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Soft Plastic Rigging Guide: Wacky Rig
What Is It?
The Wacky Rig is a unique finesse fishing style that involves hooking a soft plastic worm right through the middle. The presentation creates a shimmying and wiggling worm as the bait falls through the water column that is excellent at triggering strikes from bass.
How To Rig It
There are a few different ways to set up the Wacky Rig. The most simple way is to pierce the hook through the center of the worm. The biggest problem with rigging wacky worms this way is they get torn up pretty quickly, and you can find yourself burning through worms way too fast.
Now, more often than not, you’ll see anglers using O-rings as harnesses to Wacky Rigs. Some anglers choose to still pierce the worm so that the ring acts as the reinforcement. The rings are put on with an O-ring tool. Octopus/drop shot hooks, worm hooks, and wide gap hooks are all great hook-type choices for the Wacky Rig. There are even hooks created specifically for Wacky Rigs and weedless Wacky Rigs. For a weighted option, try a Wacky Rig jighead.
How To Fish It
Simply cast the lure at or past your target and allow it to sink on a semi-slack line. Be sure to give the lure enough slack that it is allowed to fall freely and straight downward. Not enough slack will result in the lure falling unnaturally, gliding toward you instead of straight down. Too much slack will not allow you to watch your line for bites in the fall. Experiment with a few casts until you find the sweet spot.
Tips & Tricks
How to Fish a Wacky Rig
Wacky Rig Tips
4 Different Wacky Rigging Methods
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Z-Man Finesse TRD (The Real Deal) 8 pack
$4.99$3.744.96 / 5.0
191 Reviews
Features: The Z-Man Finesse TRD is a 2 3/4 inch soft stickbait specially and specifically designed for the increasingly popular Ned rig Midwest fi...
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Gary Yamamoto Senko 5 inch Soft Plastic Stick Bait 10 pack
$7.99$7.194.94 / 5.0
16 Reviews
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Owner Mosquito Drop Shot Hook
$2.79$2.375.0 / 5.0
15 Reviews
Features: The Owner Mosquito Hook is a light wire hook designed specifically for dropshotting. Bent down eye allows the hook to come off the line ...
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Z-Man Big TRD (The Real Deal) 6 pack
$4.99$3.744.94 / 5.0
82 Reviews
Features: The Z-Man Big TRD is a 4 inch soft stickbait specially and specifically designed for the increasingly popular Ned rig Midwest finesse te...
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ICAST WINNER
VMC Crossover Ring 10 pack
$5.99$4.494.89 / 5.0
38 Reviews
Features: The VMC® Crossover Rings™ are rigging rings with a dual-channel hood that allows for either Neko or Wacky style rigging. Increases hook...
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Berkley PowerBait MaxScent The General Soft Stickbait
$7.99$5.994.92 / 5.0
24 Reviews
Features: The Berkley PowerBait MaxScent The General is a soft stickbait made from an all-new material that releases a super-charged scent field a...
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Roboworm Straight Tail Worm 4 1/2 inch Soft Plastic Worm 10 pack
$4.99$4.245.0 / 5.0
16 Reviews
Features: The Roboworm Straight Tail Worm is a 4 1/2 inch stick bait that has become a soft plastic staple all over the world. Great for drop shot...
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Roboworm Straight Tail Worm 6 inch Soft Plastic Worm 10 pack
$5.99$5.095.0 / 5.0
8 Reviews
Features: The Roboworm Straight Tail Worm is a 6 inch soft stick bait that has become a soft plastic staple all over the world. Great for drop sho...
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Keitech Tungsten Super Round Jig Heads
$4.995.0 / 5.0
21 Reviews
Size Hook Size Quantity 1/16 oz 4, 2, 1, 1/0, 2/0, or 3/0 4 pack 3/32 oz 1, 2, 3, or 4 4 pack 1/8 oz 1/0, 2/0, or 3/0 3 pack 3/16 oz ...
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Gary Yamamoto Senko 4 inch Soft Plastic Stick Bait - 10 pack
$7.99$7.195.0 / 5.0
17 Reviews
Features: The Gary Yamamoto Senko is the original soft plastic bass fishing stickbait. Design that popularized the incredibly effective soft plast...
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YUM Dinger Soft Plastic Stick Bait
from $3.494.97 / 5.0
29 Reviews
Features: The YUM Dinger is a versatile soft plastic stick bait with subtle, lifelike action that doesn't break the bank. Works well with a variet...
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Z-Man Hula StickZ 4 inch Skirted Soft Stickbait
$4.99$3.744.98 / 5.0
40 Reviews
Features: The Z-Man Hula StickZ are 4 inch soft stickbaits made from Z-Man's super durable ElaZtech plastic material. Salt-impregnated, 10X Tou...
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Owner Mosquito Light Finesse Hook
$3.25$2.765.0 / 5.0
19 Reviews
Features: The Owner Mosquito Light Hook is designed for ultra-light fishing conditions. Ideal for rigging finesse-type baits and small live baits....
