Zoom Magnum Ol Monster 12"

[BuffaloBass716]

Saw these at Gander Mountain and figured, what the heck! Ill try them.  I've never fished anything that big, anyone who has fished them, any tips for rigging them and presentation? We aren't known for having huge bass up here, but maybe this big bait is what I need to catch a nice sized NY bass. Its something I know they've never seen.  Also, what sized bass can I expect with this bait? I know bass will hit baits that are the same size as they are occasionally but is this bait designed for the biggest bass out there?

[bigbill]

No snow there yet? Kidding

I used the 12" culprit worm in black shad. Just a hook with no weight. As far as what size fish will hit it any size fish will. I caught a 13" pickerel on this 12" worm. But I believe in big bait big fish.

[Phoenix Guy]

I use large worms in the hot summer months at the lakes I fish. I have some of the Zoom Ole Monsters in Black Emerald. They worked well in greener water and at night. I rig them on a 5/0 hook with anywhere from a 1/4-1/2oz tungsten weight.

[MCS]

5/0 hook Texas rigged with a light bullet weight 1/16-1/8 oz you can fish it dragging, hopping, sweeping or swimming. Long pauses, short pauses, constant motion. Figure out what works. Usually I start slow and go from there.

[Mike L]

5/0 hook Texas rigged with a light bullet weight 1/16-1/8 oz you can fish it dragging, hopping, sweeping or swimming. Long pauses, short pauses, constant motion. Figure out what works. Usually I start slow and go from there.

 

 

This ^^ I do the same...Don't get too concerned just because they're bigger than what you've thrown in the past.

Most 10" - !2" worms appeal to larger fish but as Bill said all sizes will hit it.

 

The only time I won't throw them is in cold water or used to punch.

 

 

 

Mike

[AK-Jax86]

Go big or go home! Big bass love big baits. Never tried these ones before but I use the Yum Mightee Worm 10.5". I haven't used them in a while since I have been on a frogging binge for the past 4 months but when I did use them EVERY fish I caught was big. I went through one bag and since no stores carry them I had to order more online, to this day those 3 packs haven't been opened FROG TAKEOVER

[Bluebasser86]

5/0 hook with a 1/4 or 3/8 ounce bullet weight is my favorite rig for big worms. You can catch 10 inchers on them without any problem. Lately the big worms have been getting me more bites that the smaller ones, even from smaller fish. Last Wednesday night I was catching down to 8 inch smallies on a Zoom Ol' Monster. 

[jeb2]

They work good here in the Ozarks when the fish are more aggressive. I fish them mostly on a C-rig, but T-rigging them works well also.

[Bigbassgrubslayer]

I use these mainly in watermelon,  blue, and red shad... I've never caught any under 1.5 but that's still a pretty small bass and there's plenty of them. It will catch smaller and bigger bass but no true dinks.  I average 2.5 with this on a normal day. Sometimes upwards of 4-6 depending. 

[Valvodinho]

Huge believer in larger worms like the Ole Monster in the summer. I prefer Junebug colors personally and do a light Texas rig on a 5/0 hook. For awhile my PB was caught on this exact presentation.

[looking45]

I use a 5/0 straight shank hook rigged Texas style with a 1/4 oz brass weight and an 8mm glass bead. Shaking it will make noise and the big worm will move water, letting the bass know it’s there. I’ve caught 10” spots on the big worm. 

[Pat Brown]

Biggest I've caught on the 12" ribbon tail is a post spawn female off of rock in VERY hot water and she weighed 5.6.

 

Also caught plenty of 10-12 inch bass on them!

 

I like em T-Rigged on a #5 or #6 worm hook with unpegged weight (1/4 oz) on 20 lb fluorocarbon and a 7'6 heavy power rod.

 

Some folks like them Carolina rigged on offshore structure which sounds intriguing!

 

 

[Bird]

Brought up a similar thread last year about throwing a Mann's 10" Jelly worm, quite a few responses.

I'm gonna set a day aside for nothing but big worms.

[Ktho]

I like the 10-12” ribbon tails a lot but my real favorite are the 14”+ hand pour straight tail worms like Uptons, they slay when the water warms. 

[GreenPig]

I fish the 12" Mag Ol Monster on a Gamakatsu 7/0 EWG with a 1/16 - 3/8 tungsten unpegged. I've caught sub 1 lb Spots on the big worm and that's a small mouth.

