Wacky Rigged Senko. Weight Or No? 2024
BigTerp reply :
How do you guys rig your wacky senkos? I've fished plenty of stick baits and worms Carolina rigged and Texas rigged, but never fished one wacky before. Going to give it a go this year, but I'm not sure if it's best to fish it weightless or weighted? FWIW it will be used in a relatively shallow (>10'), rocky river for smallmouth. Thanks!!
Jrob78 reply :
I'm not a fan of fishing stickbaits with weights. I think it kills the natural action that's built into the bait. The exception to that would be wacky rigging in deeper water or drop shotting. For shallow water like you describe, I would fish it weightless.
Fishing Rhino reply :
It's no different than any other plastic bait when it comes to weightless or not. It depends on currents, depths, and the type of fishing that suits you.
I rarely fish a wacky rig weightless, even in shallow water. Some of my friends prefer to fish them weightless, even in deeper water. You'll need to experiment to find what suits you best.
wnybassman reply :
All of the above. There is no wrong way. Some days will be different than others so don't get stuck in a rut.
roadwarrior reply :
On 3/6/2014 at 11:07 PM, Fishing Rhino said:It's no different than any other plastic bait when it comes to weightless or not. It depends on currents, depths, and the type of fishing that suits you.
I rarely fish a wacky rig weightless, even in shallow water. Some of my friends prefer to fish them weightless, even in deeper water. You'll need to experiment to find what suits you best.
I have fished with The Man and he works a wacky rig like no one else!
I'm not sharing his secret, but maye Rhino will.
Darren. reply :
On 3/6/2014 at 11:03 PM, BigTerp said:How do you guys rig your wacky senkos? I've fished plenty of stick baits and worms Carolina rigged and Texas rigged, but never fished one wacky before. Going to give it a go this year, but I'm not sure if it's best to fish it weightless or weighted? FWIW it will be used in a relatively shallow (>10'), rocky river for smallmouth. Thanks!!
I fish both. Windy days, when the waters are choppy, weighted wacky is a must for me as the bait won't work the spot I want to focus on (unless it's in a calm spot).
May I suggest you have one rod with a weightless setup, the other a weighted. And for weighted, I prefer wacky jig heads like Buckeye's wacky jig. But there are other ways you can work a weighted wacky. You can mojo rig it, you can use a split shot. The beauty is there's not just one way to wacky fish. Experiment, explore, enjoy!
Grizzn N Bassin reply :
no weight for me i fish it every time im out pretty much. If i go some wheres with more depth and i want it deep ill throw a split shot on , or insert a nail in the side of the senko. that will make if shimmy down different then weightless.
Crestliner2008 reply :
No weight for me either. I have an unlimited amount of patience!.
Scott F reply :
In rocky, shallow, rivers, weightless is the way to go. If the current is strong, a small weight will keep it down but not enough to let it snag.
WIGuide reply :
It depends on the day. I like to fish them a little faster unless I have to slow down more so a lot of times I use a weight. Eco Pro Tungsten makes the Pro Wacky Weight which I really like using. It keeps everything compact and even makes your worms last longer. I mainly used the 1/32 oz. and 1/16 oz. Unless I'm trying to fish one really deep.
Raul reply :
Dude, there´s no "right" or "wrong", weighted or unweighted depends on many factors for example ---> how fast you want the bait to sink, another factor is wind or water current.
You have to experiment to find the "right" way and what is "right" maybe "wrong" a few minutes later.
Fishes in trees reply :
I find that I get the same amount of bites with a lightly weighted hook compared to an unweighted hook.
I use the Falcon K-wacky hooks with a /16 oz weight molded on the hook shank. I think that the slightly faster drop adds up to a few more casts at the end of the day. Also, it drops "straighter" if that makes any sense and makes bite detection easier for me.
Creekcrappie reply :
Weightless.
Jar11591 reply :
1 more for weightless
tritondriver reply :
both ways, but I use a nail weight in the center when the current is stronger than usual..
ak47soulja22 reply :
Mainly weightless but there is a time and place for weighted. No wrong answer.
ncbassfisher1496 reply :
For those who use weights what weight do you typically use?
doyle8218 reply :
Jika Rig.
bigbill reply :
I'm hooked on the 1/8 ounce brass bullet weight on a Carolina rig with senko's and brushogs. The weight keeps my line taunt so I can feel the slightest nibble on the fall. When the water is moving in the channel.
