Zoom Ultravibe Speed Worms

[MichaelCopeland]

Just bought some 6" Zoom Ultravibe Speed Worms. Never used anything like this before. What would be the most effective way/ways to rig and fish them? Can they be used for drop shots? Any help would be most appreciated.

[flyingmonkie]

Most folks t-rig them and fish them over grass - when fished weightless, they can be buzzed along the top of the water.  That being said, you can fish them anyway the heck you want!  

 

 

Other ideas would be to pitch them T-rigged (with a weight) around heavy cover, punch them into salad, or fish them on a shaky head.

[wdp]

flyingmonkie pretty much covered it. They work great fished as a weightless t rig on topwater - think finesse buzzbait. Make sure the tail is pointing down when rigging. This provides the best buzzing action. They work great like this around lily pads & grass. You can even kill it in pockets & let it slow fall in the gaps. 

 

The last couple yrs I've found them to work great on a light shaky head too, 1/16 - 1/8 oz. 

[MichaelCopeland]

1 hour ago, flyingmonkie said:

Most folks t-rig them and fish them over grass - when fished weightless, they can be buzzed along the top of the water.  That being said, you can fish them anyway the heck you want!  

 

 

Other ideas would be to pitch them T-rigged (with a weight) around heavy cover, punch them into salad, or fish them on a shaky head.

Thank you. I'll have to try them out on a shaky head. I'm still fairly new to bass fishing and I fish from the bank. Haven't learned how to pitch, flip or punch yet. 

11 minutes ago, wdp said:

flyingmonkie pretty much covered it. They work great fished as a weightless t rig on topwater - think finesse buzzbait. Make sure the tail is pointing down when rigging. This provides the best buzzing action. They work great like this around lily pads & grass. You can even kill it in pockets & let it slow fall in the gaps. 

 

The last couple yrs I've found them to work great on a light shaky head too, 1/16 - 1/8 oz. 

Thank you. 1/8oz shaky heads are all I have for that rigging. When you say to t-rig them with the tail pointing down is that with it pointed towards the hook point side or the shank side? Also is it better to use an EWG or round bend offset hook for this? I have both in 2/O, 3/O and 4/O sizes. Only round bend in 1/O size. Would they work well for a drop shot also?

[wdp]

7 hours ago, MichaelCopeland said:

Thank you. 1/8oz shaky heads are all I have for that rigging. When you say to t-rig them with the tail pointing down is that with it pointed towards the hook point side or the shank side? Also is it better to use an EWG or round bend offset hook for this? I have both in 2/O, 3/O and 4/O sizes. Only round bend in 1/O size. Would they work well for a drop shot also?

I rig them like this (photo below) but without the weight. Hook point is on top with the hook point slightly buried or skin hooked (texposed); the flap of the tail is pointing downward.

 

I normally use Gamakatsu 5/0 Superline EWG hooks (although a round bend hook is in photo) to give the bait a little more weight so I can throw it with a baitcasting reel. But you can use a smaller/lighter hook. You might need to add a small 1/16 oz bullet weight to give it some extra weight to make it easier to throw. The trick is to find the right balance - you want enough overall weight to be able to throw it decently, but not too much weight that it's hard to get the bait up to the surface and use it like a mini buzz bait. 

 

I would think a 3/0 or 4/0 EWG would work fine. Again, I usually use the 5/0 just to give it a little extra weight so I can throw it easier. Most times I'm throwing it around lily pads & grass. So I'm using a beefier set up: 7' MH rod with at least 30 lb braid. 

[Catt]

My goto for the last couple yrs

 

Hooks: 2/0-3/0 straight shank round bend

 

Weights: 1/64-1/4 depending on rate of fall; most often used 1/8 oz.

 

Ya can cast, flip, pitch, or buzz it on top even when weighted.

[MichaelCopeland]

1 hour ago, wdp said:

I rig them like this (photo below) but without the weight. Hook point is on top with the hook point slightly buried or skin hooked (texposed); the flap of the tail is pointing downward.

 

I normally use Gamakatsu 5/0 Superline EWG hooks (although a round bend hook is in photo) to give the bait a little more weight so I can throw it with a baitcasting reel. But you can use a smaller/lighter hook. You might need to add a small 1/16 oz bullet weight to give it some extra weight to make it easier to throw. The trick is to find the right balance - you want enough overall weight to be able to throw it decently, but not too much weight that it's hard to get the bait up to the surface and use it like a mini buzz bait. 

