When it comes to finesse fishing terminal tackle, I can literally carry it all in a small LureLock box. I do have a separate box for shaky heads and tube heads, but when it comes to any kind of wacky rigging, Neko rigging or drop shotting, it’s all right there in that little box.
Editor’s note: Read part 1.
I get a lot of questions about which hooks I use for wacky rigs and drop-shots. Again, I have simplified this down to just a few choices.
The hook I primarily use for all wacky and Neko rigs is a Gamakastu B10 S Stinger finesse hook. This hook is a small straight shank hook with an O’Shaughnessy bend. This style hook differs from a regular round bend hook in that the hook point is slightly inset as it angles back towards the hook shank. This style hook is superb for hooking and holding fish. That slight angle back towards the shank also keeps the hook from being too sticky around cover. The size I like for the B10 S Stinger is a size 1 for thinner straight-tail worms and 1/0 for fatter stick worms like the Senko.
If I’m using a wacky rig around a lot of cypress trees or flooded bushes, I hand-tie three strands of fiber weedguard to the shank to help reduce snagginess. I’m currently working with Gamakatsu to make a weedless version of the B-10S Stinger that will be like no other wacky-rig hook on the market.
As for drop shot hooks, I’ve narrowed my choices down to just two of these as well. If I’m straight nose-hooking then I’ll use a Gamakatsu G Finesse Drop Shot hook with Nano Coat: size 2 is perfect for 4- to 6-inch finesse worms. If I’m dropping to brush or timber, I’ll go to the 1/0 Roboworm Rebarb hook in a medium wire to make the rig more snagless.
Also in my little box of finesse goodies is an assortment of drop shot weights in various sizes. I mostly use lead drop shot weights and will occasionally go to tungsten if I’m dropping really deep to sparse rock in mud or sand to better feel the occasional rock. If I’m dropping in a lot of rock, then I just go with lead because breaking off is going to be more frequent.
The box also holds plenty of nail weights for Neko rigs. Most of the time I use plain lead nail weights but will got to Eagle Claw’s Lazer Pogoda tungsten nail weights for Nekos in deeper water.
So with just this little box of terminal finesse tackle and one or two identical spinning rod combos I have simplified my finesse fishing arsenal down considerably compared to what it was 15 years ago.