Jrob78 reply :
On 3/7/2014 at 5:58 AM, doyle8218 said:Jika Rig.
On 3/7/2014 at 6:28 AM, bigbill said:I'm hooked on the 1/8 ounce brass bullet weight on a Carolina rig with senko's and brushogs. The weight keeps my line taunt so I can feel the slightest nibble on the fall. When the water is moving in the channel.
So y'all fish wacky rigged Senko's on Jika rigs and Carolina rigs?
doyle8218 reply :
On 3/7/2014 at 6:45 AM, Jrob78 said:So y'all fish wacky rigged Senko's on Jika rigs and Carolina rigs?
I use the Jika - works well for me here. I never used a Wacky Rigged on a Carolina Rig but I am sure it would work.
Jrob78 reply :
On 3/7/2014 at 8:17 AM, doyle8218 said:I use the Jika - works well for me here. I never used a Wacky Rigged on a Carolina Rig but I am sure it would work.
I've never thought about fishing a worm wacky style on a jika rig. I'm sure it would work though.
doyle8218 reply :
On 3/7/2014 at 8:26 AM, Jrob78 said:I've never thought about fishing a worm wacky style on a jika rig. I'm sure it would work though.
Works great I always use a floating worm here because it keeps the worm off the heavy weeded floor here in Miami.
Arv reply :
Weight or weightless? Yes.
QUAKEnSHAKE reply :
weightless 100%
BigTerp reply :
Thanks!! I'll give both a try when the situation arises.
BuckMaxx reply :
We fish a rig we call the idiot rig when smalleys are in summer pattern. This is a 1/4 oz head wacky style crawled along the bottom. This year I am going to use a drywall nail in one end to get it to stand up in the bottom.
Siebert Outdoors reply :
On 3/6/2014 at 11:05 PM, Jrob78 said:I'm not a fan of fishing stickbaits with weights. I think it kills the natural action that's built into the bait. The exception to that would be wacky rigging in deeper water or drop shotting. For shallow water like you describe, I would fish it weightless.
This is my same opinion.
Catt reply :
On 3/6/2014 at 11:07 PM, Fishing Rhino said:It's no different than any other plastic bait when it comes to weightless or not. It depends on currents, depths, and the type of fishing that suits you.
I rarely fish a wacky rig weightless, even in shallow water. Some of my friends prefer to fish them weightless, even in deeper water. You'll need to experiment to find what suits you best.
YELP! 
ww2farmer reply :
Both, and both ways texas rigged too.
Felix77 reply :
I prefer weightless. As a co-angler in tournaments there are times when we are moving at a faster clip. In those cases I can put a flick shake on and get the wacky worm down there faster. Helps me keep pace with the boater and get some sick strikes when this is on.
Fishing Rhino reply :
On 3/8/2014 at 12:21 AM, Felix77 said:I prefer weightless. As a co-angler in tournaments there are times when we are moving at a faster clip. In those cases I can put a flick shake on and get the wacky worm down there faster. Helps me keep pace with the boater and get some sick strikes when this is on.
Ah, a Jackall. I used to use them all the time. But I now prefer these. When fishing in vegetation, grass and other plant stems can wrap around the eye and the shank. After a while, the weed guard falls off from getting bent and realigned.
This thing sheds grass and plants like water rolls off a duck's back. The weed guards are titanium and are like spring steel. You can twist 'em, flex 'em, and they snap right back into shape. Notice where the eye is located. No shank for grass to wrap around. My problem is they are lead, and cannot be used in Massachusetts waters. But, when I'm out of state, on waters where lead is not banned, it's what I use. Price is around the same as the Jackall or the Inichi wacky hooks.
Darren. reply :
On 3/8/2014 at 9:39 AM, Fishing Rhino said:Ah, a Jackall. I used to use them all the time. But I now prefer these. When fishing in vegetation, grass and other plant stems can wrap around the eye and the shank. After a while, the weed guard falls off from getting bent and realigned.
This thing sheds grass and plants like water rolls off a duck's back. The weed guards are titanium and are like spring steel. You can twist 'em, flex 'em, and they snap right back into shape. Notice where the eye is located. No shank for grass to wrap around. My problem is they are lead, and cannot be used in Massachusetts waters. But, when I'm out of state, on waters where lead is not banned, it's what I use. Price is around the same as the Jackall or the Inichi wacky hooks.
