Chicken Rig Fishing for Bass

There is almost overwhelming number of different bass fishing rigs you can fish. And with a kind of goofy name like the “Chicken Rig”, it might seem like this technique is just a gimmick or useless.

But I have found that under a few niche conditions, a chicken rig can actually be an awesome way to catch bass.

What is the Chicken Rig?

Simply put, the chicken rig is a weedless Neko rig. You use the same style of straight worms and use a nail weight in the bottom just like the Neko rig.

The only difference between them is the hook you choose and how you put the worm on the hook. Instead of using an exposed Neko or wacky style hook, the chicken rig uses an offset or EWG style worm hook.

And instead of just skin hooking the worm, you actually rig it Texas style in the middle of your worm. This way, you have the benefits of the Neko rig, but the weedless nature of a Texas rig.

Chicken Rig Components

As you can see, the components of the Chicken rig are the same as the Neko rig, except for the hook style.

When it comes down to the exact hook choice, I prefer to use an offset worm hook because I feel like I get better hook up rates on the thinner style worms.

But if you are an EWG hook kind of guy, they work great as well.

How to Hook the Chicken Rig

Advantage of the Chicken Rig

The reason why you fish the chicken rig for bass is that it is a completely weedless, finesse rig. You get all the benefits of the Neko rig while being able to fish the worm through any type of cover and not snag.

For all the advantages of a Neko rig, check out this quick article, Neko Rig Fishing 101. So it is very efficient and allows you to put a worm in places you can’t with other rigs.

When to Use a Chicken Rig

This won’t comes as a surprise, but you want to use a Chicken rig when you are fishing heavy cover.

If you are fishing more open water or just fishing nearby to cover, the Neko rig will be the better option.

But there are times when the vegetation is just too thick for a Neko rig. Also, there are times when bass refuse to come out of the laydown, dock, or structure they are hiding in.

And the only way to catch them is to put your bait right into the thick cover, which a standard Neko rig just can’t really do.

Now why wouldn’t you just use a jig or Texas rig in that scenario? Well sometimes bass don’t want to eat those bigger, more aggressive baits.

And with super high fishing pressure these days, the bass have likely already seen tons of jigs and Texas rigs.

So if you notice that bass are up in heavy cover but won’t bite other baits, the Chicken rig is a great option.

The time of year where the chicken rig seems to excel is the dog days of summer. Bass during the middle of the summer are often very picky, stuck to cover like glue, and very hard to catch.

Giving them a finesse worm right in the heart of the structure will almost always trigger some bites, even in the peak heat.

How to Retrieve the Chicken Rig

Retrieval is incredibly simple. It is exactly the same as the Neko rig, except you are fishing the chicken rig through cover instead of just near cover.

Once the worm hits the water, let is sink on a slack line down to the bottom. Give it a few seconds, watching your line closely.

Then shake or drag the worm forward a few inches. Repeat this until the worm exits the structure. Then reel back in and repeat.

Fish the bait as slow as you can while it is in the high percentage area. Then reel it back in quickly and hit the next target.

Choosing the Right Worm

Once you get some experience and confidence with the Chicken rig, feel free to branch out and test out some other baits.

But when first getting started, you really want to keep it simple. There are only two worm styles you should be fishing on the Chicken rig.

These are finesse worms and stick worms. For the finesse worms, really just use the same worms you would fish on a shaky head or drop shot.

I like a 5-6.5 inch finesse worm which is pretty standard. And I like a 5 inch stick worm. The finesse worms will have more action and movement in the water.

And the stick worms will have more bulk and presence in the water. I can’t really say when each worm works better than the other.

It all just depends on the day and the mood bass are in, so I like having both on the deck and test them out until one gets bit.

Chicken Rig Setup

You don’t need anything fancy to fish this technique. A standard finesse setup works perfectly.

A medium or medium-light action spinning setup is perfect. And then 10-15 lb braided mainline with a 6-8 lb fluorocarbon leader is usually what I use.

Most of the time I use 8 lb test, but in super clear water up North, I’ll drop down to 6 lb test.

Reeling this In

So, while the “Chicken Rig” might sound like a joke, it’s no laughing matter for bass hunkered down in thick cover.

By combining the enticing action of a Neko rig with the snag-free convenience of a Texas rig, this technique offers a unique and often overlooked way to present a finesse worm right in the strike zone when other presentations fail.

Especially during those tough summer months, don’t be afraid to tie on a Chicken Rig – it just might be the key to unlocking some otherwise uncatchable bass.