There are several soft plastic patterns currently in play, such as Jake Whitaker using the simplistic wacky rig; others are using a Texas rig and more.
John Crews Jr. is choosing to go with a Tokyo Rig. It is a relative newcomer to the tournament scene, and we can expect to see more of it as the season unfolds.
In fact, you will find the Tokyo Rig already in play before today. It accounted as a top rig for three of the Top 12 anglers fishing Championship Friday at the Basspro.com Bassmaster Eastern Opens event held in January on the Kissimmee Chain in Florida.
The Tokyo rig takes a conventional rolling swivel, adds a wide gap hook to it, and then also extends a wire out from it. Some come with a weight already on that wire and the end bent to keep it from coming off. The VMC premade version comes without a weight — you add it according to the wind and depth conditions. A soft plastic trailer is added to complete the rig.
Guess again if you think a drop shot is more effective. Sometimes the changeup is just what the fish want, especially in pressured waters, like we have on the St. Johns River this week. The rig is at its best in submerged vegetation, like milfoil. All it takes is flipping the Tokyo Rig into the vegetation, let it rest and give it a shake.
It has ideal applications in this scenario, and what makes it even more of a player is it gives the fish a different look.