There are few lures more versatile for bass anglers than a wacky worm. It’s a clear favorite when it comes to casting into heavy cover. In the article below, you’ll learn which weedless wacky hooks are a must-have addition to your tackle box.
The best weedless wacky hooks are the Harmony Razor Series, the Berkley Fusion19, an offset worm hook with a Senko worm, and VMC weighted weedless jigs. The inclusion of 4 favorites is to cover each distinct type of weedless hook.
Continue below to learn more about how to rig a weedless wacky hook and for tips on how to fish with this rig. You’ll also find a discussion on the differences between a weed guard and a weedless hook.
Weed Guard Vs. Weedless Hook: What’s The Difference?
There’s a difference between a weedless hook and a weed guard. You don’t need a weed guard to be able to fish heavy weeds and brush. However, a weed guard does offer some advantages.
Here’s the difference:
- Weed Guard: These are hooks equipped with a special attachment running from the barb to the top of the hook. This is designed to make it harder for the hook to snag onto submerged debris.
- Weedless(Texas Rig): In this scenario, you take a standard bare hook and rig a soft plastic bait in such a fashion as to prevent it from snagging into the brush.
How to Rig a Weedless Wacky Rig
Here’s how to rig a weedless wacky rig:
- Start with a soft plastic such as a Senko worm or a fluke.
- Grab a worm hook, such as the one found here.
- Feed the bottom of the soft plastic lure through the barb of the hook.
- Pull the soft plastic below the barb until it rests on the top ledge of the hook.
- Insert the barb of the hook through the rear of the soft plastic.
- The barb of the hook should barely be exposed.
You are invited to continue below to learn more about which types of hooks and baits work best on a wacky hook.
What Is The Best Weedless Wacky Hook?
You have a lot of options when it comes to weedless wacky hooks. For this reason, the best option for each of the following weedless hook types is included in this section.
Best Steel Weed Guard: Harmony Fishing Razor Series Wacky Weedless
The Harmony Fishing Razor Series comes fitted with a carbon steel weed guard. This makes this hook the perfect candidate for repeated casting through dense cover. It’s also the most durable option on this list.
If you spend a lot of time dragging a swimbait over submerged timber, then it’s hard to beat the strength of the Harmony Razor Series.
- Price: Click Here
- Size: 1/0
- Material: High Carbon Steel
- Pros: Durability, the weight of the hook, resistance to snagging
- Cons: Hard to bend back into place, cost
Best Fluorocarbon Weed Guard: Berkley Fusion19
The Berkley Fusion19 comes with a fluorocarbon weed guard. It’s a great option for anglers in search of a weed guard and comes in a wide variety of sizes and colors.
There are several advantages to using a fluorocarbon weed guard. First of all, it’s transparent in the water. It’s also easy to maneuver the guard back into place if it gets bent.
- Price: Click Here
- Size: 3/0 to 1
- Material: Fluorocarbon weed guard/steel hook
- Pros: Cost, resistance to snagging, easy to fix hook
- Cons: Not as durable
Best Weedless Rig: Worm Hook & Senko Worm
The most popular Texas rig setup is a Senko worm on a 1/0 offset worm hook.
Pro anglers on the Bassmaster circuit have continually reeled in trophy bass using this presentation. If a worm doesn’t work, try other popular swimbaits such as a super fluke.
- Price: Offset Worm Hook, Senko Worm
- Size: 1-5/0
- Materials: High carbon steel hook
- Pros: Versatility, cost, easy to rig
- Cons: Doesn’t have steel of fluorocarbon weed guard
Best For Deep Water: VMC Wacky Weedless Jig ⅛”
The VMC Wacky Weedless Jig comes with a weighted head. This makes it easier for the hook to sink in deeper water and adds more movement to the presentation.
For example, if you have a Senk worm centered across the hook, then the two tails of the wacky worm will point upwards as the weedless jig sinks. This mimics the movement of some of the bass’s favorite food sources, such as crawfish.
- Price: Click Here
- Material: Stainless steel hook
- Pros: Sinks faster, suitable for deeper water
- Cons: Weightless wacky hooks may be more effective, especially in shallow water.
Advice On Using A Weedless Wacky Hook
Now that you know how to set up a weedless wacky hook, you must learn how to use this rig. You’ll be able to flip your lure up into heavy weed and brush cover in search of trophy bass.
- Cast the lure to a location where you expect the fish to be holding.
- Allow the worm to fall for several seconds.
- Let the worm quiver on the bottom. Experiment with several different routines where you jerk the bait up and let it fall as you reel in.
Where Should You Fish With A Weedless Wacky Rig?
Weedless wacky rigs are effective in nearly any type of cover, including submerged weeds, timber, rocks, and rip-rap. Both Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass find this presentation irresistible, hence its popularity.
In terms of water clarity, wacky weedless rigs have been reported as being most successful in moderately clear to clear shallow waters. Wacky rigs have traditionally been seen primarily as a springtime lure, but anglers report catching bass in summer and fall using this technique.
Final Thoughts
There are 4 different types of setups for weedless wacky hooks. For durability, you may consider a high carbon steel or fluorocarbon weed guard.
For the greatest versatility, you might consider purchasing a worm hook and tying on a weedless Texas Rig with a Senko worm or another popular soft plastic, such as a super fluke.
