial at all to you but believe it or not, I actually know some people who use smaller wacky rigs on a fly rod with the colored floating line with a leader and they use the line almost as a fancy bobber. Just some useless knowledge. Love the “painful learning” series🤣
Haha, everything could be beneficial! You never know maybe one day I'm out fly fishing and all I have left is a 3" senko, now I know what I'm doing!!!! Thanks for watchin!!!!
Saw a guy a few months back tearing em up cast after cast on a fly rod , omw back to the road I walked by and asked what fly he was using and it was a yum hellgrammite 😊
You can try a 2meter long mono leader to braid. You get alot of the benefits of the braid but get some stretch when fighting the fish. Mono also holds up to timber/stone alot better then FC. If you are going for another video. :P
My usual is about 8' 10lb fluoro leader to 10lb braid. All of my recent videos are basically tests for the wacky rig and not my normal setup. Haha I might be all wackied out at this point, but I'm sure it will pop up again in the future! Thanks for watchin!!!
Stummble up this channel, i'll give it a follow. You basicly said all the reasons me my self love rivers. :P (living next to one help) Fishing river in sweden, using wightless when the lillypads/grass die down, or leting the current bring it into the backwater and just pop it from time to time before so it dont sink to the bottom. But a jon boat or kajak are nice to have. But to fish it from the bank you better off with ned or freerig or sure, unless maybe fishing the margin.
The double pitzen is where you go thru the eye twice and make it with a loop in one hand and your main and tag in the other. It’s like a palomar knot, but with the steps of a pitzen. Good video!
A few bits of info you may not know. 1. This is the first steam generated electric hydro damn EVER. 2. YOU only show when water is up. And missed one of the best walleye fishing spots anywhere 3. Behind there is a canal with temps over 110° f.
I did not know any of that! Very cool, thanks for sharing! Haha I don't go out that way very often,but I'll have to keep searching to find the walleye spot👍👍 thanks!
With the colder temps tonight, I'm not sure what will happen. But generally speaking, they should be chasing schools of baitfish. So covering water with a spinnerbait or buzzbait would be good, then when you find one slow down and throw a fluke or any finesse bait basically. I like my spiral hooks on a fluke/tube for when you find them!👍👍 thanks for watchin!!!
@joshkreutzer9809 may I ask what area you fish? Don't need to be super specific just generally. With the buzzbait, the sooner the better because cold temps will come sooner than you think and at some point it'll be too cold for the buzzbait! Can't say exactly when but it'll come sooner than you realize!!!
Haha you ain't kidding! I cant wait for spring to roll around again!!! Honestly the only issue with that time of year in my opinion is trying to get your bait in front of a bigone before a smaller fish eats it!!! Thanks for watchin!!!!
I love fishing the yough when wading but the only thing that makes me decide to not head out is the darn snags, I average 40 snags of every trip. I hate the yough for its snags, it’s terrible
I dont know what kind of baits/weights/hooks you use but my advice to help with snags when fishing bottom with any type of jig is... 1. use the lightest weight you can get away with and still feel bottom 2. don't drag only pop. 3. pop it up every time you feel bottom until you learn what you can get away with 4. if you fish off of a kayak paddle up to the bait and pull it the opposite direction that it was snagged 5. if your still having issues don't cast up river, cast across or down, again until you figure out what you can get away with because casting up river at times seems to be key to being successfull. hopefully that helps, thanks for watchin!!!
You can't change my mind Ish. Haha. Still love tossing the weightless wacky rigged senko on straight 6# or 8# fluoro. I'll admit I fish a lot of calmer holes with it when fishing the creeks and rivers. Usually, if I'm fishing in heavier current, I'll switch to a weighted wacky hook or put a nail in one end of the senko, making it a neko rig. Then I can feel it bounce along the bottom. The ned is an awesome bait too. Caught my fair share of fish on both. The biggest thing is just getting out there and finding the fish and getting a bait in front of them. As for the double davy knot, used that all the time when fly fishing. Much smaller knot and made my tippet last longer. Never tried it with heavier line for bass fishing. I'll have to give it a try
hahah not trying to change your mind joe! I'm mostly just using the wacky n seeing the issues I'm having and seem to be similar problems for some other people. I consider you a pro, you have probably been throwing the wacky since before I was born🤣🤣🤣 wasn't trying to make that an old guy joke even though is sounds like it! I think so far what I'm saying is if there is someone out there throwing a wacky rig every time they go fish, that they should probably try something else and they may be pleasantly surprised by the results lol but I'm also saying there has to be an answer for all the issues I'm having with this bait. So far, I seemed to have solved the losing fish issue and some of the bite detection issue, but I still feel like there has to be a better way. If I figure that out it may help a lot of people including myself with the wacky rig. Joe I think you have more knowledge of fishing then you even realize. The fact you knew about the double davy blows my mind! I have been using it with my 10lb fluoro for over a year and its holding strength is up there with the best knots! I even tried it with 60lb fluoro leader for musky and it held amazingly! Thanks for watchin joe!!!