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Z-Man Bang StickZ 5 3/4 inch Skirted Soft Stickbait
$4.99$3.744.89 / 5.0
19 Reviews
Features: The Z-Man Bang StickZ are 5 3/4 inch soft stickbaits made from Z-Man's super durable ElaZtech plastic material. The "tentacle skirt" a...
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Gary Yamamoto 6 Inch Senko Soft Plastic Stick Bait - 5 Pack
$6.99$6.294.8 / 5.0
15 Reviews
Features: The Gary Yamamoto Senko is the original soft plastic bass fishing stickbait, and the 6 Inch design is a tempting offering for monsters! ...
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Zoom Trick Worm 6 1/2 inch Soft Plastic Worm 20 pack
$6.494.96 / 5.0
27 Reviews
Features: The Zoom Trick Worm is amazing fished weightless around shallow cover, but also deadly on a Carolina rig or shakey head. Highly effectiv...
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Gary Yamamoto 5 Inch Thin Senko Soft Plastic Stick Bait - 10 Pack
$7.99$7.194.67 / 5.0
3 Reviews
Features: The Yamamoto Thin Senko is a 5 inch thinner version of the Gary Yamamoto's original and iconic Senko stickbait worm. The Gary Yamamoto T...
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Strike King Shim-E-Stick 5 inch Soft Plastic Stickbait
$4.99$4.245.0 / 5.0
4 Reviews
Features: The Strike King Shim-E-Stick is a classic 5 inch soft plastic stickbait. Super soft to give the perfect "shimmy" on the fall. Heavily sa...
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Gamakatsu Black Octopus Hook
from $4.39from $3.784.91 / 5.0
11 Reviews
Features: Gamakatsu Octopus Hook is one of the most versatile fishing hooks that has long been known for its durability and strength. These hooks a...
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Strike King KVD Ocho Soft Plastic Stickbait
$6.99$5.945.0 / 5.0
14 Reviews
Features: The Strike King KVD Ocho is a soft plastic stickbait with a unique 8-sided design. Made from the KVD Perfect Plastics special blend of m...
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Gamakatsu Round Jig Head 5 pack
$7.09$6.105.0 / 5.0
6 Reviews
Features: Gamakatsu Round Jig Heads are useful for a variety of soft plastic baits and these heads feature the ultra-sharp Gamakatsu hooks for pos...
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VMC "Ike Approved" Wacky Weedless Hook
$5.99$4.494.8 / 5.0
10 Reviews
Features: The VMC Wacky Weedless Hook is a light wire finesse hook for wacky rigging soft plastics. Wire weedguard that lays into the hook to keep...
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VMC Weedless Neko Hook Black Nickel 5 pack
$6.49$4.875.0 / 5.0
11 Reviews
Features: The VMC Neko Hook is designed specifically by "Ike" Iaconelli for Neko-rigging in snaggy cover. Forged with a 3-degree offset for improv...
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Strike King ElazTech Super Finesse Worm
$6.99$5.945.0 / 5.0
4 Reviews
*Note: do not store ElazTech soft plastics in the same containers as standard plastisol-based soft plastic baits, chemical interaction will melt th...
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Roboworm Straight Tail Worm 7 inch Soft Plastic Worm 8 pack
$5.99$5.095.0 / 5.0
12 Reviews
Features: The Roboworm Straight Tail Worm is a 7 inch soft stick bait that has become a soft plastic staple all over the world. Great for drop sho...
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VMC 6mm Neko/Wacky Rigging Rings 15 pack
$3.99$2.994.33 / 5.0
3 Reviews
Features: VMC Neko Rigging Rings are 6mm rubber O-rings for helping you Neko or wacky rig soft plastics. Ring rigging secures hooks to the worm wi...
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VMC Finesse Neko Hook 5 pack
$6.99$5.245.0 / 5.0
6 Reviews
Features: The VMC Finesse Neko Hook is finesse hook for Neko rigging applications. Engineered with a 3-degree offset point for a better hook up ra...
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VMC "Ike Approved" Wide Gap Wacky Hooks
from $3.49from $2.625.0 / 5.0
4 Reviews
Features: VMC Wacky Hooks are extra wide gap, black nickel octopus hooks designed primarily for wacky rigging or dropshotting finesse plastic bait...
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Xzone True Center Stick Soft Plastic Stickbait 8 pack
from $4.99from $4.245.0 / 5.0
10 Reviews
Features: The Xzone Pro-Series True Center Stick is a super salty, super soft Senko-style soft plastic stickbait with a unique, marked "Wacky Zone"...
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Zoom Finesse Worm 4 1/4 inch Soft Plastic Worm 20 pack
$5.995.0 / 5.0
7 Reviews
Features: The Zoom Finesse Worm is a 4 1/2 inch soft plastic worm. Finesse worm profile. Slim, gradually tapering worm. Salt-impregnated for bette...