[Cbump]

10.5” ol monster and 10” power worm is a summer time staple for me. 

[Primus]

If the largemouth in Michigan will bite them where I live I would imagine you will do well in NY. 

Here area few that have been effective for me ....

 

10" Big Bite Kreit Tail or 10" Power Worm - I typically throw it with a 3/8 oz sinker 

 

10" Xcite baits Maximums on a 1/2 oz shaky head with a large hook - This is the one that Yum copied , the advantage of the Maximus is that it is neutrally buoyant 

 

Caught a couple of good ones last year on a Strike King Bull Worm . I've used it with 1/8 to 1/4 oz slip sinkers . Also , throw it weightless with a 11/0 Owner Oversize offset worm . Even without weight it sinks well on it's own and glides down real nicely. 

 

Not a worm but I've tagged some good ones on the 7" Canyon Plastics Giant Tora tube - I typically throw it with a 3/4 oz slip sinker an 8/0 EWG . The 3/4 oz sinker sounds heavy but what will usually happen is it will drop pretty slow because of the mass of the bait and the tube fills up with water slowing it's descent. 

 

For whatever reason , I never got around to fishing the 12" worms so I can't say much about that . 

[Cbump]

Yeah I don’t like the 12” very much. But I do have these 15” worms

 

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/NetBait_C-Mac_Curly_Tail_Worm/descpage-NBCM.html

 

Only used them once and caught about a 2 pounder. They are almost all curly tail and less body though so pretty delicate Worm. 

[youeverjust]

If you have some long straight worms a heavy (3/8-1/2oz) shakey head can be a good option in warmer conditions. Yum mighty worms 10.5in

[Bazoo]

I've just found the Ol Monster, and while I haven't caught any hawgs yet, I've caught a few smaller ones to get my confidence up. It's a nice worm.

 

 

On 3/28/2023 at 7:34 PM, GreenPig said:

I fish the 12" Mag Ol Monster on a Gamakatsu 7/0 EWG with a 1/16 - 3/8 tungsten unpegged. I've caught sub 1 lb Spots on the big worm and that's a small mouth.

That's a nice one, thank you for sharing!

[scbassin]

After reading your post your asking about big worms & big fish so I'll mention 2 things. My set up is a Champion Dobyns XP DC 736 C F/H with a Shimano 22 Bantam XG For Big Worms It's Gambler ER 16 inch soft plastic worms. Fished on a Carolina rig with the reel main line is spooled with 20 lb Samurai hidden concept & with the leader of Gamma Copolymer 12 to 14 lb depending on cover. Using a 3/16 oz weight & a Owner oversized 11/0 worm hook.  I also fish it weightless using 20 lb Gamma 20 lb line & the same hook. looks like a snake swimming. For Big fish I'll also fish a 7ich no bull frog with the same set up but with  30 lb Gamma Copolymer line.

[Captain Phil]

Your post brought a smile to my face.  The Ole Monster is a finesse worm compared to the worms we threw back in the 70s and 80s.  Back when Rodman first opened, we had a worm called the Hawg Hunter.  That worm was 15" long, 3/4" of an inch wide with two molded in hooks. It was so heavy you didn't need a weight and it sounded like a whip on the cast. I haven't seen one in years and I have been trying to find one for my collection. I caught dozens of giant bass on that worm.   I know of one 17 pound Florida bass caught on it.  Big bass eat big food.  This isn't always true, but it's true often enough.  Big black plastic worms are great night lures.  Bring your net!!  

[SC53]

Phil, I remember those old Hawg Hunters. They were a chunk of plastic weren’t they. 
Have you tried eBay for finding one? 

[Zcoker]

Those big Zoom worms are the only worm that I use down here in south Florida. I rig them with a 6/0 EWG or 7/0 worm hooks weightless. I like the VMC offset hooks with the closed eyelet. Regardless of hook, I flatten the barb. Makes for a fast and easy release with the least damage. The worms flat out catch! Just cast out and let naturally sink and then swim back, bouncing them along. Takes no time for the bass to engulf them. And they do catch BIG bass. I've caught many monster fish on them. I've also caught just as many smaller bass on them, just like a regular sized worm would. So I can't see any size difference with ANY fish when using the 12" version. What I like most about them is their toughness. They flat out last like no other worm that I've ever used. I can usually catch up to 10 bass on ONE Monster Magnum worm. Granted, I do have some large bass that rip them off but, for the most, they stay in shape, ready to go at it again.