Wacky rigged senko

[Wicked738]

So I had some time to kill this morning and hit a local small pond and boy I nailed the bass on the green pumpkin wacky rigged senko. I'm a believer in this bait. More of a frog guy but had a blast with these worms will defenitly try these on farrington lake Tuesday when I got out.

[kcritch]

You can't go wrong with a senko (or similar). They catch tons of fish for sure...especially when fishing is tough. Glad you got into them.

[briansnat]

The Senko is usually my go to for bass. I probably use it about 60 percent of the time, the rest devoted to other plastics and everything else.

I rarely do wacky rig though, catches way too many weeds. I hook em through the nose, T-rig style. I know a lot of people swear by wacky, but the few times I was fishing with my T-rig along with a partner using wacky rig (same color and size Senko), I caught significantly more fish. I don't know if it has to do with the action, or that my bait spends more time in the water because they are always picking off weeds.

[Jigman13]

That's a good color. So is watermelon, black and colors similar to June bug

[Wicked738]

Yea the wacky rigged seemed a bit novice friendly.....throw it out let it sink then twitch it a few times let it sit most votes were when the bait was falling. Now when you fish it Texas style you twitch it as well?

[Chrisper4694]

I don't think you can compare the two rigs. They're really for two different applications.

[bigfishy]

I don't think you can compare the two rigs. They're really for two different applications.

much agreed

[logs22]

Since most of the places in fish are full of snags I usually will rig Senkos Texas style on a 3 or 4 EWG. If nothing is biting the Texas rig I will usually before I leave switch it up and just use the same Senko rigged wacky. I know an EWG hook not ideal for a wacky rig but often I can hook something before I get snagged or throw in the towel.

I also like using a smaller Senko (3-4") rigged wacky fishing for Smallies in Rocky rivers/streams with a good current. Small twitches just enough to get off the rocks and catch the current for a few feet at a time.

[njfish4life]

What style and size hook do people use for wacky rig? I have always fished senkos texas style but always looking for differentways to fish. Also is it worth using the wacky rig "O" rings or just straight through the senko?

[Chrisper4694]

1/0 owner hooks made for wacky rig, idk what they're called off the top of my head but any sharp, short shanked, moderately gapped hook should work great. O rings def worth it.

[pacrags]

1/0 owner hooks made for wacky rig, idk what they're called off the top of my head but any sharp, short shanked, moderately gapped hook should work great. O rings def worth it.

would it be Mosquito Hooks? I've been using size 1, but may go up a few sizes

[Chrisper4694]

No, but those would work.

[kcritch]

Instead of o rings you can go to Home Depot/hardware store and buy clear plastic tubing by the foot...size based on the size of the Senko. There are diameters that fit the 5 and 4 inch perfectly but I can't remember them off the top of my head. Then cut it into small pieces/rings. You get a ton of rings for cheap and they hold up well. Also work good for trailer hook keepers on spinner baits.

I often switch back and forth between wacky and T-rigged and I'm too lazy to change the hook each time. I have had good success just using the regular worm hook I use to fish them T-rigged. 3/0 wide gap black eagle claw for 5" and 6" and an eagle claw 1/0 worm hook for the 4". Never felt I was missing fish due to the hook. Unless you were going to a weighted wacky hook to get a different fall rate or something.

[pacrags]

No, but those would work.

I just went back and checked my amazon order from when i got the mosquito hooks, which it dawned on me that that among the uses on the package besides wacky rigs, was dropshot that is what i bought the mosquito hooks for ... I also got some #1 owner wacky rig hooks in the same order being i wanted to try both techniques out this year. Now I need to find what i did with them.

Never really fished softbaits in the past, but after last night catching a small LMB on the wacky rig in the short time i had to fish I am gaining more confidence in them, but still feel like its been luck on the hook ups I still don't have the feel for whats a fish vs an obstruction. But i suppose the more hookups i get the sooner that feel will be learned

[pacrags]

Instead of o rings you can go to Home Depot/hardware store and buy clear plastic tubing by the foot...size based on the size of the Senko. There are diameters that fit the 5 and 4 inch perfectly but I can't remember them off the top of my head. Then cut it into small pieces/rings. You get a ton of rings for cheap and they hold up well. Also work good for trailer hook keepers on spinner baits.

I almost bought some of those rings, but then thought it seems like a waste of money but this tip is pure gold ... i am going to see if any of the tubing i already have will work, otherwise i'll be bringing some senkos in with me next time i am at HD

[23cardinal]

They also sell wacky weedless hooks. It's like a hinge- have worked well for me if the bass are lazy and don't want the Texas rig

[Bruce Litton]

O rings mean money saved, since Wacky rigged, they slip off so easy. I just use a size 2 plain shank Mustad. Senkos sink faster than the traditional-style worms I use, though. I even have some Strike King worms, which don't sink without weight added.

[Ken Lyons]

The only way I use wacky rig Senkos is with a 1/0 or 2/0 circle. You will invariably gut hook fish otherwise and even a circle doesn't work all the time. Trying to remove a small hook deep in the throat is a real trick if you can do it. Too, circle hooks almost never get thrown even with the barbs pinched.

[kcritch]

The only way I use wacky rig Senkos is with a 1/0 or 2/0 circle. You will invariably gut hook fish otherwise and even a circle doesn't work all the time. Trying to remove a small hook deep in the throat is a real trick if you can do it. Too, circle hooks almost never get thrown even with the barbs pinched.

That's a great point...for all plastics really...I pinch he barbs on every hook I use just to make the extraction easier if needed. Even treble hooks get pinched. I don't seem to get as many gut hooked with the larger hooks either. Gotta pay attention to your line both feel and sight. If it moves or you feel a tap check it and set it. If you get lazy they'll swallow it for sure. I tend to set it at the slightest hint of a hit because I just can't calm the hell down when I get a bite! :D

[Ken Lyons]

The pinched barbs also make extraction from fingers for instance which made my Friday trip to the ER a lot easier to deal with.

[Chrisper4694]

The only way I use wacky rig Senkos is with a 1/0 or 2/0 circle. You will invariably gut hook fish otherwise and even a circle doesn't work all the time. Trying to remove a small hook deep in the throat is a real trick if you can do it. Too, circle hooks almost never get thrown even with the barbs pinched.

I've never ever gut hooked a fish with a wacky rigged senko worm. If you have braid and a nice sensitive rod you're hitting them quick immediately.

[Esox Luciano]

I don't particularly like plastic worms though I'll fish soft plastic swim baits and no problems with gut hooking fish. Definitely have gut hooked a few while using any type of bait though!! DON'T CUT THE LINE!!Remove the hook like so...https://youtu.be/kCSx4PuLEnQ. Easy and effective!!:D.https://youtu.be/oDVzMABz8gY:D:D

[briansnat]

What style and size hook do people use for wacky rig? I have always fished senkos texas style but always looking for differentways to fish. Also is it worth using the wacky rig "O" rings or just straight through the senko?

I use a 1/0 octopus hook for whacky