Wacky Rig Problems 2024
Brian Needham reply :
I get so many bites on wacky rig senkos and a very low % of landed fish.
like today, 11 bites , 2 fish landed.
It is unlikely bream, unless they are world records, LOL as I can feel the fish and they are good fish, that is until I set the hook.
I set the hook various ways trying to figure out how, but today I would reel into the fish and slowly side sweep my rod applying pressure.
gear used: dobyns dx742c with falcon weightless "k" wacky weedless hooks. 5" senko wacky rigged with o-ring
not the biggest fan of these hooks, but would a hook change produce that big of a change
Felix77 reply :
Take pliers and open up the hook a little bit.
NorcalBassin reply :
Sweeping usually works pretty well for me and my ratios were really good last year. I primarily use Gamakatsus, so maybe it could be the hooks???
J Francho reply :
Use a hook with an open gap. If you need a weighted hook, the Jackall Flick Shake hooks are dead on. For unweighted, I do well with Gam. Wide Gap Finesse hooks.
.ghoti. reply :
It's the hook. You need a more open throat design. Or just do as suggested; bend the hook point out a few degrees.
Brian Needham reply :
thanks guys.......I never thought about bending out the hook a little (even though I do on drop shot).......if that don't work I will move to the gammy or VMC weedless wacky (has to be weedless)
ww2farmer reply :
It's not the hook, I use the same hooks, and don't have any problems. I don't modify the hooks in any way, just make sure the wire weedguard is spread out a little bit, and ABOVE the hook barb, not below it. They are my favorite hook for wacky rigging 5"+ 6" Senkos in cover. I rarely miss a fish on them. They are also a stout hook, not meant to by fished on wimpy gear. I fish them with 7' MH/Fast rod, 30lb braid with a 17 or 20lb test fluorocarbon leader. The Jackall flickshake heads are a much better light line, M powered rod hook, I use those on spinning gear with 3", 4", 5" senkos and the Jackall flickshake worms. If you want to get rid of the Falcon hooks let me know, I'll buy all you have.
J Francho reply :
He's using a 2 power Dobyns fairy wand. I bet you're right about the hook and rod not being compatible. Also a good point about the weed guard - I had the same issues with the weed guard version of the Gammies, until I figured that out.
Comfortably Numb reply :
Sunfish hit Senkos HARD and sometimes almost rip the rod out of your hand.
I use 2/0 Mustad weedless hooks and set the hook hard. Rarely miss a fish. I also let them take it 5-10 secs so I know its a bass. They wont let go and I never deep hook them.
Arv reply :
On 3/15/2013 at 7:40 AM, Felix77 said:Take pliers and open up the hook a little bit.
x2
Brian Needham reply :
On 3/15/2013 at 8:41 AM, J Francho said:He's using a 2 power Dobyns fairy wand. I bet you're right about the hook and rod not being compatible. Also a good point about the weed guard - I had the same issues with the weed guard version of the Gammies, until I figured that out.
HA HA J !! hardly a fairy wand , I have also used the DX743C as well with the same results. Today I used the 742C for kicks.
I also have spread the weedguard , so I am really at a loss , except for the hook. but ww2farmer uses the same hooks with no issue.......hmmmmmmmmm there must be a variable I am missing.
J Francho reply :
Dude, I have a boat full of fairy wands - remember, I fish the Great lakes. 
Brian Needham reply :
On 3/15/2013 at 8:53 AM, J Francho said:Dude, I have a boat full of fairy wands - remember, I fish the Great lakes.
fair enough.......I thought spinning rods were fairy wands? this is a baitcaster, or is anything under MH classed as a fairy wand ? just want to sure we are comparing "wands to wands" HAHHAHAHA!
Darren. reply :
And FWIW, I'm not a fan of using O rings and rigging the hook parallel to the worm. J Francho suggested in another thread, if I recall correctly, using 2 O rings in an X like pattern and hooking perpendicular through that.
I rarely miss fish with wacky, and I don't use O rings... My go-to hooks are the Gamakatsu Wide Gap Finesse in 4, 2, and 1 sizes.
Wayne P. reply :
On 3/15/2013 at 7:38 AM, Brian Needham said:I get so many bites on wacky rig senkos and a very low % of landed fish.
like today, 11 bites , 2 fish landed.
It is unlikely bream, unless they are world records, LOL as I can feel the fish and they are good fish, that is until I set the hook.
I set the hook various ways trying to figure out how, but today I would reel into the fish and slowly side sweep my rod applying pressure.
gear used: dobyns dx742c with falcon weightless "k" wacky weedless hooks. 5" senko wacky rigged with o-ring
not the biggest fan of these hooks, but would a hook change produce that big of a change
It is the hook and it is the way you are rigging it.
The most consistant hookups are with round bend type hook with open point and the Senko rigged with the hook perpendicular.
The K type hook is a style used for cat fishing it functions somewhat like a circle hook.
00 mod reply :
Pretty sure the hook you are using is more like a live bait hook, in that it should be a "reel set". So if you are swinging for the fences, you are pulling it right out of their mouths. Try a reel set first, and if that does not solve your problems, go for a gama hook like suggested.
Jeff
basscrusher reply :
two points:
1) Listen to Wayne P. He is the master of wacky.
2) Falcon uses superline hooks for alot of their products. Make sure that wacky rig doesn't utilize one. Superline hooks require a very stout rod (MH or stiffer) for a good hookset. This might not be the case with that rig...but worth checking.
