rubber O-ring
5-inch Yamamoto Senko
1/O Gamakatsu Split-Shot/Drop-Shot Hook
Bait option: Reaction Innovations Pocket Rocket
any straight-tail finesse worm
3/32- or 1/8-ounce Zappu Inchi
Weedless Wacky Head
9. Wacky Rig
Rigging tip: Walmart FLW Tour co-angler
Casey O’Donnell improves hookups by
bending out the hook point.
Where to use it: Scattered grass and
docks are prime locations. O’Donnell feels
the rig works best in pressured situations.
How to fish it: O’Donnell fishes the
wacky rig on a slack line, though he
shakes it slightly as it’s falling. When fish-
ing around submerged grass, he’ll let the
bait fall to the outside edge and shake it
just above the grass.
10. Weighted Wacky Rig
Rigging tip: Small-diameter monofilament or
fluorocarbon works best. Watch the line; the
bites often are subtle pickups.
Where to use it: Daniels fishes the weighted
wacky rig strictly in clear-water situations as
it is a visual technique. He also likes to fish it
around boat docks and brush.
How to fish it: The less action the angler
imparts to the rig, the better. Cast it out, let it
fall on a slack line, shake it a few times and
then reel it in to repeat the process.
1/0 Gamakatsu Split Shot/Drop Shot Hook
piece of straw or
shrink tubing
11. Nail-Weight Rig
Rigging tip: Costa FLW Series Western Division angler Ricky Shabazz slides a piece
of straw or shrink tubing up the worm and slips the hook underneath it – paral-
lel with the worm body. This makes the bait last longer and improves hookups.
The hook should be slightly above the midway point of the worm.
Where to use it: Shabazz says the technique is best for depths to 25 feet,
and that anything deeper is better suited for a drop-shot.
How to fish it: Most of the bites will occur on the fall, so Shabazz fish-
es it on a slack line. Once the bait hits bottom, he bounces it along a
few times before retrieving it and making another cast.
Zoom Finesse Worm or any
straight-tail drop-shot worm
Lunker City Insert Weight
AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2016 I FLWFISHING.COM
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