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FRESHWATER RIG LIBRARY

Wacky Rig

A hook pierced right through the middle of a soft plastic stick worm. Unweighted or lightly weighted, both ends flutter as it falls slowly.

Best forBass, peacock bass

WhereDocks, shade, shallow cover

MethodSlow fall / twitching

DifficultyEasy

Wacky Rig — BigJoe rig illustration — Main lineWacky / octopus hookStick worm, hooked in the middle

Rig diagram (component order)

Wacky Rig: Main line, Wacky / octopus hook, Stick worm, hooked in the middle

Step-by-step how-to

Standard Wacky Rig How To Graphic — Graphic: Tackle Village, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr

O-Ring Wacky Rig How To Graphic — Graphic: Tackle Village, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr

Weighted Wacky Rig How To Graphic — Graphic: Tackle Village, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr

Step-by-step build instructions

1
Tie the wacky hook directly to the line.
2
Optional: roll an O-ring onto the middle of the worm.
3
Hook it through the middle (or under the O-ring).
4
Leave the point exposed.
5
Cast near cover and let it fall on slack line; the ends flutter.
6
Twitch it up and let it fall again.

BigJoe Tips

Watch the line on the fall; most bites happen then.
O-rings make one worm last for many fish.
Weedless wacky hooks for brushy cover.
Use light line for a slower, natural fall.

Variations

Insert a small nail weight in one end: that’s a Neko rig.
Wacky jig heads for a faster fall.
Smaller worms for sunfish.
Skip it under docks.

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Target Species

Largemouth bassMicropterus nigricans Butterfly peacock bassCichla ocellaris BluegillLepomis macrochirus