#wackyrigging

Wacky rigging a Sick Stick is by far one of the easiest ways to catch bass. It doesn't make a difference if you're 5 years old or 95 years old, the technique is super simple and equally as effective.

The first thing to realize about Wacky rigging the Sick Stick is that the Sick Stick is not designed like the hundreds of other stick baits out there. In other words, fish it like a Sick Stick, not like other stick style baits. The Sick Stick was specifically designed with a square core, round ribs, and neutral buoyancy for specific reasons. There are multiple different ways to fish the Sick Stick, but when it comes to Wacky rigging it, there's a method to the awesome madness. When rigged correctly on a weighted Wacky Head with the corner of the square core facing downward (see diagram below), water deflects off of both sides of the square core as the bait drops which creates a unique pulsing thump that bass feel on their lateral lines. The pulsing thump combined with the seductive wobble it creates turns bass into slobbering fools. The neutral buoyancy of the Sick Stick allows the angler to easily adjust the rate of fall and action to suit the mood of the bass as the day progresses.

Create a super slow drop with a subtle wobble to a quick drop with an erratic wobble, all by simply changing the weight of the Wacky Head. Pretty cool right?

 There are a lot of different Wacky Heads on the market but we designed our own because we don't like the weak little hooks that come on the majority of them. Plus we also prefer a more stout weed guard so we can Wacky fish in and around cover without getting hung up. That's why we came out with our Jacked Wackers…not just to be able to cast where the fish like to hang, but to be tough enough to get them out of what they're hanging in.  

Here are some general tips to help you decide which size Jacked Wacker to rig your Sick Stick on to suit the conditions.

3/32 oz:  Slow fall / tight subtle wobble. Great for dead calm days with little or no winds, or when subtlety is the key to getting bit. Shallow water (5 ft. or less). The slow fall allows the Sick Stick to stay in the strike zone longer during the drop which is crucial when targeting lethargic bass.

1/8 oz:  Medium fall / wider wobble. Great for when fishing in 12 ft. or less. An all-around versatile drop rate and action to help you key in on the mood of the bass.

3/16 oz:  Fast fall / erratic wobble. Great for fishing deeper water, covering more water more quickly, and targeting active bass or going for a reaction strike.

   A personal trick I like to do is put a small drop of PRO's Soft Bait Glue on the hook of the Jacked Wacker after I rig the Sick Stick on it. It keeps the Sick Stick exactly where I want it to sit on the hook so I know I'm always getting the best action possible.

  The Sick Stick and Jacked Wackers were made for each other. Put the two together, rig them correctly, and you'll be a bass's nightmare. Just cast it out, let it drop, if you don't get hit on the initial fall, raise your rod tip and let it drop again, repeat until your Sick Stick gets crushed. It doesn't get any easier than that.