Using the wacky rig close to the surface is something I started doing after catching a nice large mouth on a wacky while hung up in tree . I was bank fishing an old gravel pit. I had started out about 6 am and by noon I had caught some nice fish and was getting a little tired. I made a cast and my line got hung up in a tree. Well the cool shade and soft breeze was feeling pretty good so rather than fight to get my line free, I thought I would take a little break. I had managed to let some line out and got the lure to lower til it was just on the surface while still wrapped around the branch. I then laid back for a nap. I did occasionally twitch the line with my finger. I dozed off this way. I was awaken by my pole being dragged toward the water. A big bass was headed for deep water with my lure. I grabbed my pole and set the hook. After a good fight with the bass breaking out the water several times I got him in. A 5 1/2 lb’er. It was the First time I caught a bass while hung up in a tree AND while sleeping. Since then whenever I get a little tired I throw a wacky rig over a branch and take a nap.
Bass are afraid of O Rings. They don't see them naturally in their environment like they do wires and blades on spinnerbaits and A rigs. Most baitfish have plastic bills on their nose and pieces of grass stuck to their belly and treble hooks look just like that. Also a lot of the things bass eat wear skirts. Bass will try to eat a 3/4 oz weight that is dragging the bottom in front of a rage bug on a C rig because it looks like a bullet bug which is common in all freshwater. Haven't you dug up and earthwork before and seen a hook stuck through it?
I see this type of comment all the time on Randy’s videos. It makes no sense. You can catch the fish without the strike deterrent o-ring. You however cannot catch a fish without the strike deterrent hook. The o-ring is unnecessary, so he is saying to minimize these unnecessary strike deterrents. These types of comments are flat brimmed and ignorant.
The #1 VMC Neko hook with an offset solves any hookup issues with an O-ring. The VMC Crossover ring also solves the issue and provides much better hookups than a O-ring.
1976 the wacky rig was called the Twink Worm. A 6 inch Creme Scoundrel was used because it was a more dense, sturdier worm. It was featured in a summer 1979 BASSmaster article.
Get a 3/8” clear tubing, cut them however wide you want. I prefer 3/8” wide. Slide senko through it and use a lighter to shrink it on once you have it where you want it. Put hook through the shrink perpendicular to the senko.
I fish Senkos. I also double a rubber hair elastic in the middle of the bait the place the hook where the elastic forms an X. The hook is now at a right angle to the stick bait. I also use a 4/0 wacky finesse hook. I seem to have many fewer miss fish, and I’ll twitch the bait on a semi tight line all the way to the bottom. My typical lakes are very clear and on a bright day can see depth up to 12 feet. 11:39
Have done this for 30years , I use a gama g lock and bend the point out a little. Great hook up , I use 3 0 size and for deeper water I use a piece of solder in the head burry it in the plastic. Sencos are great but my favorite is a zoom dead ringer 6 or 8 inch with solder in the front and it will swim down like a blue gill. Great in grass and docks!!!!
A good trick to rig a wacky rig is to get some old fountain pen springs, stretch spring out a little bit and screw it into the worm and trim ends of spring off. Rig hook through the spring. Your bait will last longer.
I love you Randy but the rubber O ring is going to be a strike deterrent because the fish get up close but the hook isn't? They're not going to see the hook. I think you're giving the fish two much credit. I catch a ton of fish every spring on wacky and neko rigs using an O ring.
Agreed. I use the VMC offset rings which are amazing. I seriously doubt a tiny o ring makes any difference. The hook is much more visible than any o ring and it still works with a hook on the rig
I don't use the o-rings much anymore....simply because of what Randy said about how the hook lays on the bait. That said, I would think if a fish could see an o-ring, it could see a hook. But, I digress... This is the first time I've heard anyone say anything against using a circle style hook, the point of which I thought was to keep the fish from swallowing the hook. Regardless, I'll try both, as I've got nothing to lose. And, a HUGE thank you for mentioning not purposely targeting spawning bass. That's as much of a problem as anything else it seems, these days.
I wonder why wacky rigged fisherman don’t try screwing in a hitchhiker into the middle of the stick bait , seems like it would save losing ur stick bait
Great tips and I have noticed I loose more and hook more too deep with Owner & Gamakatsu light wire octopus style. A few trips back I decided to try a 2/0 Gamakatsu EWG and it worked great and landed almost every one.
I love your channel and I'm a subscriber but one question. I understand the not using an o-ring because of the way it sits effecting the movement and the hook up ratio, but do the bass really shy away from a bait because of an o-ring when there is a silver/bronze hook right there as well? Trying to build my knowledge not sharpshoot you so any personal experiences you have had is helpful.
Piss on mlf and boyd duckett. Mlf talked a big game early on and has failed to deliver. Mlf will just be a bad memorry by 2026 if yall dont boot that popmous piece of crap boyd duckett out.
Could have fooled me. Small circle hooks seems to stick better than a larger flipping hook. Ring tends to save my plastic and the bass domt seem to mind it. Cant say i have watched one on ffs stop and get a closer look to check for orings, they just smash it. Tight lines!
