Post-Spawn Weightless Wacky Worm Patterns & Techniques

The slow sinking and suspending action of the Weightless Wacky Worm can be incredibly effective during the Post-Spawn period. Arguably one of the most non-intrusive baits, Weightless Wacky Worms are perfect for tempting fry guarders, bass that move off the bank to recover from spawning, and fish that are keyed in on the shad spawn. A great tool for targeting cover, like rocks, docks, tulles and laydowns, the Weightless Wacky Worm is a staple on almost every anglers’ deck throughout the Post-Spawn period.

With a Weightless Wacky Worm you need a rod that is soft enough to make accurate casts with a lightweight soft plastic, but also offers plenty of backbone to set the hook. Start with a Spinning Rod 7’ – 7’3” in length with a Medium Heavy power or greater so you can pull the fish away from cover once you hook them. Look for a faster tapered rod so you can easily load the rod tip to skip and cast your Weightless Worm with precision. When skipping a Weightless Worm, spinning gear is usually favored, but if you are fishing an oversized stick worm near heavy cover, you may be reaching for the added power of a Medium Heavy to Heavy action Casting Rod also in the 7’-7’3” range.

For Weightless Wacky Worms, bites can range from aggressive and immediate around actively feeding fish to mushy and barely noticeable from slow-moving Post-Spawners in recovery mode. In either situation, a faster gear ratio allows anglers to catch up to fish in a hurry and deliver a secure hook set, whether you’re utilizing a casting or a spinning reel. As for reel size, try using a 3000-size or greater for the Weightless Worm, every turn of the handle will pick up more line than with smaller spinning reels, and the larger handle will provide better cranking power for big fish. If you prefer casting gear for the Weightless Worm, a 100-150 size casting reel with a higher gear ratio will pick up line quickly and offer plenty of line capacity.

Often times your bites will be on slack line when the worm is slowly falling, so you may not feel much of a bite. Try using bright colored braided lines that offer high visibility on your spinning outfit so you can easily watch your line jump. You will want the strength of a 10-20lb braid for your main line, and fluorocarbon leaders of 8-15lb to help disguise your presentation in shallow water. With casting gear you are typically fishing a larger worm near heavy cover, so most anglers prefer straight fluorocarbon in the 12-20lb test and will choose line size based on water clarity, species, and thickness of cover.

With a Wacky Rigged Weightless Worm, your finesse hook is rigged through the middle of the worm to provide a unique action that generates movement from both the head and tail. The hook positioning can cause the plastic to tear easily, so maximize the use of each worm by using an O-ring or silicone tube for your hook hanger. Experiment with rigging your Wacky hooks parallel for a more weedless approach, or for better hook up ratios rig the hook directly through the silicone tubing to expose the hook point. If you are fishing around vegetation, try a Wacky hook with a fiber weed guard, and don’t forget to spice up your worms appeal with some dip and dye, skirting, or even a worm blade.

During the Post-Spawn, fish are sometimes lethargic and less likely to chase down a moving bait, making the Weightless Wacky Worm a great alternative, especially when you know you’re around fish, but can’t get them to react. Try targeting areas that are just outside of spawning grounds, like the first deep water access, nearby docks and brush piles.

Dubbed the “do-nothing” worm, the Weightless Wacky Worms’ magic lies in the subtle fluttering action that it produces as it descends, which is normally when the bite occurs. Cast it towards your target, let it fall all the way to the bottom, while paying close attention to your line. Give it a couple hops, and if you don’t get bit, reel up and repeat. Also pay attention to how quickly your stick baits sink. The slower sinking action of worms with less salt will allow you to work them more aggressively and can sometimes be the difference between getting a bite or not.

It can be very easy to get overwhelmed by the copious amounts of color options when choosing stick baits, so find a few colors you are successful with and stock up! Green Pumpkin has a reputation for performing well in all kinds of water clarity, but typically you want to use natural colors in clean water and dark or bright variations when the water is dirty. As shad and bluegill become more prominent during the Post-Spawn, don’t be afraid to introduce some natural Shad patterns and colors with Purple and Orange accents.

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