During a normal day, a bass can be presented with many different types of baits, artificial and live. Sometimes a different presentation can make a bass strike; today we are going to be discussing the wacky rig.
What is a wacky rig? Basically it is a regular plastic worm rigged with the hook piercing the middle/midsection of the worm. Once hooked, the two ends of the worm should hang down relatively equal in length. Nothing fancy to it.
While doing some research on this type of fishing, Tripp Ward, a local Gainesville Angler who fishes the BFL Tournaments and is a longtime Member of Bassmasters of Gator Country, let me know what tackle he uses to fish a wacky rig. Tripp usually uses a redbug or June bug finesse worm (Producto Tournament Worm) or a Senko style worm (Producto Hot Rod) rigged on a circle hook with a 1/32 ounce pegged bullet weight about 5 inches above the hook. The circle hook is his own twist on this rig, and this allows the angler to put the bait in the middle of the cover without worrying about it getting hung up as much. He cautions anglers that the use of a circle hook doesn’t require as hard of a hook set as a normal worm hook. He will use 10lb test Triple Fish Fluorocarbon on a medium action rod or a rod with a fast tip (6-7ft). Sometimes he will use a swivel in place of the weight, if he wants the rig’s fall to slow down, and sometimes he will even fish the rig completely weightless.
Now that the rig and hook set has been covered its time to discuss where to fish it. The thing about the wacky rig is that it can be fished virtually anywhere. Here are some of the places you can use the wacky rig.
Docks: Fish will stack up in the shadows provided by docks and ambush prey that is passing by or seeking the same shelter. Skip the worm under the docks or around the pilings. The skipping alone will sometimes entice a bite. If you do not get an immediate bite, then try gently popping the rig up and let it fall slowly back, and repeat. Also try up against the bulkheads in those areas where the water is deep enough.
Overhanging Brush: You can use the presentations as you do with dock fishing. The brush is providing protection from the sun and the bass sit and wait to attack bait fish, or even insects that fall from the brush. Using this rig under the bushes and trees that hang out over the bank can produce a lot of fish on the Suwannee, Apalachicola, and St Johns Rivers.
Submerged Timber/Stumps: You should cast past the logs and allow the bait to fall to the right depth, and then begin retrieving. If no bites occur, then try casting right in the area of the timber and let the rig fall down next to the stumps or base of a log. You can also try different retrieval speeds. Some of the best lakes for this type of fishing are Rouseau and Rodman.
Pad fields: Cast the rig down the lanes in the lily pads and retrieve. If the pads are too thick or you aren’t getting bit in the lanes, then cast on top of the pads at the edge and gently pull the rig off and allow it to fall.
Hydrilla Mats: Cast the wacky rig up on top of the mat and bring it back to the edge. Then let it fall to the bottom, if no bite, pop it gently back, if this doesn’t work, then try harder, faster retrievals. Even on those edges of mats where the bass are gorging on the pods of tiny minnows but won’t bite anything you throw, they will often take a wacky rig.
While the tips in this article are pretty specific, remember that varying the retrieves and presentations will create more bites. When going wacky, there isn’t too much that you can do wrong.
Good Luck and Tight lines!!!!!By: Jason Howe