That'd be the Gamakatsu G-Finesse, right?
Fishing Rhino reply :
On 3/8/2014 at 9:49 AM, DarrenM said:That'd be the Gamakatsu G-Finesse, right?
You are correct. Gamakatsu G-Finesse Series Wacky Jig Head.
Darren. reply :
On 3/8/2014 at 10:03 AM, Fishing Rhino said:You are correct. Gamakatsu G-Finesse Series Wacky Jig Head.
On my list to eventually try. Cost has kept me from them for now. Happened to pick up several packs of the Owner Wacky Jig Head in 1/8 oz. But so far they've disappointed me -- in so far as the hook strength is, well, not strong. At least it bends easy on a snag.
I've brought in 4" diameter waterlogged branches on Gamakatsu hooks without bending so easily. Which would explain why I like the Buckeye Flick-It wacky jigs. They use Gammy hooks!
Fishing Rhino reply :
One important note. Because of the configuration of the tying point on the jig head, the line is susceptible to damage, particularly on rocky bottom. With a Jackall type of jig head, it's the front of the weight that is making most of the contact with rocks, not the line. With the Gamakatsu, the knot is the leading edge. Even if you do not detect fraying on the line, the loop(s) around the tying "bar" are taking a beating.
On a couple of occasions, The bait has parted company from the line. I have found there is a partial loop at the end of the line, showing the failure was due to that leading edge gradually wearing away. Retie frequently, whether you think it needs it or not.
bitsandbass reply :
How much would you guys say a weightless wackey rig weighs (1/0 bass hook, 5" senko)?
Just trying to work backwards and figure out what rating rod would be best for this setup. Thanks.
PAbasser927 reply :
A 5” Senko is 3/8 oz by itself. I’m not sure a 1/0 hook would even register a meaningful difference on the kitchen scale I used to get my baselines (measured in grams and converted to oz).
FishDewd reply :
Depends on what stickbait it is, and what the conditions are like. A senko doesn't usually need much help getting down unless it some current/chop on the water. Sometimes when you get a current it can cause some side-side shimmy that will carry the senko kinda weirdly as it falls. Easy to mistake for a fish, for me at least. In such a case I like to use a wacky hook with a small 1/16oz or so weight attached to it. This makes it come down true, and also tends to make it fall weight-first which means the hook is in an easily strikeable position as it sinks. I also like a small weight for buoyant baits, like a TRD or similar. Without a weight it's going nowhere lol. Otherwise, for sinking baits like a senko, if there's no chop or current to worry about, just rig it weightless and let it do its thing. I've caught a few both ways.
FishDewd reply :
Depends on what stickbait it is, and what the conditions are like. A senko doesn't usually need much help getting down unless it some current/chop on the water. Sometimes when you get a current it can cause some side-side shimmy that will carry the senko kinda weirdly as it falls. Easy to mistake for a fish, for me at least. In such a case I like to use a wacky hook with a small 1/16oz or so weight attached to it. This makes it come down true, and also tends to make it fall weight-first which means the hook is in an easily strikeable position as it sinks. I also like a small weight for buoyant baits, like a TRD or similar. Without a weight it's going nowhere lol. Otherwise, for sinking baits like a senko, if there's no chop or current to worry about, just rig it weightless and let it do its thing. I've caught a few both ways.
FishDewd reply :
Depends on what stickbait it is, and what the conditions are like. A senko doesn't usually need much help getting down unless it some current/chop on the water. Sometimes when you get a current it can cause some side-side shimmy that will carry the senko kinda weirdly as it falls. Easy to mistake for a fish, for me at least. In such a case I like to use a wacky hook with a small 1/16oz or so weight attached to it. This makes it come down true, and also tends to make it fall weight-first which means the hook is in an easily strikeable position as it sinks. I also like a small weight for buoyant baits, like a TRD or similar. Without a weight it's going nowhere lol. Otherwise, for sinking baits like a senko, if there's no chop or current to worry about, just rig it weightless and let it do its thing. I've caught a few both ways.
Graham reply :
I like a 1/8 oz weighted wacky hook. If I’m going weightless I like a t rig.
bassin is addicting reply :
weightless 80% of the time
if weighted...1/16, 1/8 Gamakatsu G-finesses wacky hook.....by far the best weighted wacky hook I've found...for me.
Sam reply :
You want the Senko to "fly like a bird" in the water so no weight, ever.
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