Wacky Jig Catches Bass
by Brad Wiegmann

For anglers, it's all about catching fish; regardless if bass are shallow or deep, around cover, suspended, or tight to structure. Only a few lures can be fished in all though situations, such as, a Texas rigged worm or shaky head jig; however, you can now add the Wacky Jig Head to the list.

Up until now, the technique of fishing wacky worm style was mainly a springtime technique. Bass are shallow during this time of year and cruising for an easy meal. Worms were rigged wacky style with a weightless hook and cast around shallow cover or aquatic vegetation. While this produced big stringers, it was limited to springtime when the bass were shallow. One angler, FLW Castrol Fishing Pro Carl Svebek from Siloam Springs, wanted to be able to fish it year round and in deeper water. Svebek is not just another angler who likes to fish with wacky worms during the spring, to the angling community, he is known as the "King" of wacky style fishing.

After fishing for years with a weightless hook rigged wacky style, Svebek desired a weighted style wacky hook that could be fished shallow but also in deeper water situations. To accomplish this, Svebek work intimately with Gambler Lure's (www.gambler-lures.com) head of R&D Brian Branum, to develop a wacky worm style hook to Svebek's specifications. After numerous changes to the original hook, the Wacky Jig Head was completed and performed up to Svebek's expectations.

The jig head has several key components that are unique. First, it has a ribbed weight at the eye of the hook. This feature makes the worm stand up when rigged wacky style, pushes water, and adds extra action when pulled across rocks. Second, a special 90-degree self-hooking Owner hook that's extra strong for catching and landing big bass. Third, a weed guard that can be trimmed to adapted to any fishing situation.

"The Wacky Jig Head comes in 4 different sizes: 1/16, 3/32, 1/8, or 3/16-ounce. The 1/16-ounce should be fished in 2 to 5 feet of water, around shallow lay downs, boat docks, and skips extremely good; the 3/32-ounce can be work in the same areas but deeper water up to 8 feet or around boat docks for suspending bass; the 1/8-ounce can be fishing anywhere you fish shaky head jigs, such as, gravel points, around trees on points, and deeper structure; the 3/16-ounce can be fished in 12 to 15 foot of water, around brush piles, open water structure or cover," explained Svebek. "Angler's should also not over look it as a follow up bait after a bass blows up on a topwater bait," Svebek added. Another situation to fish the Wacky Jig Head is around aquatic vegetation. "It's a excellent choice in Florida or Texas, I prefer a 3/32-ounce in grass," Svebek continued, "depending on the time of year try it around inside grass lines, outside grass lines in the summer, and around the dying grass in the fall; anglers can also fish it in the pockets or the outside edge of shoreline grass."

As for lures, Svebek prefers a Gambler Swebo worm on any of the size jig heads or a Gambler Ace around structure. Svebek rigs the Swebo worm or Ace by sticking the hook right through the center which gives it that unique swimming action when falling or being pulled. As for tackle, Svebek uses a medium/heavy action Falcon Low Rider with a Abu Garcia Revo Premier spooled with Berkley Trilene 100% Professional Grade Fluorocarbon in 10 to 12-pound test or steps up to 15-pound test around thick cover.

For anglers, it's all about catching fish. If you are Carl Svebek you do not mind going a little wacky to catch them.

Brad Wiegmann is a full time fishing guide on Beaver lake and Lake SWEPCO in Northwest Arkansas. Brad guides for Largemouth, Spotted, Smallmouth, Stripers and White Bass. He is also a free-lance writer who's weekly column "Speaking of Fishing" appears weekly in several local newspapers. You may also see him doing seminars, working outdoor shows or featured in outdoor magazines such as BASSMASTER Magazine, Outdoor life and Arkansas Sportsman. He also fishes the FLW Tour, Stren and local open tournaments. He is currently on the Pro staff, promotional staff and guide programs of numerous tackle manufactures, lure companies, and fishing related companies. You can contact him at (479) 756-5279, at bwiegmann@cox.net or visit his website at www.bradwiegmann.com for more information.