Super User Grizzn N Bassin Posted October 28, 2012 Super User Posted October 28, 2012 i was reading an article about fishing with night crawlers.. this guy caught like 13-14 lmb by hooking a night crawling at the tail, letting it sink all the way down and letting the worm do all the moving.. i guess its supposed to act a texas rigging a soft plastic worm and dragging it slow on the bottom.. any one ever try this?? he said its good for cold water temp bc the crawler will move so slow! Quote
RyneB Posted October 28, 2012 Posted October 28, 2012 i have tried this many times. Have had some success on lakes for largemouth and in small streams for smallmouth. The downside is, every little panfish in the area will hit your crawler before any bass will get a chance at it. You might have to go through 3 dozen crawlers to get a decent bass. I have found that if your going after bass with live bait. A live crawfish, big shiner, or live bluegill are your best bet. Like i said, i have had success, but the bluegills and rock bass will hit your crawler more often than bass. 3 Quote
CoBass Posted October 28, 2012 Posted October 28, 2012 i have tried this many times. Have had some success on lakes for largemouth and in small streams for smallmouth. The downside is, every little panfish in the area will hit your crawler before any bass will get a chance at it. You might have to go through 3 dozen crawlers to get a decent bass. I have found that if your going after bass with live bait. A live crawfish, big shiner, or live bluegill are your best bet. Like i said, i have had success, but the bluegills and rock bass will hit your crawler more often than bass. Well said, that's been my experience too. Smaller fish attacking the crawler and tearing it to pieces before a decent bass had a chance at it. It did work well for me once when I was shore fishing and was able to sight fish larger bass in the shallows. I was able to cast it past them then swim the crawler close to them and pretty much drop it within a few feet of their nose. Quote
Mattlures Posted October 28, 2012 Posted October 28, 2012 Crawlers have been my best live bait for big bass. They key is to target big bass with them and not cast them where there are a bunch of panfish. If there are panfish that close then there are probably only small-medium bass around. At least where I fish the panfish avoid big bass teritory. 1 Quote
RyneB Posted October 28, 2012 Posted October 28, 2012 Crawlers have been my best live bait for big bass. They key is to target big bass with them and not cast them where there are a bunch of panfish. If there are panfish that close then there are probably only small-medium bass around. At least where I fish the panfish avoid big bass teritory. Your from Cali, that dont count. LOL. Your small bass are our big bass here in Illinois. Quote
Super User scaleface Posted October 28, 2012 Super User Posted October 28, 2012 When I was a boy back in the 60s I use to catch bass on nightcrawlers at farm ponds. Id wacky rig it under a bobber with a solid fiberglass fishing pole and a Zebco 202.That was my introduction into bass fishing. This is quite possibly the first bass I ever caught. 4 Quote
Super User scaleface Posted October 28, 2012 Super User Posted October 28, 2012 Table Rock lake they do this a lot. You will see them in deep water , I think they are targeting spots. Quote
shimmy Posted October 28, 2012 Posted October 28, 2012 I'm sure Fish Chris could pipe in on this. He does a lot of night crawler and crawdad fishing and catches monsters in california. The guy is awesome. I'm sure he has a few additional techniques with a live worm but he hasn't shared... Quote
Super User flyfisher Posted October 28, 2012 Super User Posted October 28, 2012 My dad caught a 5lb smallie on a night crawler when he was targeting catfish..... Quote
bkohlman Posted October 28, 2012 Posted October 28, 2012 |I haven't tried live worms since I was a kid. I think I should go out once with only live worms and bobbers. I have thought about this many times, and just not done it. Quote
Super User Crestliner2008 Posted October 28, 2012 Super User Posted October 28, 2012 Back in the '60's & '70's, a gentleman by the name of Bill Binkleman wrote extensively about using crawlers for both bass and walleye. He rigged them on jig heads, dead sticking and harness rigs. He wrote a series of pamphlet-type booklets, entitled "Blue Books". He and Al and Ron Lindner wrote extensively on the use of crawlers for catching bass & walleye. I have the full series of his books, along with the Lindner's "Big Book of Fishing", also printed in the early '60's. These guys made their lively hood with fishing, guiding and instructing angler's in the fine nuances of using live bait for these species. You might want to do a Google on Bill and read up a bit on his methods. Very enlightening. Fishing Facts magazine (founded by Bill Binkleman) still offers a book highlighting fishing with nightcrawlers. How to "condition" them, rig them and fish them. You might want to pick up an issue at the newsstand. 1 Quote
Kachok Posted October 28, 2012 Posted October 28, 2012 I have only cought one bass on a live crawler, and it was pretty darn small. Now crickets and live brem is another story. Quote
Super User WRB Posted October 28, 2012 Super User Posted October 28, 2012 The key to catching big bass on live night crawlers is to present the crawler so it looks and acts like a live crawler falling down through the water column. This presentation requires the use of lighter line, smaller hooks that allow the night crawler to move naturally. Where you fish live bait like large crawlers is just as important as how you fish live bait, or any other presentation to catch big bass. This site has several expert bait anglers; Matt has responded, Fish Chris is a dedicated night crawler trophy bass angler, you search the site for posts on this topic. Tail hooking with a #4 or #1 drop shot style octopus hook or needle worm blower to inflate the night crawler, same type of hook both works when fly lined on 6# to 8# mono or FC line. Adding a small round split shot may be needed depending on wind or current. Live bait fishing is a slow presentation and few anglers today have the required mind set to locate big bass and present live bait effectively. Tom 1 Quote
papajoe222 Posted October 28, 2012 Posted October 28, 2012 Back in the '60's & '70's, a gentleman by the name of Bill Binkleman wrote extensively about using crawlers for both bass and walleye. He rigged them on jig heads, dead sticking and harness rigs. He wrote a series of pamphlet-type booklets, entitled "Blue Books". He and Al and Ron Lindner wrote extensively on the use of crawlers for catching bass & walleye. I have the full series of his books, along with the Lindner's "Big Book of Fishing", also printed in the early '60's. These guys made their lively hood with fishing, guiding and instructing angler's in the fine nuances of using live bait for these species. You might want to do a Google on Bill and read up a bit on his methods. Very enlightening. Fishing Facts magazine (founded by Bill Binkleman) still offers a book highlighting fishing with nightcrawlers. How to "condition" them, rig them and fish them. You might want to pick up an issue at the newsstand. 'Lunkers Love Nightcrawlers' It not only covered fishing with them but was a testimonial to structure fishing. My copy was falling apart at the binder when I retired it. Quote
Super User roadwarrior Posted October 28, 2012 Super User Posted October 28, 2012 i was reading an article about fishing with night crawlers.. this guy caught like 13-14 lmb by hooking a night crawling at the tail, letting it sink all the way down and letting the worm do all the moving.. i guess its supposed to act a texas rigging a soft plastic worm and dragging it slow on the bottom.. any one ever try this?? he said its good for cold water temp bc the crawler will move so slow! Fish Chris is a long time member: http://www.trophybassonly.com/id132.htm 1 Quote
Shewillbemine Posted October 28, 2012 Posted October 28, 2012 I used to fish solely with night crawlers for bass. I also fished them like live bait and chose not to impart any action whatsoever. Problem is that many of the bass I caught were hooked deep in the stomach. I now prefer the challenge of working lures. Quote
Super User WRB Posted October 29, 2012 Super User Posted October 29, 2012 Fishing slower doesn't mean you react slowly to any strike. If your Line moves, you feel a tick...set the hook, there is no reason for the bass to reject a fly lined lively large night crawler! Tom Quote
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