Sure your worms are free. At $9 a bag hooking thru the bait gets bit off right away from a blue gill or rock bass. At least with a wacky ring or small piece or clear tube you can use it a lot and catch multiple fish.
My favorite fishing channel Always warm and fuzzy. Here in Northern California we’re about a month behind with all our weather. I’ll be trying out all kinds of new baits and techniques for me including wacky rigs, drop shots and Neko rigs. I want to do it right and with confidence of course. This is where I come before I make any decisions about tackle technique or strategy This Channel is Gold
I think you're off the mark on this one, sir! I fish wacky and neko rigs quite extensively and you won't convince me that a bass will see a black keeper ring on a junebug worm and not see that huge hook that you are suggesting. I disagree, but hey if it works for you...by all means go for it!
Thanks, Randy! I started rigging this way this year and have had much more success! I also noticed you can rig the worm slightly off center and it will give an action smallmouth can't resist. I've been doing well on smallmouth so far this year in northern Michigan.
i watched this video the other day . Went to local tackle shop.=, bought some #1 Gamakatsu hooks and the pumpkin with chartreuse worms. . And I used a panorama ghost pro shad. ill always use this in all waters . i really smoked them whileb others at our farm pond watched.
My favorite way to fish is a waky senko! Been using since middle of February in alabama. But I use a circle hook for 20 years and never loose fish or miss fish with a circle hook. Now if I hook in the tip I lime a straight hook...
The most important aspect of wacky rigging is ignored here: how does the giant flipping hook come through weeds, dock legs, and other structure? There is no way it's better than small, light wire wacky, circle, octopus, and neko hooks in this regard. Also, the big hook increases the fall rate which is surely not good in anything under 6' or so. ???
If you take your wacky rig and cross it over itself to form an “X” you can still get the proper hook lay. I still prefer to not use any rings and use Mend It glue for repairs
I use a 1/4" wide, 3/8" clear shrink tube and place it about mid-worm. Avoids the look of the black wacky ring, and you can hook the rig the "correct" way.
The o rings seemed like they were a good idea, but I've had small bass steal my worm by slipping it off the o ring. I even saw one bass barf my worm up and I had no way to get it back! so I stopped using them.
Excellent video 👍. The senko is all I use and ned rig. Z man . Both killers 🎣. Hopefully a video is made about the ned rig &z man. Never used the plastic coller Keep making the videos
Hey Randy thanks for the great video I see you use a different hook and then I see the hook john cox uses his hook is really small . He claims the small hook hooks them better I don't think so I use the mustad 1/0 Titan hook .
the o-rings are terrible, i would often cast my worm off the hook. i buy clear plastic pieces from a guy on ebay that are actually like a collar and they work great. i switched to them due to how much longer the bait lasts rather than just hooking it. i use yamasenkos and they are too expensive to lose on every fish
Is there a water temperature you like to have when using the “shake just under the surface technique” that you mentioned? Are suggesting i.e. - 70+ degrees in the post spawn period?
Question for the people losing fish to circle hook wacky set ups. Are you trying to set the hook with a crazy hook set? Circle hooks set themselves if you just keep the rod pointed at the fish and reel.
The lure that catches the most fish for me, will admit I fish it a lot but rarely zero because of it. Never used the O ring, just seems unneeded, I do use different hooks, some times drop shot and circle hooks, can't remember loosing a fish because of it. I also will sometimes put small screws in each end if I want to change the speed of the fall.
Randy, when do you prefer the neko rig? Ive had days the wacky did well and other days they prefer that neko rig, but i havent really figured out when or why the difference. It did seem that aroung cypress trees they typically like the neko better, but not always.
Hey Randy, how do you know what lures/baits to take with you on an outing? I have more tackle than I would like to take with me. I love the videos and they have helped me out a lot. Thank you.
Those “collars” u r ca.long them are crossover rings and they do not force it to the side for wacky. There are 2 ways to place the hook one for wacky and the other for Neko. I use them all the time and catch tons of fish. Simko lasts longer also.
Zlinkys are made from biodegradable doa plastic much more life like than regular soft plastics, best wacky hook was made by falcon they weighted them as well as no weight, sure wish someone else would come out with a replacement
Yep, that's all I use, with an O ring. Killer on Smallmouth. Fish almost hook themselves, just sweep rod a bit. Can't remember ever having fish shake off. Baits last a long time.
wacky worm gets bit more often than not (in my case). I'll try my other baits I have yet to catch a bass on to challenge my self (jig, top water, and jerk bait) but when I want feel the bite and reel a bass in, wacky worm never fails.
I lost a local tournament because I was using a o-ring. I lost by 2 pounds, but I lost 4 good fish that would have been a major upgrade. No more o-rings for me !!
Agreed. If you are catching dinks, it does not matter how you rig it. Oring, 2 Orings, or straight theu the worm. They will tear the it up. KVD ocho's straight thru the worm works just as good