@fishinwithish Ish..... I am old. Hahaha. I used to do a little fly fishing back in the day, and the double davy knot is know by most fly fisherman, so don't be too impressed that I knew it. Haha. I always thought of it as an easy and quick way to tie on those tiny flies, never thought of it as being a very strong knot, or using it on heavier line for bigger fish. If it's working for you though, that's great.
hahaha. Makes sense that me n mike learned it from that Doug guy at pa fly co then... I do honestly think it's as strong possibly even stronger than any other knot I've used for fluoro!
Great video! The river is not always relaxing and that’s why I love it too…I’m trying to get away from using the wacky rig so much and your recent videos are great info. Thanks
Thanks! I think getting away from regularly throwing a weightless wacky rig (if someone regularly throws it) is about the smartest move that person could do. From what I am seeing anyway! Of course, half a dozen trips with a weightless wacky is a very small sample size, but with so many comments confirming my results on this rig is basically telling me what is happening to me is happening to others, and the things happening with this rig are not good at all in my eyes. Thanks for watchin chris!!!
So one thing that I have found from watching yt fishing videos all the time and seeing what works for certain people is that what works for some is just not for everyone. Don’t get me wrong, trying something new can be fun and challenging, but we go fishing to catch fish. If you know something that WILL catch fish then forget what others say (myself included) because even one side of the bank to the other will have different conditions, current, structure etc. if you have found something that always works than just focus on that and catch fish!
You are correct, what this technique is starting to teach me though is...I haven't had an issue with catching fish with any setup I have tried, but I have had issues, and these issues are not exclusively my issues, which is what is making me continue these videos. In this series of videos (first to last) was 1. losing Senko's (typical problem) 2 Losing fish (mistakes with rigging)3. cant feel the bite (typical problem) 4.wind knots/line memory 5. gut hooking (new to me but also something that is semi common apparently) I call that semi common because I'm sure if someone is gut hooking fish on the regular with this rig they aren't exactly going to come forward and say so (even tho some actually have mentioned gut hooking being a higher chance with the weightless wacky).The reason I say all of this in response to the idea of, what works for some doesn't work for all, doesn't apply in my eyes. In my eyes this bait has issues that some don't care about (gut hooking), some don't realize is happening to them (missed bites) and/or there is some super specific technique out there to prevent these issues of which I have yet to see or hear from anyone. Thanks for watchin!
I think all the time away from society, and all the time on the river is turning me feral.... or the wacky rig is just pisin me off🤣🤣🤣 thanks for watchin Josh!!!
Lol for some reason I don't think you made it through the whole video... l said in the video to just use a nedrig, the whole point of these videos is to figureth3 best way to use wacky/figure out why I would even use one. I think with a little luck a bass would eat pretty much anything if you put in front of their face and give it a wiggle lol
Hahaha OK yes, in this video, I was losing it sometimes, but the heatshrink would've helped alot but I forgot to bring extra haha not sure what your trying to tell me lol
Paint drying/eat lunch/watch Ish...paint drying/eat lunch/watch Ish...I'm noticing a pattern here. Agreed, weightless wacky is a still water technique, and it sucks for covering water/twist. I like it for when I know I'm already on them. Give the Rage tail senkos a try. The tail gives some added resistance even with a tiny weight. It'll fish Ned or Neko and I think 3" and 4" baits fish better this way. Good little experiment. I hope you pick up a few viewers who are on a wacky kick, to make it worth your troubles...wind knots, respooling, etc, lol.
