Rig a fluke for bass using popular methods like the Texas rig for weedless presentation, Carolina rig for bottom bouncing, weightless rig for shallow water, drop shot rig for suspended fish, and jighead rig for erratic action. Experiment with different rigging techniques to match fishing conditions.
Flukes are sometimes the most appealing lure to a largemouth bass that can be used at virtually any time of the year. The Yamamoto Senko Worm is a relatively simple soft plastic bait that can actually be rigged in many different ways to catch fish in both shallow or deep water.
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Whether you’re a new angler or a seasoned expert, we’ve compiled this article to help explain how to rig a fluke for bass and the most common methods used at certain times of the year.
This article is part of my Complete Guide to Bass Fishing series that you might be interested in.
Table of Contents
Hook Point
First, it’s important to note that how you hook your fluke will play a major role in the overall action and movement you get out of it. This is often the most overlooked aspect of how to rig a fluke and many anglers make the mistake of hooking their fluke the wrong way for the particular technique they’re using.
By running the hook directly into the middle of the fluke’s ‘nose,’ you can make your fluke stay at the same water level that you want it to sink down to. This means that your fluke will remain parallel to the bottom when it sinks instead of diving downward. This is useful if you’re trying to keep the fluke at a certain level in the water column.
If you run the hook in from the top of the fluke’s nose with the point going in at a downward angle, you’ll give the fluke a more ‘downward-facing’ orientation. This will help your fluke dive down faster and is also good for using a slower retrieve if bass are near the bottom.
You’ll have the fluke pointed at an upward angle by running the hook into the bottom of the nose near the belly. This allows you to make it jump out of the water in the same way a small minnow might try to evade a larger fish near the surface.
Weightless Style
The most common way to fish a fluke during the more temperate times of the year is using a weightless style. This method is ideal for fishing in various scenarios and can entice bass to come out of cover to bite.
There are varying sizes of flukes that will work well for this method, but I often use a 4/0 offset shank hook (worm hook) with a Super Fluke or Berkley Gulp, which is about 5 inches long. You can use smaller size hooks with the Fluke Jr or a standard Fluke, but the Super Fluke tends to work well for any size bass.
I prefer to use a spinning rod and reel as it is easier to handle a weightless rig. You’ll place the Fluke on the hook in a Texas rig style.
You’ll cast the fluke to the spot you’re aiming for and let it sink for a few seconds. Give it a subtle twitch after about 5 seconds, but be ready. It’s usually on this first twitch that a bass will bite the Fluke and take off with it. If you don’t get a bite on the first twitch of your rod tip, you can work the weightless fluke by twitching it two times in quick succession before letting it sit still for a few seconds.
Weighted Hook
One of my favorite ways to rig a fluke for bass when the water is especially hot or cold is by using a weighted hook. This method is great for fishing deep water when bass are trying to get down farther and avoid the extreme cold or heat at the surface. It works well during the dead of winter and the dog days of summer, especially if you’re fishing around cover like standing timber or rocks.
To use this method, you’ll use an offset shank hook that will be rigged Texas style, but don’t try to run the hook all the way through like you would for the weightless style. I like to make a hole in the nose of the Fluke with the hook, then take it out and run the eye of the hook through this hole.
You can run the hook through the Fluke’s belly so that it doesn’t fully go through to make it a weedless rig, but I generally like to have the hook slightly exposed on the back of the Fluke as it allows for a better hookset when bass bite.
I prefer a lighter baitcasting rod and reel for this method. Let the Fluke sink after it hits the water until it reaches the bottom, then slightly twitch it once or twice every few seconds. I usually don’t fish this one all the way back to the boat, but will work it several feet before reeling back in for another cast.
Underspin
Professional bass anglers have found great success in recent years using the underspin style rig for a fluke. There are many different brands and styles of underspin lures; some even feature a double-bladed design. This weighted rigging style will work with either a baitcasting or spinning rod and reel.
An underspin style is very easy as you only need to place the Fluke on the hook and leave it exposed. This way of fishing a Fluke is often better if you’re fishing in clear, open water around points or over channels, especially when bass are feeding on shad.
The underspin technique works well with a steady retrieve, so all you need to do is let the lure fall down to the level you want and begin reeling at the right speed. The speed of your retrieve might vary depending on how active the fish are that day.
Shaky Head
Another highly-productive way to fish the Fluke for bass is using a shaky head setup. This is the same shaky head hook you might use with a worm and is very effective. If you find it hard to get the Fluke to ‘screw’ into the shaky head, you can bite off the tip of the nose for a flatter surface that usually works better, especially with a pointed head.
This technique is great for fishing around heavy cover as you can fish it vertically into brush or other kinds of structure, or by casting from a distance and working it back toward you. This works exceptionally well if you’re well-acquainted with using a shaky head and are able to ‘walk’ the bait across the bottom or bounce it around an area to attract bites.
By using a shaky head method, you will very closely mimic a small baitfish feeding along the bottom, which is a favorite target for hungry bass during the late spring, summer and fall of each year. I generally use a baitcaster for this presentation and it’s one of my go-to Fluke fishing techniques in the spring.
Conclusion
While there are a few other great methods for rigging a fluke to catch bass, these four techniques are often considered the best for consistent success. These methods are distinct from one another and we recommend experimenting with each one to find out what works best for you or which one is your favorite.
By adding these techniques to your fishing repertoire, you’ll greatly increase your chances to catch more fish throughout the year. There are also other rigging techniques you can try, such as a bucktail jig or carolina rig.