Core Tackle Wacky Shot Review

One of the coolest and most intriguing rigs in the Core Tackle lineup is the Wacky Shot. A new and unique take on a weighted wacky rig that offers a few benefits and new ways to fish a wacky rig.

And since the stick worm and wacky rig combo is probably the most popular technique in all of bass fishing, this Wacky Shot rig has a lot of anglers very interested.

What is the Wacky Shot?

So the Wacky Shot is essentially a compact, weighted wacky rig hook. There are other weighted wacky hooks on the market, but most of them are a ball head style hook, which has a couple of drawbacks.

The Wacky Shot also uses a screwlock keeper on the bottom of the weight to attach the hook to your wacky baits.

So the Wacky Shot is a very compact and unique rig setup that allows you to add weight to your wacky worms without the downsides of traditional weighted wacky hooks.

A couple of these downsides are bait durability and visual appeal. Traditional weighted wacky hooks are hooked straight through the worm.

And with the extra weight of the ball head, it makes it easy for the thin hooks to tear out of the worm, especially if a hooked bass shakes it’s head.

And they a lot of guys, including myself, think that weighted wacky hooks just look kind of weird and less appealing to bass. But the Wacky Shot design eliminates both those problems.

Advantages of the Wacky Shot:

1. Deeper Fishing

By adding a bit of extra weight to your wacky rigs, you can fish them a lot deeper. The wacky rig is traditionally a very shallow water technique, as it sinks slowly in the water.

But by adding the centered Wacky Shot, it speeds up the fall rate and helps get it down into deeper water. It even allows you target suspended bass much like you would with a jighead minnow style technique.

2. Increased Vibration

As a wacky rig sinks, the worm wiggles a little bit, which creates some action and vibration. And the faster the worm sinks, the more vibration and faster action it has.

So by adding the weight, you make the wacky worm vibrate much quicker, which can be awesome for triggering more aggressive bass ti bite.

3. Worm Durability

Like I mentioned explained earlier, the screwlock design that connects the Wacky Shot to the worm greatly increases the durability compared to other weighted wacky hooks.

And you don’t have to use extra O-rings or bands to help out with durability, because the screw lock does it for you.

4. Keeps Worms Horizontal

If you’ve ever fished a wacky rig before, you have probably noticed that sometimes the worm will dip to one side and start to fall vertically in the water.

Of course this isn’t the end of the world, but it can mess up the presentation and cost you a few bites.

But because the Wacky Shot puts the weight directly in the center of the worm, your wacky worms will always fall perfectly horizontal in the water like they are ment to do.

Wacky Shotting Fuzzy Dice Baits

Although the Wacky Shot was designed to rig up Senko style worms as a wacky rig, anglers quickly realized it was one of the best ways to rig up the super popular and trendy Fuzzy Dice baits.

It pretty much gives you all the same benefits that it does with a wacky worm, but screwed right into a bizarre looking dice baits.

And Wacky Shotting Dice baits has actually become my personal favorite rigging style for that bait category, although I don’t fish Dice baits too often if I’m being honest.

Is it Worth It?

So my opinion on the Wacky Shot is essentially exactly the same as my take on the Core Tackle Scamper Rig.

I don’t think that it is an absolute game changer or anything. I do believe it is a better and more effective design than other weighted wacky hooks, but it certainly isn’t night and day.

So if you are someone who just occasionally fishes the wacky rig but it isn’t a huge piece of your fishing arsenal, the Wacky Shot probably isn’t worth it for you.

But if you fish the wacky rig a ton and rely on it all the time, I think the little bite better design and versatility that the Wacky Shot gives you will be worth it.

And lastly, if you are simply a tackle junky like I know a lot of you are, than yeah, it’s definitely worth getting. Because us tackle junkies don’t seem to care much about how much we use our tackle, getting new tackle is half the fun!

Shopping through our partner, FishUSA, helps support our work and is greatly appreciated!!

Reeling this In

With all its benefits, the Core Tackle Wacky Shot presents a compelling upgrade to the standard weighted wacky rig.

While it may not be an essential piece of gear for every angler, its unique design and versatility make it a worthwhile addition for anyone who relies on wacky rigs.

Ultimately, the Wacky Shot offers a smarter way to fish, whether you’re a serious tournament angler or a self-proclaimed tackle junkie.