Brian Needham reply :
On 3/15/2013 at 10:39 AM, 00 mod said:Pretty sure the hook you are using is more like a live bait hook, in that it should be a "reel set". So if you are swinging for the fences, you are pulling it right out of their mouths. Try a reel set first, and if that does not solve your problems, go for a gama hook like suggested.
Jeff
not swinging.....really I am doing a reel set, almost exactly like I with a spinning rod on a drop shot.
I ordered some VMCs tonight.......man if I start landing 50% of these wacky fish I am going to be proud of myself.!
Comfortably Numb reply :
Here are the ones I use. Mustad W37754R 2/0 with a single o-rig. I get up to 50 fish per one bait.
Reels sets dont work with this one. I get 90% or so hook ups
If you are not using a weedless hook you are not throwing where the fish live and missing alot of oppertunities IMO.
WRB reply :
I don't believe your problem is related to your rig or hook, the bass could be spawner's and not trying to eat your Senko. If the bass wanted eat it you would hook a few by simply waiting longer befor hook setting.
The Wacky Saddle is the best type of wacky rig that I have seen to date.
Tom
Brian Needham reply :
WRB, not warm enough here.
CPBassFishing reply :
Are you fighting the fish for a few seconds before they come off?
If so, they only have half the worm in their mouth. If you have ever seen a bass in a tank eat a 5" wacky worm, most of the time they only bite half the worm and don't get the hook in their mouth. Use highly visible line, and when you see it jump, wait 3-5 seconds and then set the hook. This gives the fish enough time to eat the whole thing. You might also want to try 4" worms, the fish are more likely to suck the whole thing in. Just experiment with letting them eat it and see what works best.
Brian Needham reply :
yeah, I wait.....watch the line move sideways for 3 seconds, 5 seconds, or more then reel down.....I have done all the variations in between. It totally may be technique, but from my readings and responses here I highly doubt it.
Bass don't spawn in 50 degree water, so it aint that.
I am got some new hooks coming and will see how that goes, as it seems to be a good idea from long time wacky riggers
NWI-Bassin' reply :
On 3/15/2013 at 8:53 AM, J Francho said:Dude, I have a boat full of fairy wands - remember, I fish the Great lakes.
What Great Lake are you fishing ?
detroit1 reply :
I am not a fan of weedless hooks, no matter who makes them. I am not afraid to throw wacky in the weeds with an open hook. Probabally need them for wood though.....
Brian Needham reply :
true Detroit.......I don't worry about grass either.........but treetops, laydowns, and lilly pads you better be weedless.
Jay Ell Gee reply :
On 3/15/2013 at 9:25 AM, DarrenM said:And FWIW, I'm not a fan of using O rings and rigging the hook parallel to the worm. J Francho suggested in another thread, if I recall correctly, using 2 O rings in an X like pattern and hooking perpendicular through that.
I rarely miss fish with wacky, and I don't use O rings... My go-to hooks are the Gamakatsu Wide Gap Finesse in 4, 2, and 1 sizes.
I will completely agree here. I use a 6'8 M/XF or 7'0 M/F rod with 20 lb braid and an owner wacky hook with weedguards or the gammy finesse wide gap hook. Buckeye weighted wacky hooks also produce well. I simply take up the slack and pop the rod upward, no monster hookset and no sweep. Pops them right in the roof of the mouth. I honestly can't recall ever losing a fish this way. Toss some 10lb braid on that reel and slam them!
Comfortably Numb reply :
I am visually impaired so dont line watch. I always keep contact with the bait. I can feel a fish breathe on it. IME and I know others disagree, but a sunfish will always feel like a tap tap tap and they usually run with it and let go. A bass usually is a single tap and then just weight or they move away with it.
I still think you are getting bit by sunfish.
BigMoneyGrip reply :
Since switching to the Wacky Saddle and a Gamakatsu weedless worm hook, I get about 99.9%. With the Wacky Saddle, the hook is perpendicular to the worm. I think that makes a big difference.
With this setup, I don't have a "hook set". When I see my line moving off, I lift the tip of my rod to keep the fish from swimming away.
Brian Needham reply :
On 3/16/2013 at 7:57 AM, Comfortably Numb said:I am visually impaired so dont line watch. I always keep contact with the bait. I can feel a fish breathe on it. IME and I know others disagree, but a sunfish will always feel like a tap tap tap and they usually run with it and let go. A bass usually is a single tap and then just weight or they move away with it.
I still think you are getting bit by sunfish.
not by using your own description, which is very accurate.
I either get a THUMP and line moves or the line just moves.........sometimes just pressure.
also, bream/sunfish don't strip drag like the big bite I had yesterday.
it was also not a 2.5 pound bluegill that rocketed out of the water 3 days ago.
I am not dealing with sunfish this time around
Brian Needham reply :
yes big$grip.........once the new hooks and saddle arrive I will just do the "drop shot hook set".
WRB reply :
When you use the O-ring rigging the hook is inline with the Senko body. The Wacky Saddle rig (Tackle Warehouse- under terminal tacklr search) keeps the hook sideways to the Senko body and that improves hook to strike ratio tremendously.
In cold water the bass may not be all that active, wait longer. If you wait too long the bass will eat and start to sallow or will sallow the Senko more often then they drop it. Circle style wide gap finesse style ( kahle) hooks help to,prevent gut hooking, the opposite problem you now have. Also a good attractant can help in this situation, the bass tend to hold it longer.
The good thing is you are in bass and getting bites, just need to time the hook set better.
Tom
Brian Needham reply :
yeap, I am going to get some saddles, and do the crossed o ring until then.
I did forget to mention, senko was soaked in JJs.
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