 

I would think a 3/0 or 4/0 EWG would work fine. Again, I usually use the 5/0 just to give it a little extra weight so I can throw it easier. Most times I'm throwing it around lily pads & grass. So I'm using a beefier set up: 7' MH rod with at least 30 lb braid. 

Thank you for the pic. I was thinking that's the way you were talking about, but I wanted to be sure. It's always nice to see a pic of something, if possible. Seeing what is being talked about makes all the difference in the world. Thanks again for your time and advice.

[MichaelCopeland]

10 minutes ago, Catt said:

My goto for the last couple yrs

 

Hooks: 2/0-3/0 straight shank round bend

 

Weights: 1/64-1/4 depending on rate of fall; most often used 1/8 oz.

 

Ya can cast, flip, pitch, or buzz it on top even when weighted.

Thank you. I'll be casting and buzzing them, especially since it's raining here now. Hopefully the rain doesn't last too long because I'm anxious to get out to the lake and fish. It's been almost a week since I've been fishing, not by choice...lol. How are you feeling today? Hopefully better! ☺

[Catt]

5 minutes ago, MichaelCopeland said:

How are you feeling today? ☺

 

With my fingers

[MichaelCopeland]

25 minutes ago, Catt said:

 

With my fingers

Lmbo! ? Glad to see that your sense of humor is still there. Laughter is some of the best medicine.

[MichaelCopeland]

Couple of final questions @Catt, when using a bullet weight for this, should I peg the weight or let it slide freely? Also the bullet weights I have are 1/8oz and 3/16oz steel and 1/4oz tungsten, which would you recommend?

[Catt]

14 hours ago, MichaelCopeland said:

Couple of final questions @Catt, when using a bullet weight for this, should I peg the weight or let it slide freely? Also the bullet weights I have are 1/8oz and 3/16oz steel and 1/4oz tungsten, which would you recommend?

 

I'm one of the old weirdos that still throw lead!

[MichaelCopeland]

5 minutes ago, Catt said:

 

I'm one of the old weirdos that still throw lead!

Nothing wrong with old school. I don't think it makes you a weirdo. I use lead split shots when I catfish. I think I still have some 1/4oz lead worm weights. I've just been trying different things to see what works best for me. So far, other than the one bass on a Carolina rig, only weightless Texas rigged worms has caught any bass for me. I just gotta keep working at it when I can.

[Mike L]

I've accumulated so much lead over the years, I'll use them when throwing a moving plastic such as a Speed Worm. But for anything on the bottom, I only use tungsten.

 

To answer you question, when throwing the standard size I'll start with a 3/16, but on the magnums which I throw much more often, either an 1/8 or weightless.

 

 

 

 

Mike

[MichaelCopeland]

6 minutes ago, Mike L said:

I've accumulated so much lead over the years, I'll use them when throwing a moving plastic such as a Speed Worm. But for anything on the bottom, I only use tungsten.

 

To answer you question, when throwing the standard size I'll start with a 3/16, but on the magnums which I throw much more often, either an 1/8 or weightless.

 

 

 

 

Mike

Thank you. Should I peg the weight or not?

[Mike L]

I always do when throwing it over and through vegetation. If throwing on the top or in widely scattered light cover I don't. 

But keep in mind I use the Magnum about 90% of the time 

 

 

 

 

Mike

[Catt]

I don't peg nothing ever not even when punching!

[bunkerbstr]

TX rig them mostly.  Weight depends on depth - usually 1/4 - 3/8.  Swim slowly through grass.  Works in clear or dirty water, just choose color accordingly:

Clear - Watermelon, green pumpkin

Dirty - Junebug, Red Shad

 

 

[Big Swimbait]

Another way I have had success is on a swing-head jig. Use a heavy enough jig to keep it on the bottom & reel as fast as you can & still maintain contact - just like a Biffle Bug.

 

[MichaelCopeland]

6 minutes ago, 1201vilbig said:

Another way I have had success is on a swing-head jig. Use a heavy enough jig to keep it on the bottom & reel as fast as you can & still maintain contact - just like a Biffle Bug.

 

Not familiar with a swing head jig or a Biffle Bug. They sound interesting though.