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What is a Whacky Worm Rig?

One will wonder if the fisherman who made it knows how to fish at all when one first sees a Wacky Worm Rig. Wacky Worm Rigs include a typical rubber worm with a hook positioned in the middle (used for many other forms of rigs). It almost seems like someone hooked the worm unexpectedly. However, what makes the Wacky Worm Rig so amazing is its weedless capabilities and action. You have to wonder if the fisherman who made it knows how to fish at all when you first see a Wacky Worm Rig. Wacky Worm Rigs include a typical rubber worm with a hook positioned in the middle (used for many other forms of rigs). It almost seems like someone hooked the worm unexpectedly. However, what makes the Wacky Worm Rig so amazing is its weedless capabilities and action.

Technically, to set up a Wacky Worm Rig, this is all one needs to do, but more experienced fishermen prefer to apply reinforcement to the worm where the hook is threaded. To avoid premature tearing of the hook, o-rings, rubber bands, and fishing line may all be wrapped around the center of the worm. If one wants it to travel parallel to the worm's body, they can also connect the hook without penetrating the worm. It has been noticed that for bass, either approach works well.

How to make a Whacky Worm Rig?

In order to make a proper Wacky Worm Rig, there's a particular order one needs to observe. However, the exact technique is outlined below.

Tie a hook onto the line first. The Wacky Worm rig has been around long enough that manufacturers of hooks have begun to explicitly build hooks for it. If one is not able to find a hook that says it's for Wacky Worm Rigs, look for hooks that come with a weed guard and have a circular shape.

Hook your plastic lure of preference straight through the middle, leaving the other side with around half an inch of the exposed hook. Rubber bait like the Senko worms by Gary Yamamoto works well as far as lures go. One can even use worms with tails, rubber frogs, or even imitation squids or mice. One just have to make sure to hook them through the center.

Be sure to put an o-ring or tiny rubber band around the worm where the hook is, if one wants to maximize the durability of their lure. When jerking the worm underwater to attract fish, this will give the worm added help. When you hook a fish or get snagged, it'll also keep the worm from tearing.

One can add a split shot weight to their line near the hook or a little way up the line, depending on how they want to fish the rig. This will help to pull the rig faster down the bottom and works well for methods of lift and drop / crawl and drag.

Tackle needed for fishing Wacky Worm

For Wacky Worm fishing, the type of rod and reel required depends on the type of fish one is going for. A great buying guide is put for reels that takes into account durability, price, and much more if one is going for bass.

As far as rods go, just make sure that it can endure 8 to 10 lb of line and up to 17 lbs of drag. When muscling a bass out of the water, most anglers love using a medium to heavier action rod for the extra power they offer. The last thing one wants to do is to let their line tangle around grass or submerged logs with the bass.

The tip speed of the rods should also be taken into account-one won't be able to cast as far if the tip is too fast, but also won't be as precise if it's too slow. For bass, for the additional leverage and strength required to corral a strong fish, it is suggest to lean towards the quicker side. Crankbait rods are thought to be the perfect option. If one is looking to buy a new one, check out our crankbait rod buying guide!

Fishing line types

In clearer water with less grass, it is suggested to use monofilament or fluorocarbon, much like many other bass rigs. For fishing in weeds or close to underwater structures, a fluorocarbon line is safer. Braided lines are also resistant to rock and other debris scratches, but can break. Braided and fluorocarbon lines have limited stretch, ensuring that one's Wacky Worm Rig would be able to feel a bass bite quickly.

Steps to Fish a Wacky Worm Rig

The Lift and Drop

For areas with less coverage, the Raise and Drop approach works best. The action on the Wacky Worm Rig is more likely to capture structures (such as weeds and rocks) underwater.

One should cast the lure in the direction where they think the fish are hiding.

Let the Wacky Worm Rig settle on the surface.

In any slack in the string, keep your rod tip pointing toward the rig and reel.

When one feels the rig touching the bottom, they should gently jerk up 6 inches to a foot with their rod tip so that the lure jumps off the bottom.

Repeat the process after allowing the rig to settle back on the bottom for a second.

Much like the Crawl and Drag system, one should try to shift at various speeds and see what the fish like.

Sometimes, when the lure flutters back to the bottom, a bass may strike. Offer the rod a pull if one feels something strange!

The Crawl and Drag

For all water environments, including heavy underwater cover, the Crawl and Drag system functions well.

Throw your lure towards where you think the fish (weeds, rocks, underwater logs, etc.) are hidden.

To the rim, let the Wacky Worm Rig settle.

In any slack in the thread, keep your rod tip pointing toward the rig and reel.

To make the Wacky Worm Rig 'crawl' along the bottom, slowly raise your rod.

Lower it back down and reel in the slack in the line once you've raised the rod 6 inches to one foot.

Enable the Wacky Worm Rig to settle for a second back on the bottom and repeat

To see what the fish want, one should try doing the motion at various speeds.

When one feels a tap on their line, give it a short jerk. They'll know if it's a bass!

The Swimming Method

The bass is actively looking for food in the spring and fall the use of swimming approach is best at that time .

Lure should be casted from where one believes the fishes are hidding.

For a few seconds, let the lure slowly sink. Start to reel the lure in until the Wacky Worm Rig hits the bottom.

To make the lure swim just above the bottom and at different speeds, adjust the speed at which you reel in.

Every once in a while, one can jerk the rod to mimic a wounded animal.

If a tap on ones line makes them feel something strange, a short jerk can be given to set the hook.

3 tricks to master The Wacky Rig

There's not much better at producing strikes than a wacky worm in the sense of bass fishing lures. The subtle shimmy they have on the fall, despite their unnatural nature, is a straight catnip to the brains of bass everywhere.

However, as good as they are at having bites, there is certainly a learning curve linked to being a master of the wacky worm.

To take your wacky worming skills to the next level, check out these three tips.

Use Braid

Missed and dead fish are the two main drawbacks of fishing for a wacky worm. By flipping your main line from monofilament to braid (with or without a fluorocarbon leader), both of these can be significantly lowered and sometimes avoided. Missed fish occur when the line is loose, creating a weak collection of hooks. There is no stretch for Braid, because when you get a bite and set the hook, regardless of slack, it pushes deeper into the fish's mouth. Missing fish are also attributed to break-offs, as snaggy cover such as docks and laydowns are often full of many of the best places to throw a wacky worm. Braid is super strong and resilient, so one can just keep pressure on him and slowly work him free when that bass wraps one around a dock piling.

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