I see Senkos and trick worms and Roboworms...

[Fishingintheweeds]

I know they still make them because they still catch fish...but I don't see many people talking about ribbon tail worms any more. 

 

I think when you start talking size, the reasons for change are a little more obvious. But when it comes to style, say in the 5-8/9" range, what does everyone prefer about one style over another? When do you choose a ribbon tail, or a trick worm, or a Senko, etc.?

[r83srock]

A trick worm isn’t something I really fish, and I know some use it as a seasonal bait. It can be deadly around the spawn, I just prefer other methods. A fluke isn’t a ton different, more of a different profile. A ribbon tail worm I fish if the fish in a lake are generally small or if a jig isn’t producing. It’s just a different profile to say a jig. I use a senko everywhere, rigged any way I feel appropriate. It’s a bait I often start with, but it’s a bait I’ll throw when it’s super tough, I’m just that confident it it.

[IgotWood]

Man I love a ribbon tail late in the summer when the lake is choked with weeds and the fish are super lazy. Very light, 1/8oz or 1/4oz and fish it slooooow. 

 

I like to fish it in open water around weeds, and along drop-offs. I mostly fish a 7.5” Yum, or a 10” Culprit. The Rage ReCon worm has a place in my bag too. 

 

I’m not sure why they aren’t as popular as some of the other fitness baits out there, but I’m not complaining either. Maybe they work so well for me because everyone else is swinging a Senko around. 

[Fishingintheweeds]

So, the consensus hearing a lot of different people's comments, seems to be that the ribbon tail is a finesse deal? Or maybe most. I guess I never though of a worm as that...but it makes sense. Especially if you work it slower. 

 

I've used them in a lot of situations and thrown them on and in all kinds of stuff but maybe, in spite of that, I have a short of dumbed-down way of thinking about them. Maybe it's good that I never really overthought them but I've almost never thought I wanted to throw a worm but needed to pick the exact right type. Color and size, yes...type, not so much. 

[LCG]

I keep senkos, trick worms. Ribbon tailed worms, as well as 4" roboworms in my plastics box. I agree that the different profile and action are the main reasons. Sometimes the fish just prefer one over the other. Trickworms seem to be a consistent bait for me though. Dragged on the bottom or hopping it seems to work best. Lots of followers on ribbon tailed worms but not many takers for some reason. 

[r83srock]

29 minutes ago, LCG said:

I keep senkos, trick worms. Ribbon tailed worms, as well as 4" roboworms in my plastics box. I agree that the different profile and action are the main reasons. Sometimes the fish just prefer one over the other. Trickworms seem to be a consistent bait for me though. Dragged on the bottom or hopping it seems to work best. Lots of followers on ribbon tailed worms but not many takers for some reason. 

I should really give a trick worm a shot again, been years since I’ve thrown one.

[LCG]

5 minutes ago, r83srock said:

I should really give a trick worm a shot again, been years since I’ve thrown one.

Such a versatile bait for me. Neko rigged, Texas rigged, drop shot, wacky, weightless, nose hooked working it like a jerkbait, even used it as a trailer on a chatterbait. 

 

Plus a lot of colour choices. Personal favourites being black, watermelon chartreuse tail, watermelon, and junebug chartreuse tail. Always have multiple bags of these on hand. 

[Spankey]

6 hours ago, LCG said:

Such a versatile bait for me. Neko rigged, Texas rigged, drop shot, wacky, weightless, nose hooked working it like a jerkbait, even used it as a trailer on a chatterbait. 

 

Plus a lot of colour choices. Personal favourites being black, watermelon chartreuse tail, watermelon, and junebug chartreuse tail. Always have multiple bags of these on hand. 

Great response! I like that. Don't over look a Power Worm. 

[TOXIC]

They all have a different fall rate and action.  The only similarity is that they are all plastic.  I only use Yamamoto and they have all of the styles you mentioned plus a lot more.  I'm never at a loss as to what baits I want to throw to achieve the action/fall rate/rigging that I prefer.  

[fishwizzard]

My worm breakdown goes kinda like this:

 

T-rig, dragging: 6-8’ Straight tail

 

T-rig, swimming: 10’ Ribbon tail

 

Weightless, shallow: Trickworm

 

Dropshot, Sliderhead: Roboworm/Swamp Crawler

[snake95]

Interesting post.  I'm mostly a pond fisherman with my kids, but here goes:

 

Senkos: "target" fishing - casting to targets and hoping to get bit on the fall.  

Examples: schools of bluegills, splashes from bass visibly attacking prey close to the bank ("follow up" fishing), targeting interesting looking cover, occasionally, fan casting spawning bed flats.

 

Trickworms: weightless topwater, or just sub-surface T-rigged on bottom or swimming past targets.

 

Roboworms: dropshot or weightless T-rigged.

 

Ribbon tails: T-rigged, swimming past targets.  

 

Gator tails - just got a bunch of Ditto Gator tails.  Should be interesting.

 

 

 

[the reel ess]

You can use the Trick worm in almost any way you use regular worms. T-rig, shaky head, wacky, weightless. For this reason, I almost always have one tied on (weightless) or at least in the kayak with me. If I decide I want one of the other presentations, it's right there on the end of my line. It works great rigged the same way you'd rig a ribbon tail. I'm sure there are times either is the better bait. Ribbon tails are available in monster sizes. But there is a magnum size T Worm too. 

 

Due to the added action, I see the ribbon tail as a warm weather bait, but I've caught enough bass on the T Worm that it doesn't need to prove anything else to me. I don't drop shot and I haven't used a gator tail since I was in my 20's. I'm pushing 50 now.