For my fellow bass fishing friends looking for something a little more low-key yet simple and effective, let me introduce to you the chicken rig for Bass fishing. Unlike more common rigs, such as a Neko rig or Texas rig, this one created by the legendary Gary Yamamoto (what’s new) offers a combined method that can give you an edge in certain situations.
In this guide, I’m going to show you step-by-step instructions on how to make a chicken rig for bass fishing.
The Chicken Rig: Not a Texas Rig, Not a Neko Rig
Gary Yamamoto, a well-known name in the fishing industry, came up with Chicken Rigging many years ago.
This is a modified Neko Rig but the is Texas rigged towards the middle of the worm. In addition to this, it uses a nail weight just like the Neko. This design gives it a specific and enticing movement in the water, which will grab the attention of the fish. This is especially true if you’re fishing in pressured water, where the fish are used to seeing the same bait over and over again.
Setting Up the chicken rig
Chicken Rigging for bass is pretty straightforward. It requires a soft plastic worm, a straight-shank or offset worm hook, and a weight added at the wider end of the bait. You can also use a standard drywall screw if you prefer that.
This setup is great at finesse fishing in situations where you want your bait to be slow and subtle, but at the same time unique enough to get the right attention. It’s also even more weedless than a regular Neko rig or Texas rig, which makes it excellent for using in areas with dense vegetation or cover where there’s a lot to get snagged on.
Step 1: Hook the worm facing the tail end
Step 2: Thread the hook all the way through
Step 3: Hook the bait again to secure it
Step 4: Add your nail to the fat end
Why Choose the Chicken Rig To Catch Bass?
Weedless Design: This makes it an awesome choice for fishing in thick cover without worrying about getting snagged.
Unique Action: The backward weighting from the nail weight gives it that same enticing action as a normal Neko Rig.
Versatility: You can fish this rig just about anywhere, from open water to structured areas like docks or weed beds.
Summary
Bass fishing involves changing your strategy, your baits, your rigs, etc in order to present the fish with the most enticing thing you can. When you’ve exhausted the more common tactics and baits, it’s a great time to pull the chicken rig out of your tackle box and give it a try. After reading this guide, you should know how to set up a chicken rig for bass fishing. Now it’s time to go try it out!
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