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Chicken rig (backward weighted Kut Tail)
aka chicken · chicken rig · bwwk · kut tail chicken · backward wacky weighted kut tail
reverse-Texas weedless hook set about two-thirds down a 7.75in Kut Tail, drywall screw in the tail; slack-line fall off hard cover, lift ~2 ft and drop; reel down and pull with steady pressure — Yamamoto's weedless Neko — opens hard cover a Neko can't fish; power rhythm, not a soak
Conditions
| Style | power · mid |
|---|---|
| Light | moderate day, bright day, golden, dusk/dawn |
| Wind | glass, chop, windy |
| Water | 50–90 °F |
| Presentation | fall |
The build
Owner Cover Shot 1/0 · drywall screw (big head) · Yamamoto Kut Tail worm 7.75 in–6.5 in · 15-20 lb braid / 16-20 lb fluorocarbon (Sugoi)
Bottom / cover (how much it helps by bottom type)
- grass — drag
effective, but the grass swallows it
Sources
cited Wired2Fish — Introducing the Chicken Rig for Bass Fishing (TJ Maglio, 2015; quotes Gary Yamamoto) — source · verified by sean
“The rig is a modification of the Neko rig (nail weighted Senko), but instead uses the new Yamamoto 7.75 inch Kut Tail worm.” — Wired2Fish — Introducing the Chicken Rig for Bass Fishing (TJ Maglio, 2015; quotes Gary Yamamoto) (checked 2026-09-19)
“The key is to use a 4/0 or 5/0 straight-shank, worm hook and insert the point about an inch behind the egg sack of the Kut Tail.” — Wired2Fish — Introducing the Chicken Rig for Bass Fishing (TJ Maglio, 2015; quotes Gary Yamamoto) (checked 2026-09-19)
“When done properly, the hook will be about two thirds of the way down the bait, leaving an inch and a half of the meatiest part of the bait left and insert a standard drywall screw in that portion.” — Wired2Fish — Introducing the Chicken Rig for Bass Fishing (TJ Maglio, 2015; quotes Gary Yamamoto) (checked 2026-09-19)
“It's weedless - The Neko rig is great, but it's not weedless and it can be frustrating to fish around cover because the wacky hook tends to hang up.” — Wired2Fish — Introducing the Chicken Rig for Bass Fishing (TJ Maglio, 2015; quotes Gary Yamamoto) (checked 2026-09-19)
“Yamamoto generally fishes the Chicken rig on medium heavy spinning tackle, using 15 to 20-pound braid as a mainline with a 16 or 20-pound Sugoi Fluorocarbon leader.” — Wired2Fish — Introducing the Chicken Rig for Bass Fishing (TJ Maglio, 2015; quotes Gary Yamamoto) (checked 2026-09-19)
“"I like to cast it out there and let it fall on slack line," Yamamoto said. "Once it hits bottom, I'll lift it up a couple feet and let it drop again.” — Wired2Fish — Introducing the Chicken Rig for Bass Fishing (TJ Maglio, 2015; quotes Gary Yamamoto) (checked 2026-09-19)
“I recommend anglers just reel down and pull with hard steady pressure.” — Wired2Fish — Introducing the Chicken Rig for Bass Fishing (TJ Maglio, 2015; quotes Gary Yamamoto) (checked 2026-09-19)
“Yamamoto was fishing the Chicken rig around bridge pilings, barge tieups, docks, rip rap, and other hard cover found right in the city of La Crosse.” — Wired2Fish — Introducing the Chicken Rig for Bass Fishing (TJ Maglio, 2015; quotes Gary Yamamoto) (checked 2026-09-19)
“kit sheet (2026-09-18)” — owner field observation — Sean Millerick, 2026-09-18 (checked 2026-09-19)
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