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Strike King Zero ElazTech 5 inch Soft Stickbait
$4.99$4.244.83 / 5.0
6 Reviews
Features: The Strike King Zero ElazTech Soft Stickbait is a 5 inch ElazTech soft plastic "Senko-style" worm. Compared to other soft baits made fro...
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VMC Crossover Ring Rigging Pliers
$16.99$12.744.77 / 5.0
13 Reviews
Features: The VMC Crossover Pliers are a rigging tool designed for use with the new VMC Crossover Neko/Wacky rings. Makes both Neko and Wacky rigg...
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Strike King KVD Finesse Worm Straight Tail Soft Plastic Worm
from $6.49from $5.525.0 / 5.0
11 Reviews
Features: The Strike King KVD Finesse Worm is a soft plastic straight tail worm. Designed in collaboration with 4-time Bassmaster Classic Winner K...
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Big Bite Baits Trick Stick Soft Plastic Stickbait - 5 Inch
from $3.29from $2.474.79 / 5.0
14 Reviews
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Gary Yamamoto 5 Inch Kut Tail Worm - 10 Pack
$5.99$5.394.75 / 5.0
4 Reviews
Features: The Yamamoto Baits Kut Tail Worm 5 inch is a finesse Senko worm with a cut-shaped tail to give it extra action. Ideal for lunker largemo...
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Strike King KVD Bull Worm 8 inch Soft Plastic Worm 5 pack
from $6.49from $5.524.86 / 5.0
7 Reviews
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Zoom Magnum Trick Worm 7 inch Soft Plastic Worm 8 pack
$6.495.0 / 5.0
2 Reviews
The Magnum Trick Worm is a key choice for anglers who want to present a slightly beefier package to fish that might be spooked by something with mo...
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Gambler Ace 5 1/4 inch Soft Stickbait 8 pack
$4.795.0 / 5.0
6 Reviews
Features: The Gambler Ace is 5 1/4 inch Senko-style soft plastic stickbait. One of the most productive stick baits in the South. Falls slower, whic...
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VMC Wacky Weedless Jig Head 4 pack
$7.99$5.994.5 / 5.0
2 Reviews
Features: The VMC Wacky Weedless Jig Head is a weedless wacky jig with a 1/0 hook designed by Ike Iaconelli. Hook point is offset by 3-degrees to ...
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Gambler Fat Ace Soft Plastic Stickbait 5 pack
from $4.795.0 / 5.0
3 Reviews
Features: The Gambler Fat Ace is a soft plastic stickbait with a similar Senko-like shape to the Gambler Ace, but just with a thicker profile. Same...
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Mustad 10546 Drop Shot/Live Bait Hook 6 pack
$3.49$2.975.0 / 5.0
2 Reviews
Features: The Mustad 10546 Drop Shot/Live Bait Hook is a fine wire octopus hook specially designed for drop shot rigs. Opti-Angle Needle Point and...
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Gamakatsu G-Finesse Weedless Wacky Hooks
$11.98$10.305.0 / 5.0
1 Review
Features: The Gamakatsu G-Finesse Weedless Wacky Hook is a set of wide gap hooks that are great for wacky rigging. They also feature a weed guard ...
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Lunkerhunt Lunker Sticks 5 inch Soft Plastic Stickbait 10 pack
$5.99$5.095.0 / 5.0
5 Reviews
Features: Lunkerhunt Lunker Sticks are 5 inch, Senko-style soft plastic stickbaits. Durable salt impregnated plastic that can survive multiple fish...
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Eagle Claw Lazer Sharp Wacky Worm Tool
$5.99$5.095.0 / 5.0
3 Reviews
Features: The Eagle Claw Lazer Sharp Wacky Worm Tool helps anglers wacky rig soft plastic stickbaits and worms with O-rings. Hollow metal construc...
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Gary Yamamoto 7.75 Inch Kut Tail Worm - 5 Pack
from $6.89from $6.203.0 / 5.0
1 Review
Size Quantity 7 3/4" (19 cm) 5 Pack Gary Yamamoto's Kut Tail Worm is ideal for lunker largemouth. They are similar to their now famous Sen...
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Keitech Easy Shaker 4 1/2 Soft Plastic Worm 10 pack
$4.995.0 / 5.0
2 Reviews
The Keitech Easy Shaker features a ringed body that gives it a bigger silhouette, while still allowing it to maintain a thin core for maximum flexi...
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Mustad 10548 Double Wide Gap Bait/Drop Shot Hook
$3.49$2.975.0 / 5.0
1 Review
Features: The Mustad 10548 Double Wide Gap Bait/Drop Shot Hook is a fine wire octopus hook with a gap double the size of typical drop shot hooks. ...
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Berkley PowerBait The General Soft Stickbait
$5.99$4.494.89 / 5.0
9 Reviews
Features: The Berkley PowerBait The General is a classic "Senko-style" soft stickbait laced with Berkley's proprietary PowerBait attractant. Class...
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