Weedless
Rigged so the hook point is shielded or buried and cannot catch cover. A way of rigging more than a type of hook.
There are several ways to get there. Bury the point inside a soft plastic, as on a Texas rig. Tuck the points against a hollow body, as on a frog. Fan stiff fibers over the point, as on a jig. Or use a light wire guard, as on a weedless wacky hook.
All of them trade hookup ratio for access. A fully exposed hook catches a higher percentage of the fish that bite, and it also catches every branch on the way in. Weedless rigging lets you fish where the fish actually are.
Weedless does not mean weed-proof. A Texas rig still picks up filamentous algae and a frog still gets fouled in matted grass now and then.
It changes how you set the hook, too. Because the point has to travel through the bait before it reaches the fish, weedless rigs want a harder sweep and a rod with enough backbone to deliver it. Cover fishing and medium-heavy rods go together for that reason.
Check that the point sits flush against the plastic, not proud of it. A hook point standing even slightly out will find every stick in the lake.
Related terms
Where this comes up
The guides that use weedless and show it on real gear.
Weedless is one of 206 terms in the glossary.
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