SPriNG teChniques
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SPRINGTIME WACKY
in my opinion, this form of wacky rigging is the most effective and really shines in the spring. as the bass begin to move shallow preparing to spawn, this rig seems to draw strikes when other techniques fail to produce. i have found the best way to fish this rig is slow and steady. i seem to get the most bites as the bait is slowly moved along the bottom. i experiment mostly between the thin and more buoyant Havoc Bottom Hoppers and the thick and salt rich stick worms. i find that when the fish are more aggressive as the water reaches the mid ‘60s, the HaVoC worms seem to surpass others; but when the water is still colder than 60 or if a cold front drops temps, i go to the bulkier and heavier stick baits. My main setup for this weighted wacky is a 7’ abu Verdict Spinning rod, medium action and an abu revo 30 spinning reel spooled with Spiderwire Fluoro Braid in 10-lb test and a 6-foot leader of 8-lb trilene 100% Fluorocarbon. This setup casts great and the Fluoro Braid sinks just like fluorocarbon which is important; because a sinking line helps you to keep contact with the bottom and the braid has no stretch, so hooksets are more solid.
WACKY WATER TIPS
When fishing lakes full of spotted bass such as Shasta, oroville or Nacimiento as examples, i will target long points and the spawning pockets associated to the main lake as the water begins to warm. as the spring progresses, i will move farther off the main lake and into the main bays and creek arms. i often find it very productive to fish the weighted wacky rig uphill. This means simply to cast from shallow to deep and work the bait up the structure. This makes keeping bottom contact much easier. on fisheries where largemouth are the primary target such as Clear lake and the delta this rig can be equally effective. i will work the transition banks on the way to spawning bays and canals. often using the same worms, you can catch some of the big, pre
spawn females as they move up. The lightly weighted wacky rigs are great in the grass and tend to move cleanly through vegetation without getting too bogged down. don’t be afraid to skip it around docks and shorelines either. largemouth waiting in ambush often grab the rig as it falls to the bottom so watch your line for strikes as it sinks. Smallmouth fisheries are also susceptible to the weighted wacky rig. lake Havasu, lake Mead and rivers like the Columbia offer great smallmouth opportunities and the weighted wacky excels there too. Pre spawn smallies love gravel flats and cobble rock this time of year and try to match colors to the crayfish. in the river try just enough weight to bump along the bottom as the bait drifts with the current. Cast up current at a quartering angle and fish the current breaks along gravel bars and islands. if you are not already familiar with the weighted wacky rig, get to work! This technique will put a lot of fish in the boat year round; but it really stands out in the spring.
The 2009 FLW AOY Zack Thompson is a guide/ instructor on the Calif. Delta. He often shares his experience and knowledge as a seminar speaker and most recently appeared at ISE in Sacramento, Ultimate Bass University and Fisherman’s Warehouse. With 9 top-10 FLW finishes to his credit, he is currently making a run at the 2012 FLW EverStart AOY after a 2nd place finish at Shasta.. Thompson is sponsored by SB,T and You can find his Double Wacky Hook online exclusively at Monsterfishingtackle.com and also on store shelves at Phil’s props, Fisherman’s Warehouse, The Hook Line and Sinker, Bait Barn and Express Tackle.
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