The Jika Rig vs. Neko & Wacky Rig
A Family of Finesse Options in the Spring & Summer For Bass
As fast as the broadcasters during the Bassmaster Classic this last week down in Texas at Lake Ray Roberts were throwing out fishing presentations and techniques being used by the pros it was often times very hard to actually keep track of it all.
Once viewers could get past all the conversations about Forward Facing Sonar (FFS) aka Livescope, there were opportunities to gather some insight into some for the things the pros were throwing out on Ray Roberts.
One of the topics that is worth a deeper dive is the examination of the different rigging options and plays on some of the old favorites. Most of us are long familiar with such rigs as the Texas Rig and Carolina Rig bit newer rigs mostly arriving from Japan in recent years are playing a bigger role today than ever.
Lets walk through some of the differences and similarities between the Neko Rig, Jika Rig and Wacky Rig techniques and which may be best in various situations and depths in the water column and the most widely utilized soft plastics to use with each presentation as well as the best time of year and water temperature and clarity to use each of them.
Sales from major retailers in the last two years may have shifted to the smaller minnow style FFS baits like the Rapala Crush City line up and others but worms are still a major player in the fishing retail segment. Major brands dominate this segment retail so in surveying anglers and a few of the pros its not unusual that the brands being mentioned are widely known and popular ones on the pro circuits and do quite a bit of sponsoring of anglers.
Differences and Similarities of the Neko Rig, Jika Rig, and Wacky Rig
Each of these rigs is designed for finesse presentations for both smallmouth and largemouth bass but differs in rigging, action, and best-use scenarios.
Neko Rig
Setup: A wacky-rigged soft plastic with a nail weight in one end.
Action: The weighted end falls first, creating a natural, nose-down action while maintaining a subtle shimmy.
Best Depths: Effective from shallow (4-6 ft) to deep water (15-30+ ft) depending on weight choice.
Best Conditions: Works well in clear to moderately stained water, especially when bass are pressured or suspended.
Best Soft Plastics: Straight-tail worms (e.g., Yamamoto Senko, Zoom Trick Worm, Roboworm).
Season & Water Temp: Best in post-spawn, summer, and fall when bass are deep or lethargic (60-85°F).
Best Structure: Rock, docks, brush piles, ledges, and deep structure.
Jika Rig- (Drop Zone Tackle- Virginia)
Setup: A short leader or direct connection between a weight and a hook (Texas-rigged soft plastic).
Action: The weight keeps the lure near the bottom while allowing the bait to move freely.
Best Depths: Great for mid-range (6-15 ft) and deep water (20+ ft) depending on weight.
Best Conditions: Effective in current and around heavy cover where a drop shot or Neko Rig might snag.
Best Soft Plastics: Creature baits, craws (e.g., Berkley PowerBait Chigger Craw, Strike King Rage Craw).
Season & Water Temp: Best in summer and fall when bass relate to bottom structure (65-85°F).
Best Structure: Rocks, brush piles, wood, and grass edges.
The Jika is very similar to the Free Rig that is also very popular nowadays with some of the Japanese pros on tour. The Jika though is very effective vertiacal presentation in deep weed cover as well and the weight lends to the fall being very vertical or straight down to the bottom.
Wacky Rig
Setup: A soft plastic worm hooked through the middle with a weightless or weighted hook.
Action: A slow, natural fall with a wiggling motion on both ends of the worm.
Best Depths: Most effective in shallow (1-10 ft) water, but can work deeper with a weighted hook.
Best Conditions: Ideal for clear to stained water when bass are finicky.
Best Soft Plastics: Stick worms (e.g., Yamamoto Senko, Yum Dinger, Zoom Zlinky).
Season & Water Temp: Best in pre-spawn, spawn, and post-spawn (55-75°F).
Best Structure: Docks, submerged grass, laydowns, and shoreline cover.
Best Uses Based on Depth, Season, and Water Clarity
Neko Rig
4-30+ ft
Clear to stained
Post-spawn, Summer, Fall
Rocks, docks, brush piles, deep structure
Jika Rig
6-20+ ft
Stained to clear
Summer, Fall
Rocks, wood, grass, current
Wacky Rig
1-10 ft
Clear to moderately stained
Pre-spawn, Spawn, Post-spawn
Docks, grass, shoreline cover
Each of these rigs has a time and place where they shine. If you're fishing deeper structure, the Neko Rig is excellent. For bottom-oriented bass in current or cover, the Jika Rig is a great choice. And if you're targeting shallow or finicky bass, the Wacky Rig is hard to beat.
Resources:
You Tube:
Smallie Chaser River Bassin:
You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSmallieChaserChannel
J.L. Scott Fishing
You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/@J.L.ScottFishing
TourneyX: Clubs (Virginia) Tournament Fishing App
https://tourneyx.com/app/category/va---smallie-chaser-river-bassin
Community DISCORD: Free To Join (Smallmouth)
https://discord.gg/KtpkAJchUP