Hook direction - wacky and neko rig: How do you position the hook with the wacky and neko rig? Does the point face toward the head of the bait, or the tail? The google is showing it...

Betts Loc: Finger Lakes NY

How do you position the hook with the wacky and neko rig? Does the point face toward the head of the bait, or the tail? The google is showing it both ways. Is there an advantage to one over the other? Thank you for your help, folks. You’re teaching me a lot. 😁

Grizzly 17 Loc: South central Pa

Betts if your using oring just slip hook under the ring. It will be end to end. Neko i think I'd have point toward tail. I'm sure someone has more experience with neko than i do 🎣🎣

Maineboyfishing Loc: Coastal Maine

When I’m wacky fishing without an o ring I just slide the hook right through the middle of the worm, point straight back at me not at any part of the worm. When Neko rigging, I like to have the hook facing up, so towards the tail. I insert the weight in the head because it is thicker, then have the hook pointing up.

Ben Bragg Loc: Dayton Ohio

Good question Bets
On Neko the hook goes under the o ring and gap faces up away from the weight . The hook is parallel with the worm body This improves hook up ratio and makes the set up a little more weedless

On the wacky, as someone else said , boil it thru the middle of the worm body. The hook will be perpendicular to the lure body. This is my preference for food hook up ratio
Using an o ring on a wacky worm puts the hook parallel with the lure body.
I don’t think hook up rate is as good in this configuration
That’s where those collar things are handy you are actually putting the hook thru a hole in the collar and putting the hook perpendicular

Betts Loc: Finger Lakes NY

Ben Bragg wrote:

Good question Bets br On Neko the hook goes under... (show quote)

Thanks Ben, Grizz and everybody. Ben, let us know how those collared rings work. Good luck!

Fredfish Loc: Prospect CT.

Betts wrote:

Thanks Ben, Grizz and everybody. Ben, let us know how those collared rings work. Good luck!

I've been trying the Mustad ones Betts, and so far they're working excellent.

I haven't had one break yet
I haven't had one break yet...

Betts Loc: Finger Lakes NY

Maineboyfishing wrote:

When I’m wacky fishing without an o ring I just slide the hook right through the middle of the worm, point straight back at me not at any part of the worm. When Neko rigging, I like to have the hook facing up, so towards the tail. I insert the weight in the head because it is thicker, then have the hook pointing up.

Thanks, Maineboy. Do you burn through a lot of baits by going straight through them? I’m reading that with the o rings, you can cut down on some of the damage. I ordered some rings and they won’t be here till next week - but I’m stoked about trying the wacky rig and don’t want to wait that long lol.

Betts Loc: Finger Lakes NY

Fredfish wrote:

I've been trying the Mustad ones Betts, and so far they're working excellent.

I was just eyeballing those very same rings, Fred. Hmmmm 😁😁😁

Fredfish Loc: Prospect CT.

Betts wrote:

I was just eyeballing those very same rings, Fred. Hmmmm 😁😁😁

I was missing a lot of fish putting the hook under the ring, inline with the worm. I started hooking a little of the worm, at a 45° angle, and it was better, but the worm gets destroyed after a couple bites. When I saw the Mustads I figured it was worth a try, and found that it's much better. Now I can catch several fish before having to replace the worm. Just make sure that the size you get is very snug on the worms you're using. Good luck and have a Wacky Blast!

Betts Loc: Finger Lakes NY

Fredfish wrote:

I was missing a lot of fish putting the hook under the ring, inline with the worm. I started hooking a little of the worm, at a 45° angle, and it was better, but the worm gets destroyed after a couple bites. When I saw the Mustads I figured it was worth a try, and found that it's much better. Now I can catch several fish before having to replace the worm. Just make sure that the size you get is very snug on the worms you're using. Good luck and have a Wacky Blast!

Good to know, thanks, Fred! Okay, another question: I’m using 5” senkos - yum dingers. Do you know what would be the correct size o ring for these? Thanks again. 😁

Fredfish Loc: Prospect CT.

Betts wrote:

Good to know, thanks, Fred! Okay, another question: I’m using 5” senkos - yum dingers. Do you know what would be the correct size o ring for these? Thanks again. 😁

I've been using "Medium " in Mustad parlance, for Powerbait Generals, also 5".I think the "Small "size would be better on a 4" size worm.
Also I used Trokar and Gamagatsu wacky style hooks, with the barbs mashed down. A bigger hook, with a big barb may be hard to get thru the little hole in the ring.

bapabear Loc: Blaine, Washington

Usually, the rings will indicate worm size on the package. I use the 3 inch and 5 inch alot, so need 2 sizes rings. The ring and tool are available in both sizes.

Subman619 Loc: Melbourne, Florida

Have to ask what is "boil it thru"? Thanks

Fredfish Loc: Prospect CT.

Subman619 wrote:

Have to ask what is "boil it thru"? Thanks

I think it's a typo.

Gary Northrop Loc: Richland WA

A good substitute for O rings are the very smallest nylon zip ties. They come in black or white and can also
be colored red, etc, with a felt pen. They can be used with any sized plastic worm.