I almost forgot. The Tactical Bassin guys say ALL of their fluke fish eat the bait head on. If this is the case for Yough Smallies, then the ned/neko make more sense for hookup ratio. I even do octopus (nose) hooks on my flukes and can throw down to ML.
ahhh, okay that makes sense, and actually may give me the best reason to throw the wacky... Possibly as clean up? like you said your already on them, and say the bite dies off...Switch to the weightless wacky n see if possibly there were a few in the area not willing to eat anything else! Tiff has used the ragetail neds and had good luck with them, never knew they had a full senko with the rage tail. I used to watch tactical bassin all the time, haven't watched them in awhile. Another one that uses a nose hooked fluke is that Josh Chrenko, the owner of Achigan, and if I remember correctly he actually throws the magnum flukes nose hooked. That is something I wanted to try at some point but same with this weightless wacky I feel like I need a little weight, which is where I came up with my finewire 2/0 and 3/0 weighted ewg hooked 1/16oz and 1/8oz. I use them from time to time on a scented jerkshad but never tried about a 5inch. Idk I'm sure at this point I will eventually be trying a little bit of everything. Thanks man!!!
@@fishinwithish yes, cleanup and for lake fishing sometimes I can only get em with a slow fall. I might catch the little one on a jerkbait then nothing...I know they're there, gotta change it up.
If anything, going back to the same places are best when experimenting--basically, I see this as a plus rather than a negative. Further, you're going on a deep dive with the wacky rig... testing whether you can feel the lure or not aren't going to be the same in a creek/river vs a farm pond--not even in a creek/river in swift water vs slack areas. By trekking up and down the same stretch, you keep the variables accurate from one outing to another. Also, it says more about catching fish repeatedly in the same area--you could make a big change in tactics that are less effective for catching smallies, however, switching to a better part of the river could still lead to better catches--but again, the change of location could be a greater credit than the tactic. Whereas, better catches in the same area would lead one to think credit should go to the tactic. I do believe the weightlessness leads to more gut hooks simply based on lack of feel... but I also feel like this affects waders more so than in the kayak or canoe heading down the river... just based on the idea they are floating at a similar pace as the bait is drifting (watching the line is easier when it stops). Took my kids on a river trip over the summer (we don't live near one) and they killed them on a wacky rig--3" BPS stick-o with a #4 non-weedless VMC Neko (favorite hook style for wacky) on 6 lb. mono. I think the mono helps to keep it off the bottom a bit. On a trip for myself and father, I would use that same wacky rig and have a Zman TRD ready to go with a nail weight... use the wacky while floating the river and then switch to the TRD as a Neko rig when wading--it helped to make one rod/reel a two bait system without having to retie... also do the FG knot at home but the Alberto on the river if need be. Really fun series to watch--If I'd been told that several consecutive wacky rig videos would keep my attention, I think I would've been dismissive... but the nuanced differences of each approach have really been interesting!
Yes! This is the kind of comment that makes me feel like my time with this series of videos is time well spent! I feel you 100% understand what I'm trying to do with these tests. I do admit I am accidently introducing variables that shouldn't be a part of some of these tests, but no matter what each day seems to be teaching me something I never thought of. Like you mentioned, switching locations could have a better result than changing my tactic thus creating a false positive. In my time of fishing, I have found time and time again that location change to find the fish will result in a better day of fishing than any bait change you could ever make. That is actually the main reason the weightless wacky rig just doesn't seem worth being in my bag of tricks when I know a dozen other baits will work just as good with fewer issues. A weightless wacky bite being detected better while floating actually does make some sense to me, along with using mono also makes sense! (I think someone commented on last video n said they also use mono with weightless wacky rig) Thanks for the comment! I Also thanks for watching!!!
