Been fishing a wacky rigged worm for decades! I always have one rigged and ready! Great follow up bait for a missed strike on a top water bait. We use a #67 o-ring (available at Lowe's Home Improvement) doubled mid worm position. Insert the little end of the bait into the doubled o-ring and work it carefully to the center of the bait. This process will release some of the salt from the bait. Insert the hook under the o-ring where the "X" is formed being careful not to hook into the worm body. This will look like the hook is through the body (90°). My go to stick baits are Gary Yamamoto Senko, green pumpkin black flake or Bass Pro Shop's Stik-O worm in same color. I recommend a weedless hook it will save you a lot of frustration when fishing around heavier cover. I use a Gamakatsu Wicked Wacky Weedless Hook in a 2/0 or 3/0 size. Last 3 tips: 1) Keep o-rings out of the sun, UV light will destroy them. 2) Be a LINE WATCHER for those light bites. Most strikes come on the baits fall. Use a line you can see well out of the water. 3) Use the fishing tackle, baits, and bait colors that you have the most confidence in, this is half the battle! Tight Lines!!!
I've been a bass fisherman for nearly 40 years, but only got serious with the Senko in the last 15 or so. TOTAL game changer. All my largest fish (8+ lbs.) have been caught on a Wacky rig.
Get a pack of regular old pen springs. Twist a bit of into senko and snip extra off. Use needle nose pliers to twist and tuck rest of spring in bait. Put hook through spring in bait 👌
One thing I do that can make your bait last longer is to not hook the bait use a thin piece of heat shrink on the bait and run the hook under the shrink you can use surgical tubing or o-rings and even rubber bands. Some times I will screw a small spring with a loop on the top in the bait and hook the spring this allows you to have the hook parallel or perpendicular to the bait.
Good stuff. 2 seasons ago I learned how to use this technique. The only thing you have backwards is structure an cover. Docks riprap grass is cover. Structure is bottom change. Points ledges humps. Another thing that helps is a vmc crossover ring. Give them a try.
How can you determine the salt concentration in each make of Senko? Is it printed on the side of the package or is it something you just learn with usage?
You’ll be able to feel it when you rub the bait down. You can also test it by just dropping it off the side of the boat or bank to see if it’s too fast or slow for you!
Some great tips . Up here in Canada . I use a wacky rig on a drop shot . And the specific wacky jigs . In deeper water for small mouth . The drop shot specifically allows a lot of subtle movement or lack of bear the bottom in deep water
I totally agree about different brands and rates of fall... However, I urge people to try different brands for themselves. I had heard that the Bass Pro Stik-o is virtually identical to the original Senko so I bought some (I actually bought a big, bulk pack based on this assesment)... I found the Stick-O to be the slowest sinking stickbait I've ever used... MUCH slower than a Senko. I dont know if I got a batch where they forgot to salt the Stik-Os, but my experience seems to be very different than that of others.
Your rubber worm wont last long if your hooking it directly. Use an O-ring around middle of worm and run hook between O-Ring and worm. It will last a long time.
See my thing is I have no patience. If you let it fall you don’t know if it’s sitting ontop of weeds or sinking to the bottom. I fish mostly water with crazy weeds
I use a 2/0 hook. Also, I use 2 wacky bands, criss cross them, and hook where they cross so the hook remains perpendicular to the worm, just like hooking thru the worm. If you use one band, the hook runs parallel to the worm, and that's incorrect.
Why is that wrong? I put on two o-rings and stage my hook parallel + slightly toward the thicker end, wobbles nicely in the water and near 100% hookup rate.
@@Pugsgunsandstuff there's no 1 video to prove this. It's my opinion after watching thousands of videos. Almost everytime they hit the wacky worm sideways
Put in some nail weight to change up the action every now and then. Nothing wrong with losing bait, it just means you’re getting bites, which is the hard part. The rest is just fishing
Everything you mentioned in this video is called Bass’n 101 are common sense! But the #1 mistakes I see guys doing when fishing a wack worm you didn’t mention and I seen you do the same thing…. Good luck, I hope you get a million likes.
Been fishing a wacky rigged worm for decades! I always have one rigged and ready! Great follow up bait for a missed strike on a top water bait. We use a #67 o-ring (available at Lowe's Home Improvement) doubled mid worm position. Insert the little end of the bait into the doubled o-ring and work it carefully to the center of the bait. This process will release some of the salt from the bait. Insert the hook under the o-ring where the "X" is formed being careful not to hook into the worm body. This will look like the hook is through the body (90°). My go to stick baits are Gary Yamamoto Senko, green pumpkin black flake or Bass Pro Shop's Stik-O worm in same color. I recommend a weedless hook it will save you a lot of frustration when fishing around heavier cover. I use a Gamakatsu Wicked Wacky Weedless Hook in a 2/0 or 3/0 size.
Last 3 tips:
1) Keep o-rings out of the sun, UV light will destroy them.
2) Be a LINE WATCHER for those light bites. Most strikes come on the baits fall. Use a line you can see well out of the water.
