You do not NEED a lot of worms configurations, but different options can help at different times.
Every winter I go through and decide what I can get rid of to lighten my load. I just went through my worm box with a critical eye again and found little (two worm configurations) I was willing to remove one a recent whim and the other a holdover from a really great daylessseee30 years ago).
Admittedly there are some potential redundancies, but a lure box evolves over time and not only does each lure have a niche but some simply get my adrenaline pumping when I tie one on. The separate compartments help keep worms from bleeding into each other and make all easy to see and get at. So, here's my worm box exposed!!
My worm box is a 10x7 6-compartment poly box and weighs 1# 14oz. ready to fish.
Compartment 1: Low density stick-worms for a slow fall. I fish them weightless, often wacky-rigged. I have them in two sizes (4, 6), and two colors an orange for low visibility conditions (so the bass, and especially I, can see them), and a pale translucent for very high visibility conditions when bass are apt to reject the bright opaque worm.
Compartment 2: High density stick-worms for a faster fall rate and/or deeper water, also fished weightless, often wacky-rigged. Again, two sizes (4, 6), and two colors a dark (opaque-ish), and a pale translucent.
Compartment 3: Black 6 swimming-tail worm for darker days and active fish. These worms trigger bass really well and can be fished relatively fast with a bullet sinker. I use them for active bass where only a worm can go through algae and heavy cover. I've also discovered a couple neat triggering strategies to sighted fish with these. I also have in this compartment, in a plastic bag to protect them from bleeding, 8 black/pearl swimming-tail for flipping dark shady hides in dingy water that subtle flash is a deadly trigger.
Later in the year I'll add some 9 swimming-tails for warm summer water where there are large bass. Large lures do select and attract larger bass. In the past I've targeted and caught larger than usual bass using worms up to 13.
Compartment 4: Black straight tails. I have two: First, a very slim and subtle 6 for educated and/or skittish fish under darker conditions. Second, a 6 heavy bulky worm that can cast a mile to spooky or distant fish. This one could be interchangeable with the stick worms but they are a holdover from my youth andwellI couldn't not have them there if just for the memories (the pulse of adrenaline I get when I tie one on).
Compartment 5: Translucent worms, both 6 straight and 6 ribbon-tails, same as Compartments 2&3 but translucent. I believe they out-fish opaques in high vis. waters.
Compartment 6: Finesse worms. I have semi-translucent, slim 6 straight tails, and semi-translucent slim 6 swimming-tails. I believe these out-fish larger opaque worms for skittish/ pressured fish especially in high visibility conditions. They land quietly and are subtle in the water. The slim bodies allow me to fish a Texas-rig with lighter line. The extra kick of the swimming-tails can be a great trigger that works on the drop, or when either swum or accelerated.
Do I catch fish on all of them? Yes. They are selected for conditions, mostly. OK, applying the 80/20 ruleIf I had to choose one worm to cover the most circumstances, it would be a 6 semi-translucent straight-tail. A sandwich baggie full of these and I'd be set to go. Thank goodness I have a large back-pack so I don't have to just bring a baggie!
No, 4-inchers?, you ask? They're in my finesse jig box. But that's another whole box of stories.
