Bass anglers are all crazy. A group of lunatics that sneak out  under the cover of darkness in search of something that swims under the surface then going IKE for the TV cameras when catching one; no matter how big it is. They are a passionate fringe that travels in groups, but stalking their quarry individually with a silent stealth that sends shivers down my back. Obsessed with catching more than the other passionate bassaholics they venture into the dark side using techniques that are off the wall; normally people would say wacky.

 

Think about it, the first plastic worm was designed to be rigged Texas style. The worm body parallel with the hook, not perpendicular. It would be wacky to rig it in the side and try to pull it through cover or cast in open water letting it slowly fall right? Nope, a wacky worm catches fish almost year round, but excels in the spring when bass move up to spawn. The wacky worm’s slow, tantalizing fall is the key to why it catches so many bass.

 

The wacky worm rig consists of a hook and worm with the exception when an angler may add a nail weight to get the wacky rig down fast or to initiate a strike; other anglers will also wrap lead tape to the hook to make the wacky rig fall faster. Since more than half the strikes come when the wacky rig is falling having the rate of fall is critical. Other strikes happen when the wacky rig is sitting on the bottom. Every angler’s wacky rig varies from other anglers. A common wacky rig consists of 12-pound Silver Thread Fluorocarbon fishing line (www.silverthread.com), Bleeding Bait Red Daiichi Catch and Release Hook for Plastics (www.ttiblakemore.com), and a YUM F2 Dinger (www.lurenet.com) on a 7’ medium/heavy rod with a soft tip combined with a fast gear ratio reel. The fluorocarbon line is critical since bass are less likely to see it and increases your sensitivity. That’s really important when bed fishing in the spring. Fluorocarbon line will also sink faster so you can fish faster. Although sometimes overlooked, the hook an angler uses can make the difference between hooking up or just getting a bite. A Bleeding Bait Red Daiichi Catch and Release Hook for Plastics (Model D48Z) were designed just for using with a wacky rig. Unlike other hooks that require an angler to set the hook with a hard, swift motion; an angler just lifts the rod slowly to set the hook. Another benefit is bass seldom get hooked deep inside their throats increasing the odds of catch and release. Every angler would agree that the most important part of a wacky rig is the lure on the hook. Anglers can be extremely selective when picking a soft plastic lure. The most popular lure is a soft stick style like the YUM Dinger. YUM Dingers are loaded with salt and have a scent-infused, highly concentrated blend of enzymes and natural attractants infused in it. Scent and weight of a soft stick lure is vital since it has to smell and look just right when it is falling or sitting on the bottom.

Although an angler could fish with a wacky rig year round, the peak time is in the spring of the year. That’s when more bass are shallow either preparing for the spawn or spawning. Key areas during the spring are near or around shallow wood or close to cover where bass will spawn. The back end of coves, pocket, or bedding areas are also places to key in on. How an angler presents a wacky worm depends on the attitude of the bass that day. Some day’s bass will be aggressive and actively strike any lure casted nearby while other days an angler will have to cast it right next to them and leave it sit. Normally on a wacky rig a bass will simply swim over and inhale the lure. Other days, an angler may have to cast out and let it sit, moving it only slightly periodically.

Bass anglers are all crazy when it comes to fishing and the techniques they use to catch their quarry. Maybe that’s why the wacky rig is so appropriate for bassaholics.