@@fishinwithish - good stuff man! For full disclosure, the main reason I gave the weightless wacky to kids is their lack of fishing experience--a bait that wouldn't hang up easily without needing a lip ripping hook set... plus, the smaller 3" one I supplied simply keeps the numbers of fish high to keep them engaged. When I had it set up for myself, it was just in certain situations rather than my main rig. I think it's a really good setup for beginners--especially to river fishing. For my boys, I think the Ned rig keeps them hung up and frustrated even though I believe it to be a superior bait. But weightless is worse for gut hooking--I gave them straight mono so we don't have to deal with another leader knot and they tend to get wind knots. For me, high vis braid to a leader--weightless river fishing means watching the line like a hawk! The eye picking up on line behavior is the bite detector and it isn't perfect by any means. I don't buy many true Senkos because they're expensive and not very durable, but it did catch my 2nd largest LMB ever (PB at the time) which was a 9 1/2 pounder in the Shenandoah River--which is where we go for smallies... in fact, I've caught 3 or 4 LMB on that river in the last several years (2 annual trips) because we focus on the faster water for the smallies rather than the slow water where they stay. Weightless with an EWG.
Understand completely. Fishing with children is very different than fishing as an adult. It is absolutely important to keep them engaged and a weightless wacky will certainly do that. It's important to look at these things in a different manner when it comes to children in my opinion. Like you said a ned will just cause issues with children, and I look at it like this, yeah there is some concern with gut hooking them on a weightless wacky, BUT that risk is WAYYY less then handing them a size 4 baithook with a nightcrawler on it... In this case I say weightless wacky is a good move! I also use high viz braid just like you said, much like fly fishing! A 9.5lb largemouth would more than double my PB largemouth!!!
Lots of info in this video. Definitely will check out the double davy knot. I have tried the FG knot and now refer to it as the FU knot because while I am floating in my kayak with my phone out watching a you tube video on how to tie it I am saying FU a lot. I have never tried a weightless wacky rig and after watching your series of videos I don’t think I will for two reasons. I don’t like losing that much plastic in the river I fish which already has a lot of people using and leaving behind bits of plastic, hooks, line etc.. The second reason is I don’t want to hook a fish deep in the gullet if possible. I will stick with your EWG ned with your paddle tail swimbaits. I have caught lots of fish on the same swimbait and I end up taking it off before I lose it. My other option is to use a 1/4 or 3/8 oz buzzbait which seems to incite violence in all fish. I don’t even use a steel leader when I am pike fishing because there is enough metal wire in between the hook and line to prevent it being bitten off. Thanks for the video Ish and showing us different techniques. I am always learning something.
Hahaha yes! The FU knot sounds corect to me! I honestly don't think a weightless wacky has a place in my book either for exactly the same reasons you mentioned. I literally have multiple kayak trips with my bed with just about any bait you can think of where I literally come home with the same ned and bait after 8+ hours and seems like 100+ casts. Add on top of that basically almost doubling the amount of gullet/gut hooked fish over r years in one day and I just can't see myself using it weightless. I'm glad to hear you don't need a leader with those pike/musky because I haven't managed to catch any on my buzzbaits yet, but ai was fairly certain you wouldn't need a leader! Thanks Paul!!!
@@fishinwithish tried the double davy knot this morning after watching the video you posted. What an easy knot to tie. Can’t believe it had never come up in my searches for fishing knots. It is also strong because second cast I was deep into a tree and the branch broke off but the knot was good. Thanks Ish.
well thanks ish, nobody has ever called me normal before hahahaha ive been throwing a weightless wacky senko,and agree with you, in the current it could use a tiny bit of weight. still have the rod holders for you lol been using the uni knot for years, also super fast to tie without looking after you get the hang of it.
🤣 I totally forgot about the rod holders. Do you have a Facebook? That way maybe we can figure out a time/place to meet. I used to use the uni knot along time ago with mono then I tried the improved clinch knot and to me it held more weight than the uni. when I switched to fluoro the improved clinch knot didn't hold good at all so I tried a bunch of different knots and found that as long as you doubled over your line when tying it held strength but was a pain in the ass. So the only single line knot that held good with fluoro was the Palomar but he'll with 3 knots your leader would be gone cause you would have 6" of tag to cut off... once we found the double Davy I haven't looked back and in my eyes is the best knot I have ever heard of.
@sammydewitt4498 I understand that completely! I have been keeping my phone number out of the publics view, cause believe it or not there are quite a few people who apparently hate what I'm doing on youtube lol. I do check my comments fairly regularly and I have a fairly open schedule, so maybe just send me a comment when/where you would want to meet, or honestly leaving them under a rock and sending me some GPS coordinates would be hilarious and would prolly make for great video content😂😂😂😂
@@fishinwithish hahahaha dude that would be too funny! now i HAVE to do that :) hahahaha trying to go tomorrow morning starting from smithton, if i actually get to go ill pick somewhere not far from where you parked in your last few vids,i know the area well.