3) Use the fishing tackle, baits, and bait colors that you have the most confidence in, this is half the battle! Tight Lines!!!
I've been a bass fisherman for nearly 40 years, but only got serious with the Senko in the last 15 or so. TOTAL game changer. All my largest fish (8+ lbs.) have been caught on a Wacky rig.
O rings save your bait. I never have to worry about hook tearing bait. Great video. Thanks for sharing.
Get a pack of regular old pen springs. Twist a bit of into senko and snip extra off. Use needle nose pliers to twist and tuck rest of spring in bait. Put hook through spring in bait 👌
One thing I do that can make your bait last longer is to not hook the bait use a thin piece of heat shrink on the bait and run the hook under the shrink you can use surgical tubing or o-rings and even rubber bands. Some times I will screw a small spring with a loop on the top in the bait and hook the spring this allows you to have the hook parallel or perpendicular to the bait.
Super informative Video man! New Sub from Indiana, keep on Fishin!
Thank you so much! I’m a big pacers fan and appreciate the comment!
@@midwesttestfishing5798 Pacers have a heck of a Team right now, we're still licking our wounds about the Colts around here!!
Shrink wrap tube helps with keeping your bait on the hook.
Good stuff. 2 seasons ago I learned how to use this technique. The only thing you have backwards is structure an cover. Docks riprap grass is cover. Structure is bottom change. Points ledges humps. Another thing that helps is a vmc crossover ring. Give them a try.
Appreciate the heads up!
Can’t wait for the next one. Hopefully one about dropshot. Still haven’t conquered this technique to be confident using🙏🏻
you got it!
How can you determine the salt concentration in each make of Senko? Is it printed on the side of the package or is it something you just learn with usage?
You’ll be able to feel it when you rub the bait down. You can also test it by just dropping it off the side of the boat or bank to see if it’s too fast or slow for you!
Some great tips . Up here in Canada . I use a wacky rig on a drop shot . And the specific wacky jigs . In deeper water for small mouth . The drop shot specifically allows a lot of subtle movement or lack of bear the bottom in deep water
Interesting! That’s not super common but I like it!
I totally agree about different brands and rates of fall... However, I urge people to try different brands for themselves. I had heard that the Bass Pro Stik-o is virtually identical to the original Senko so I bought some (I actually bought a big, bulk pack based on this assesment)... I found the Stick-O to be the slowest sinking stickbait I've ever used... MUCH slower than a Senko. I dont know if I got a batch where they forgot to salt the Stik-Os, but my experience seems to be very different than that of others.
Interesting!
How did you get footage of the bass biting the rig? Way cool
Thank you! I was using a GoPro underwater off of a dock filming the action of the bait and a bass came out of no where and bit it😂
I’ve been using a #1 drop shot hook.
What’s your favorite brand of stick bait to fish with?
Original GY Senko.
How is the proper hook and use of a wacky o-ring not part of this video?….
Your rubber worm wont last long if your hooking it directly. Use an O-ring around middle of worm and run hook between O-Ring and worm. It will last a long time.
I use O-Rings. Not only is more of the hook exposed, the hook can't tear the Senko.
See my thing is I have no patience. If you let it fall you don’t know if it’s sitting ontop of weeds or sinking to the bottom. I fish mostly water with crazy weeds
I’m your fan for bass finishing and I wanted to known what size hooks for stick baits please
Appreciate the comment! I’d go for the biggest hook you can get away with but anywhere in the 1/0 to 3/0 for a five inch stick bait is a good start
I mean wacky rig six inch worm and 5 inch stick for hook size at bank ok and you doing great bass fishing ok 👍
I use a 2/0 hook. Also, I use 2 wacky bands, criss cross them, and hook where they cross so the hook remains perpendicular to the worm, just like hooking thru the worm. If you use one band, the hook runs parallel to the worm, and that's incorrect.
For sure that’s a great tip
Why is that wrong? I put on two o-rings and stage my hook parallel + slightly toward the thicker end, wobbles nicely in the water and near 100% hookup rate.
@@Pugsgunsandstuffvideo evidence shows that bass bite wacky rigs from the side.
@@johnblumeraitis2475 video?
@@Pugsgunsandstuff there's no 1 video to prove this. It's my opinion after watching thousands of videos. Almost everytime they hit the wacky worm sideways
The category is called stick baits... sankos are a brand model.
If you're gonna go on a knowledge parade, learn how to spell.
@@zombiediarhea l can't believe you made me second guess myself and double check. Lol ... what word are you having trouble with?
@@genoadams2463Senko
@@jamesjellissen7371 If you young men only knew lol....
@@genoadams2463 Sanko. It's Senko. Don't worry about it, though....his username is spelled wrong.
Boom 💥
Put in some nail weight to change up the action every now and then. Nothing wrong with losing bait, it just means you’re getting bites, which is the hard part. The rest is just fishing
Everything you mentioned in this video is called Bass’n 101 are common sense! But the #1 mistakes I see guys doing when fishing a wack worm you didn’t mention and I seen you do the same thing…. Good luck, I hope you get a million likes.
👍
I think the more salted worms sink slower.