How to Fish Wacky Style for Big Bass

The first time I saw someone throw a wacky rig, I laughed out loud and thought the guy either had no clue how to rig a plastic worm or was just testing me to see if I would notice the error in his rigging technique. In fact, I was pretty darn close to grabbing his line and “fixing” it for him. As it turned out, he knew a lot more about getting big bass to bite than I did.

Never in a million years would I have imagined that a rig so simple could attract big bass. Needless to say, I wasn’t laughing long as I watched him reel in one fish after another right in front of my eyes. Of course, it didn’t take long for me to decide to test it out myself, and now I’m a huge fan of the wacky rig. Check out my quick summary of the tackle you need to fish a wacky rig, how to rig it, where to use it, and why it works so well.

The Tackle You Need

4″ to 6″ soft plastic stick bait worms (Gambler Aces or YUM Dingers will work), 2/0 or 3/0 hook with an open throat, 10 to 12 lb fluorocarbon leader tied to braided line. Using braided main line is important when fishing wacky style since braid has virtually no stretch and allows you to achieve a better hook set. I usually use 2/0 or 3/0 offset worm hooks so I can change up my rig quickly if I need to, but tackle companies like Mustad and Luck”E”Strike USA also make wacky jig head hooks with weed guards that you can use when fishing in areas with cover (shown in the photo above).

How to Rig Wacky Style

Insert the hook right through the middle of your soft plastic bait so that the ends hang down on both sides. Use the wacky rig hooks with weed guards if you are casting into heavy cover and have a concern about getting snagged. From there, just cast and allow your rig to sink to the desired depth. Give your rod tip a twitch every now and then to give both ends of the worm a bit of motion the water. If there is current or wind, you can use the weighted jig heads to increase the sink rate of your rig. You’ll probably discover that the majority of your hits will take place on the initial fall.

Where to Fish Wacky

Unless you are using a special hook with a weed guard, avoid fishing wacky style near thick cover because the hook will be exposed and you’ll spend a lot of time “de-weeding” your hook. This rig is ideal for skip casting, so you can fish it around docks, riprap, laydowns effectively. Wacky rigs also tend to work well when fished around weedlines or grass edges.

Why it Works

The two ends of the soft plastic straight-tail worm produce a twitch and wiggle motion when fished wacky style. This is why it works most effectively when fished in clear water conditions. The bonus is that you can use it to attract both shallow and deep feeding bass. The worm flutters down to the bottom with more vibration versus the more subtle undulation that takes place when fishing Texas or Carolina rig.

Now that you know how to fish wacky style for big bass using soft plastic stick baits, learn about selecting the right crankbaits for bass depending on water depth and clarity.