Straight Tail Vs. Curly Tail Plastics

[RSM789]

Probably because my first bass was caught on a Mister Twister plastic worm back in the early 70's, curly tail worms have usually been my first choice over straight tail worms.  It is the old adage about catching the fisherman before catching the fish.  Over time, I found that I used straight tail worms in certain situations, be it drop-shotting or skipping, but rarely did I choose a straight tail model when Texas rigging them to be fished around docks or brush.  Mentally, the image of the worm "swimming" on the fall with the curly tail gave me confidence.

 

On my home lake, I fish the docks (the most prevalent cover) 2 different ways when I am using plastics.  I will cast a Texas rig with a 1/8" tungsten weight to the corners of the dock and skip a wacky rigged senko under the docks.  Typically, early in the day or when there is a lot of cloud cover, the Texas rig outproduces, but as the sun rises and the fish move back under the docks, the senko catches increase.  Probably 1/3 of the strikes on the Texas rig are on the fall, the remaining are as I work it back along the dock or out in front of the dock.

 

Now a couple of months back, I was trying to better imitate a medium sized bluegill (the main forage) and I tried a 5" straight tail Roboworm Texas rigged.  I immediately saw a huge increase in bites, probably 2 to 3 times the amount I had been averaging with the various curly tailed worms.  Not just numbers, but size as well, including an 8 lb. pig the second trip I used them.  This continued for the past 7 outings, which considering how stable our weather has been here, is not unusual (typical SoCal, every day is just like the previous).  Water temperature have been within 3 degrees every trip and every day was sunny & bright, so once I figured them out, there were only minor adjustments to make.

 

Now yesterday was the first day in nearly 2 months where we had any type of real cloud cover for any length of time (It lasted until about 1:00 pm).  I noticed immediately that the number of strikes on the straight tail worm were way down.  The number of strikes on the Senko were the same (increasing as the day wore on), so I tried a couple of different colors & sizes with out much difference.  Finally, when I rigged up a 7" purple Berkley Turtleback worm with a curly tail, it was like a switch was hit.  It was producing like the straight tails had over the previous trips.  The real eye opener was after the clouds cleared and the sun stayed out, that the curly tail production slowed down.  I went back to a straight tail worm & got the expected results for that time of day.

 

So my fisherman's hunch is that in low light, when fish are scattered a bit more, not only are darker colors better, but more action makes the worm easier for the fish to find.  When the light & the fishes visibility increase, the more natural & subtle presentation of a straight tailed worm will then win out (at least during the summer with 80 to 83 degree water temps, I do expect things to change as the conditions do).

 

Has anyone else had similar or different experiences to this?

[Catch and Grease]

I like to use ribbon tails/ paddle tails when the bass are active or I'm fishing low visibility situations

[smalljaw67]

What you experienced is textbook, you are fishing neutral fish, they aren't actively feeding but they will eat an easy meal should it come within their strike zone. You have better results with the straight tail worm during times when finesse is the way to go, the tail doesn't undulate and displace water, instead it quivers and looks alive but easy prey. The cloudy conditions more than likely had a barometric pressure drop that occurred and the fish were actively feeding, when that happens the strike zone gets bigger and larger offering become good producers but the swimming action and water displacement alerted the fish to its presence and they responded by attacking it. It is a classic example of how less action is better when the fish aren't in a feeding mode and it has happened to everyone who has fished for bass with lures for any length of time. You made a great observation which just added to your "on the water" knowledge, remember it and it will let you make good lure choices in the future.

[Choporoz]

Great post, RSM.  Thanks for relaying your experience.  I think the analysis and conclusions are spot on and a great reminder for me.  I tend to get stuck on a certain style of plastic without thoughtfully working through the details of the situation on/in the water. 

[OkobojiEagle]

Now add to your arsenal the venerable boot tail grub... these days often called a swim bait.

 

 

oe