Yeah, at this point, going back to straight Fluoro was terrible. Braid is superior in pretty much every way in my mind. Yeah, texas rigging a senko is another way to use a senko, but I haven't really tried it in the river, I know it works well in lakes and ponds. 4/0 ewg prolly weighs enough to help feel bites the same as having a 1/16oz wacky hook, and texas rigging a senko will more than likely last longer than a wacky rig, so yeah I see what your saying.
@fishinwithish yeah I've used that in the river all the time gor the smallies depends on the current I have 50lb monofilament attach to the hook with a worn bullet sinker I'll send you Pic of it it works, I really never messed with wakie Riggs to much
Hey Ish, I’m the dude that got a bunch of fishinwithish baits off you and floated the Juniata. I finally got a RU-vid account and subscribed to your channel…this kayak is on sale now on Aquagluide’s site for $1080
I remember!!! I'm pretty sure I got your pics on my website now. You definitely had a successful trip!!! Thanks for subscribing! I think that is the price I bought mine for when it was on sale, it's good to know it's on sale again! It's a pretty sick boat for sure, it's capabilities are insane. I can literally take me and another full-grown adult on my boat with the motor and still be able to stand up and fish!!!
Freakin’ fluorocarbon line drives me nuts ! Same thing tip wrap, wind knots, missed bites, can’t feel the bottom… Might as well be fishing with a gum band for line lol ! if I wasn’t so cheap, I’d take it off every reel it’s on right now… guarantee it’ll be off spring time tho’.
Haha I agree, I know people make it work for them but i just can't do it haha what I will do with my reels I have all fluoro on is just spool it back onto something n use it for leader material haha thanks for watchin!!!
I noticed there is a huge difference between pond fishing & fishing current with the whacky rig. When I fish it in ponds, I slowly pull up then let it sink to bottom & sit a couple seconds then repeat. I get almost all my bites as it falls or is sitting on bottom. I have used mono & its much easier to realize a bite with no current. When I have slack line & get a bite, my line will go out quickly, I reel up quickly & set hook. Super Nintendo 😂. I think moral of story is whacky fishing style & equipment differs based on the water conditions. I never use Flouro, but for mono I use exclusively Sufix Elite...has virtually no memory. I'm sooo jealous, your bad days are better than my good days. Very in-depth analysis as usual. Excellent video.
I think your 100% right about the wacky style being dependent on water conditions! I'm slowly figuring that out as I go. It's funny how many years of finesse fishing I have under my belt, but this wacky rig (at least for where I fish) just seems to be a pain in the ass and I keep asking myself why would someone choose this weightless wacky rig over throwing a jig head style or a ned rig style bait that has some weight on it. Thanks for watchin chris!!!
haha I'm sure it was. No way you felt that thing bite, 100% you only felt it swimming off. Unless you were sight fishing it or somehow managed to hook it at your feet. As fun as it may be using a setup like that is a very risky move in my book, often leading to gut hooked smallies. Without feeling the actual bite to set the hook, a lot of smallmouth will swallow soft plastics (and the hook) within a few seconds.
@fishinwithish I see your point it was a one off experiment. Basically what I did was put a wacky on my blue gill rig. Im on a learning curve my self and realizing how important sensitivity of the rod is. I love my ugly stiks, my pick up a GX2 rod.
oh yeah nothin wrong with havin some fun, I get it! I havent tried this BUT I bet if you put some 10lb braid on that 5.6 it would improve the sensitivity a ton! Of course a carbon rod helps as well BUT just throwing some braid on is cheaper then buying a whole new setup. Just make sure to use some mono/fluoro leader on your braid so you don't end up leaving half spool of braid in the river when you get a snag. The leader will break before the braid if you use same or slightly less poundage than the braid. Albright/Alberto knot for your braid to leader! I think I use albright I always get them confused.
