Best Hook for a Wacky Rig: 3 Unique Hook Styles
The power of a wacky rig is undisputed. When fishing gets tough at just about any time of the year, anglers all over the country turn to a spinning setup rigged up with a wacky rig senko to try and get fish in the boat. Hook selection for this technique is incredibly important and if you are struggling to decide which hooks to use, this article will help make your decision easier.
Best Wacky Rig Hooks for Bass
For a wacky rig you really want to look for a short shank, circle style hook. These hooks are compact, ideally shaped for a wacky style rig and generally fairly thin wire which is absolutely key as a wacky rig is best fished on lighter, finesse rigs. This style of hook will give you the best possible hookup ratio when fishing a wacky rig.
Another consideration when choosing wacky rig hooks is whether you want one that is weedless or non-weedless. This will be discussed in more detail in the following sections.
What Size Hook for the Wacky Rig
You want to try your best to match your hook size to the size of the worm you are fishing. Assuming you are fishing a 5 inch wacky rig senko or stickbait (which is what people fish on a wacky rig 90% of the time), a 1/0 hook is widely considered as the best option.
Non Weedless Wacky Hooks - Best for Open Water
If you are fishing in open water you should be looking to go with a standard, non-weedless wacky hook. These hooks do not have any form of weed guard and this ensures that you give yourself the best chance of a good hook up ratio.
My recommendations in this category in no particular order are:
Gamakatsu Finesse Wide Gap Hooks
A firm favorite for a wacky rig for many anglers nationwide. This hook possesses the iconic sharpness we have come to expect from Gamakatsu in a small, compact package. This hook enables fantastic hook sets and fish rarely get off once they are hooked thanks to superb sharpness, a thin-wire diameter and incredible strength.
These hooks can also be used for drop shot.
BKK Predator WG Wacky Rig Hook
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This hook is popular for a reason. It has a sharp angle bend with the point facing back towards the shank of the hook, this allows for reliable hook sets. The needle point allows for effortless piercing of any fish’s mouth. The sharp-angle bend serves as a saddle for your wacky rig worm keeping the bait in place and allowing for optimal presentation. The dark grey is also a color I personally love.
VMC Ike Approved Wacky Hooks
These hooks were designed with the help of previous Bassmaster Classic champion, Mike Iaconelli and lets just say he knows a thing or two about fishing a wacky rig. These hooks feature a round shape and very wide gap which makes for easy rigging and great hook sets. They are some of the sharpest hooks you will find and this makes for great hook sets and means it is unlikely you will lose a fish once it is hooked.
Weedless Wacky Hooks - Best for Isolated Cover
A wacky rig is incredibly effective around any form of isolated cover such as laydowns, brush piles and grass. When fishing this type of cover, you will need some protection to stop you from getting snagged. While no wacky presentation can ever be 100% weedless (because the hook is exposed), there are some fantastic wacky hooks with weed guards that will greatly reduce your chances of getting snagged.
My recommendations in this category in no particular order are:
Gamakatsu G-Finesse Weedless Wacky Hooks
Designed by FLW Tour Pro, Shinichi Fukae, this hook absolutely changed the game for wacky rig fishing around cover. The solidly fixed titanium weedguard fends off cover very well and allows anglers to throw their wacky rigs into some pretty heavy cover without too much risk of getting snagged. My favorite thing about his hook is how thin the weed guards are while still being strong enough to fend off cover. The thin diameter enables bending during a hook set, causing the guards to get out of the way and allowing for a solid hook set.
The hook is made from thin wire while still offering fantastic strength and this coupled with iconic Gamakatsu sharpness enables strong, reliable hook sets.
Owner Weedless Wacky Hook
This hook features the characteristics of the popular standard Owner Wacky Hook reviewed in the section above with the additional benefit of a weed guard. The guard is made from “Flex Nylon” and is highly effective in fending off cover and thus reducing snags. The guard itself is stiff enough to provide protection but allows for sufficient bend during the hook set to enable a phenomenal hook up ratio.
The Owner Weedless Wacky Hook also boasts an incredibly sharp needle point and unique camo-green finish.
VMC Ike Approved Weedless Wacky Hooks
These hooks were designed with the help of previous Bassmaster Classic champion, Mike Iaconelli and lets just say he knows a thing or two about fishing a wacky rig. This hook has a rounder-than-most shape and wide gap making for easy rigging and a great hook up ratio. They are also incredibly sharp.
Features a weed-guard that locks onto the barb of the hook making this hook effective in some pretty solid cover. The guard releases effortlessly on hook sets so you get the best of both worlds in terms of “weedlessness” and hook up ratio.
Wrapping Up
With so many wacky hooks available on the market now, choosing the right one can be very overwhelming. Hopefully this article helped you cut through some of the noise and make your buying decision a little easier!
