Worm Fishing

[813basstard]

I’m sure like most of y’all, I grew up fishing worms. Texas or Carolina rigged. That’s what we knew. As I gain more experience, I hardly can’t fish a worm anymore. Texas, weightless, dropped, Ned, Florida, senior, mojo, big, small, stick, ribbon tail, etc not much success lately. I’ll throw a jig all day in a rain puddle, but when it comes to worms now?? Any advice, tips, atta boys welcomed 

[Moto]

Don’t really get the problem 

[papajoe222]

I drifted away from throwing a Texas rigged worm over the years. I, too, am a jig man now, but I've gone back to a worm recently. The fish around here seem to hold on to them longer  than with other presentations and other than a tube, they're the only soft plastic bait I have confidence in. 

[Bluebasser86]

So are you catching fish on a jig and not on a worm or just not fishing a worm anymore?

[813basstard]

Not fishing a worm hardly at all. Lost my feel for it. Wondering if some of the more experienced anglers here have grown out out it or is it still a valuable tool 

[Mike L]

I will Never, Ever give up my plastics. 

Oh sure I'll change up if I have too, but overall for size and/or numbers, worms and craws in all kinds of water anywhere there is water is my go to and can't see that changing. 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike

[Wurming67]

I use to fish a worm exclusively and always caught fish,but than I joined this forum lol I became alot more diverse fishermen and my bank account disappeared lol,I don't fish a worm like I use to because it's been more fun trying to catch fish on new techniques and lures but....when the bite is tough I'll break out my worm rod and slow it down and sit down on my chair and give my body a break and than I'll say to my self now I'm fishing.

[thinkingredneck]

I still fish worms a lot.  I use them weightless if the bottom is muck.  They can be fished at different speeds and with different sizes, weights, colors, and actions.  I probably use them 3:1 over jigs.  Maybe you need a little reaquintance with them.  I applaud your use of jigs, though.

[Todd2]

I spend about 45% of my time on jigs, 45% on plastics, and the other 10% I'm looking down at my jig/plastics rods wondering if I should pick one up. 

 

 

[Catt]

19 minutes ago, Todd2 said:

I spend about 45% of my time on jigs, 45% on plastics, and the other 10% I'm looking down at my jig/plastics rods wondering if I should pick one up. 

 

 

 

Exactly!  ?

 

If I aint getting bit on a worm I'll throw a jig, if I aint getting bit on a jig I'll throw a worm!

[Black Hawk Basser]

I don't throw worms much anymore...only when it seems fit, when faster presentations aren't working.  Most times, I work a bulky creature bait or a jig instead of a worm.

 

I don't mess around with any worms smaller than 8" anymore.  The huge 10" versions still catch 12" bass.

 

I find that worms consistently catch fish with a slow drag and pause cadence.

[Brad in Texas]

I'll attach a video by Jeff Kriet below where he talks about cashing several checks from tournaments by fishing with a traditional worm, this over creature baits. He says that he often pulls out fish missed by other anglers when he is fishing behind them. Lots of videos, of course, on succeeding with worms, no doubt about it.

 

One thing that is sort of just the way things progress is related to the fact that if you are in the business of making plastic baits, there isn't a heck of a lot you can do to differentiate the appearance of one worm from another. Then, along came the era of added appendages dangling off the various creature baits. Now, we see new renditions of creature baits almost every year.

 

The hardware issue: worm hook vs. jig would lead to another round of product differentiation developments. We now have dozens of each to choose between.

 

Brad

 

Kriet on worms

 

 

[N Florida Mike]

I am exactly opposite. Out of all the bass techniques, I like jig fishing the least. All I catch with jigs is a clump of weeds each cast. Still tear em up with worms, and any soft plastics for that matter. If it ain't broke , why fix it ?  I do believe if you fish the same thing too much in the same water, the fish will get used to it, and your catch rate will decrease.

[scaleface]

I still throw worms a  lot . Un-pegged , off-set hook , clear blue fluorescent line , just like I did 40 years ago . The only difference , I use a 1 foot longer rod .

[Mobasser]

Plastic worms are still my #1 lure. I fish Texas rig, split shot rig, and shakey head the most. 

[Deleted account]

I almost always have a t-rigged trick worm at the ready, weigthless and weighted. To me, creatures and craws, I like to drag or hop on the bottom or pitch to cover, worms I'm usually swimming or dragging and dropping. 

[greentrout]

early morning...topwater bite...then spinnerbait looking for aggressive bass...then worm t rigged & weightless trick worms mostly...worm fishing majority of time...

 

good fishing...

[Catt]

I only carry 5 setups even when tournament fishing!

 

2 ea Texas Rigs

Weightless to 3/8 oz 

1/2 oz to 1.25 oz

 

2 ea Jig-n-Craw 

1/4 oz to 1/2 oz

3/4 oz to 1.25 oz

 

1 ea for either topwater, spinnerbaits, traps, or crankbaits.

 

That works on every body of water I fish ?

[813basstard]

Yeah your right. I need to re-light the spark. Tonight it’s Teddy Pendergast cassettes, microwaved Hot Pocket and ribbon tail 7” June bug worm. I may even put up my Emmitt Smith poster and challenge the wife in Tecmo Bowl. 

Thanks boys,

happy 4th

[FishTank]

For me, I tend to fish soft plastic worms weightless and Texas rigged more than anything else.  I use to through jigs a lot but I got tired of loosing them in and around the heavy rock bases I usually fish.   I've caught a ton of fish with them. I just wish I didn't get hung up with them so much. 

[Log Catcher]

I throw Texas rig soft plastics more than anything. When I throw a jig I have really gotten desperate to get a bite. I get hung up a lot more with jigs so I just don't use them unless I have to.

[bigbassin']

As far as dragging a worm goes, I still do it but a jig has replaced it for the most part.  Just more versatile in my opinion.  You can still cast to targets, drag it, or hop it along the bottom like a worm, but you can also swim it while moving from spot to spot or check to see if the fish would prefer a moving bait.

 

Pitching and swimming speed worms, along with weightless trick worms are still go-to techniques for me and I don't see that changing anytime soon.

[Ksam1234]

7 hours ago, Wurming67 said:

I use to fish a worm exclusively and always caught fish,but than I joined this forum lol I became alot more diverse fishermen and my bank account disappeared lol,I don't fish a worm like I use to because it's been more fun trying to catch fish on new techniques and lures but....when the bite is tough I'll break out my worm rod and slow it down and sit down on my chair and give my body a break and than I'll say to my self now I'm fishing.

Make that 2 for emptying the bank account haha 

[WRB]

There are some days I never pick up a worm rod and more days it's the only thing I use. Can't remember not fishing a worm at night.

Tom

[ww2farmer]

7 hours ago, Catt said:

 

Exactly!  ?

 

If I aint getting bit on a worm I'll throw a jig, if I aint getting bit on a jig I'll throw a worm!

That about sums it up for me too.