Slow down and keep your line tight and watch your line it’s not rocket science I fish from confluence to ohiopyle all the time and catch fish but I do think braid to leader is the best for sinkos try a tube
Can't slow down more than not moving it at all(Which is basically what I was doing, thats why I had so many snags), if you keep your line tight you're pulling it (which wouldnt be slowing down now would it?) and can't watch the line if you can't see it...(Used straight fluoro in this video) The point of these series of videos isn't just to catch fish on a wacky, if that was the case all the videos would be a win because I caught fish every time, Its more about perfecting it and maximizing the amount of fish landed. Also these tests are coming from suggestions on prior videos from subscribers. Thanks for watchin!
Floro is the most worthless line that I have ever tried, it has so much memory, it never stops twisting and knoting up. Personally, all I use is straight mono for everything that I throw. I fish the wacky rig totally different than other angler's, I want the wacky rig to bounce across the bottom not digging into the rocks ,all that does is put your rig in a snag, I want that bait to bounce across the rocks when I'm river or creek fishing this way, and give it lite twitches to make the worm bounce so that it entices the fish to eat as it floats by in current, but that's my method, it doesn't work for everyone. Your rod makes all the difference when fishing this way, I use nothing but St Croix rods they are so sensitive you can feel the smallest tic or tug on the line through the handle, and the line that I use is either stren magnathin in 10lb test but it only the diameter of 8lb test, and the other is Berkeley 8lb line. This might sound crazy I throw wacky rigs on my bait casters also,but they are also St Croix rod with low profile reels, and as I mentioned last time for deeper and sometimes faster water I will use a nail weight one end of the wacky rig to get down to the bottom which for you might help you get a better feel of the bottom and give it different action in the water as it falls. I've been fishing plastic worms forever. Don't give up on plastic worm fishing, you are already really good with your go to baits, this is just another weapon to have when things are tough.
I like fluoro for a leader but that's basically it. You have a very valid pont about using mono to help keep that thing just bouncing off bottom real slow!!! I havent thought about that at all! Thats a very interesting way of throwing a wacky rig but honestly it does make sense and the senkos are definitely heavy enough to be thrown on a baitcaster for sure! Im not sure how many more wacky rig videos I have in me but there are aparently many more ways to throw it!!! Thanks for the tips and watchin!!!
When it comes to rod and line setups for really light finesse, I always go with a larger rod that is a bit stronger. A lot of people think that a lighter rod is better but I have found that a 7’ or 7’2” medium works the best depending on your height. I use 6lb fluro. The longer length of the rod means you can get a good hook set because of the makeup for stretch and the stiffer rod makes for a bit more of control and feel under the water. With a wacky rig and even with a lighter (1/15 and lighter ned head) I like to keep the line tight from when you cast and instead of letting the line loose and let the bait fall towards you. You will feel the bites and feel when it lands on bottom
Absolutely. In this video I think I went too far the other direction from the previous video! So the beginning I had too heavy of a rod with braid and now I have too light of a rod with fluoro, seems that way anyway! In the river, it's hard to keep your line tight without pulling your bait some, which imo affects the action of the wacky rig since your pulling it. In my mind if I'm throwing a wacky rig it's meant to just slow fall n let the ends of the senko wiggle. I do agree if you keep a tight line it will help you feels bites 100%, but if your pulling your bait, why not use a different bait/bait style?
You're getting serious about figuring out the wacky rig and the best way to fish it. Haha. When you get it all figured out, let me know. I've never really felt like i was missing many bites with straight fluoro, but maybe i am. Gonna spool up a reel with braid and give it a try. How long of a leader and what # do you usually use?
I think with you fishin lakes / smaller streams fluoro wouldn't be that bad, but I'm a mad man and like to make super far casts in the river. I use #10 braid and I use 8-10lb fluoro leader 6-10' long. I usually start with 8' n then cut a new leader when it's down to around 3' or so. If it's super clear in the summer I'll usually make a new leader once it's around 4'. I use albright/alberto knot for my leader to braid (not sure which one it is I get them confused all the time). Sometimes I'll tie an fg knot for my leader knot if I have an half hour to waste, cause that's usually how long it's takes me to get it right🤣🤣🤣 I have been using the double Davies knot for the last year or so and it is insanely simple and strong, might have to make a video on it it's so good haha. Would be a cool video to see you try braid! Thanks for watchin Joe!!!
