GEAR
WACKY RIGGING
SMARTER WACKY RIGGING
F
THERE’S MORE TO A WACKY RIG THAN A SIMPLE WORM AND HOOK
ifteen years ago, the wacky rig was considered a “win-
dow bait,” used mostly in the clear shallows during the
spawning period. Once fry-guarders left the bank, that
spawning window closed and the wacky rig was put away for
the season.
These days, however, the wacky rig has become a staple
on the pros’ front decks, quietly earning a spot right next to
the ChatterBaits and shaky heads in spring, summer and fall.
The practical range of depths for wacky rig use has expand-
ed as well, from 5 feet or less all the way down to 30 to 40 feet.
Meanwhile, premium water visibility for wacky rigging has
shrunk from 3 feet to as little as 10 inches. In short, the modern
wacky rig is widely regarded as a viable and versatile finesse
option that now covers more real estate – and with more suc-
cess – than ever before.
Wacky and Variations
56
A wacky rig is a simple, yet complex lure. It’s simple
because it’s nothing more than a straight-tail finesse worm or
Yamamoto Senko-style soft plastic hooked right in its middle.
Above the water, it looks like a useless piece of plastic
drooped over a hook. But once it hits the water, the wacky rig
comes to life with an undulating, wavering action that some
pros refer to as a “sexy shimmy” or “death quiver.”
Retaining this unique quivering action is important, and
this is where things get a little complicated. The action can be
altered drastically by using different components, particularly
by adding weight. Nail and Neko rigs are assembled with
weight in the tail, while Flick Shake or weighted wacky jig-
heads add the weight to the center of the worm.
By Rob Newell
According to western FLW pro Cody Meyer, nail and Neko
rigs are most applicable for targeting fish in deeper water on or
near the bottom. The tail weight causes the worm to sink with
the tail pointed down, for less resistance than a worm rigged
horizontally. True weightless wacky rigs and center-weighted rigs
are better suited for fish suspended up in the water column,
such as under docks, around bushes or in standing timber.
“A Neko rig glides to the bottom faster,” Meyer says. “Once
it’s on the bottom, you can shake it to give it action as it pecks
and hunts along. A true wacky rig, on the other hand, needs
to free-fall and flutter down through the water column for
suspended fish. And a Flick Shake helps speed that fluttering
fall up just a bit to either cover water faster or get it deeper.”
WACKY
JIGHEADS
Buckeye Lures
Flick-It
Jackall Weedless
Wacky Jighead
FLWFISHING.COM I MAY-JUNE 2018