Yes, that is actually how I learn the river and find holes and pockets. Alot of times i wait for the long slow scratch feel so i know I'm on top of a large rock/boulder and then when I feel the scratch stop I drop my rod down so that it falls directly behind the big rock right in front of their face haha.
Great video Ish, Not sure your braid preference but my finesse set-up is w/832 Suffix 8# diameter neon green tied w/FG knot or double uni with 4-6’ floro leader. 90% of my rods are braid to floro. Another excellent river finesse rig I’d suggest is a 4” Shad Shape Worm (Yamamoto)natural colors, rig w/a 1/0 EWG rigged weedless and fish same as a senko, really, really good bait.
I'm not too picky with braid, I've tried both high and low count braids, and I kinda like low count just cause it's loud through the guides🤣🤣🤣 I usually stick to 10lb tho. My latest test was with berkley fireline 10lb, and so far, that is the first line I've tried that I don't personally like. I haven't tried the shad worm,but I do throw a scented jerkshad from time to time with my belly weighted ewg 2/0 1/16oz sometimes 1/18oz. They are made with a fine wire hook so technically adding the 1/16 makes then just a bit heavier than a weightless heavy hook ewg. Works pretty good on those days they don't want to eat! I have been lookin to find a 1/0 hook that I can fit in my mold to add that 1/16oz weight to it but haven't found 1. Alot of companies don't make a 1/0 ewg. Thanks for watchin marc!!!
Hahaha to be honest, I will cast as far as possible in every situation. I honestly believe that BIG smallmouth will see you long before you see them, so if you can make a 100' cast so they don't see you it helps your chances! I think braid is the way to go, as long as you throw a 6-10' leader of fluoro on there, it can't be beat IMO! Thanks for watchin Chris just shipped your order out this morning!!!
Ok, now I have to order some of those weighted hooks from ya. I've been throwing weightless but occasionally I want to cast farther. For hooks, I've been using the Eagle Claw Tru Turn hooks that I found in my fathers tackle box (not sure they make them anymore). But I've had really good hook up rate using them. Awesome day with really good hook up rate...like you said, nothings 100%, its still fishing. I think the guy that passed you said "giant". You really need to make a blooper video.
Yeah adding a little weight will definitely help get that wacky out farther! I don't know of that will work with the regular senkos tho, I imagine they will fall apart, those zmans will hang on tho! Haha maybe that is what he said, we were both going to fast for me to understand😂😂😂 thanks for watchin Chris!
Yeah buddy! I knew you'd break down any try another rig. ML is my favorite Smallmouth rod. I like braid to leader (visible like a sighter in flyfishing) but get tired of having to relearn knots all the time, so I switched mostly to P-Line FlouroClear in Green or Trilene xt/big game. Yeah Super Nintendo, lol. My casts are shorter and mostly still water so the stretch isn't bad. If I fished a wacky in the Y I'd try braid <> swivel <> leader. You'd need a $500 rod to feel flouro, not how I roll, lol.
I'm not sure where this series of wacky rig videos are going for me. May end up in a change in my overall finesse setup or at the very least I may hone in on a real good wacky setup for when fishin gets tough. After this trip with straight fluoro I don't think we'll ever see me do that again😂😂😂 thanks for watchin!!!
@@fishinwithish yeah FC sux on a spinning reel. Spend all your time and $ figuring out what works and it's time to change your line...no thanks. I also remember a study where line diameter was the main factor in stretch. Kinda a salespitch lie for FC. When my Dad wills me his bulk spools of yellow Stren, I'll hook you up!
haha sounds right, I will say there is a little less stretch with a heavier fluoro but it still stretches quite a bit...and yeah If I threw this on 20 fluoro it may not stretch as much but there goes your casting distance and on top of that the price...braid is so much cheaper and honestly Idk how long it lasts but I have reels like braid on it from 5 years ago still goin strong haha
For braid to fluoro try the Alberto knot. It’s easy once u practice a little. Key is to make the big loop with the fluoro and the wraps with the braid. If u go the other way it usually snaps in my experience. It’s ridiculously strong, when I break off its seldom at the knot.
@@Jeff-lm9tgabsolutely, I'm not sure which one but I use albright/Alberto. I feel like there basically the same. Lately, I have been trying the fg knot but man it isn't easy!
