The Texas Rig

[scaleface]

1 hour ago, Mobasser said:

The Lucky Strike worms from Wal Mart, will catch a lot of bass. As

LOL I just came from Wal-Mart and bought three bags of 6 inch Tequila sunrise   .20 a pack .

[Mobasser]

Just now, scaleface said:

LOL I just came from Wal-Mart and bought three bags of 6 inch Tequila sunrise   .20 a pack .

Be prepared! Your gonna get bit!

[deadadrift89]

My favorite way to fish above all else hands down. That "TAP" is so additive to me and is what brings me to the lake over and over through all the years.    

[haggard]

5 hours ago, Largies4Life said:

I have all my confidence in wacky rigging a worm. I haven't given it a true test T-rigging it, however. I always resort to the wacky rig when it comes to worms, but I really want to expand my horizon using the T-rig. Do you all prefer weightless T-rigging with worms or do you prefer a pegged weight? I mainly throw Gary Yamamoto worms for wacky rig, any preference on worms for t-rigging vs. wacky rig?

I'd see these as two different presentations. Weightless (or weighted hook) wacky is more about the action on the fall, while TX (nose) rigged is more focused on the retrieve - hopping or swimming it back to you. 

 

When working a TX rigged worm shallow to mid shallow, I prefer:

 

- 1/4 oz tungsten bullet

  (loon-friendly no lead; not too heavy)

- unpegged

  (less tackle to fiddle with)

- 4 inch worm or baby turtle

  (small enough for smallies, large enough for largies)

- colors: natural browns, greens, or black/blue

- I wouldn't worry much about the manufacturer. Lure profile is more important. 

 

After using this config as my go-to for the first two seasons, I find myself wanting to do the opposite of what you mentioned: trying a weightless wacky

 

Disclaimer: I'm still new at this stuff.

 

[bigjean663]

First bass I ever caught on the coveted Toledo Bend was on a Texas rigged red Shad Culprit worm. From that point on, I’ve got a setup dedicated to the Texas rig. Doesn’t matter if I’m bank fishing or in a boat, got one ready to go. 

[CrankFate]

10 hours ago, Catt said:

#1 most productive lure

 

Doug Hannon's Answer

Plastic Worm (Texas rigged) It's a long, thin shape resembles the profile of a wide variety of forage in the world of the bass, including earthworms, snakes, eels, and baitfish. Its action is almost entirely dependent on the contours of the bottom; and the rod movements of the fisherman, making it very random. It moves with little noise; the noise that it does make comes mostly from the random clicking of the sinker as it hits bottom. Bright colors and larger size can be used to increase its attracting qualities. Because of its basic resemblance to a wide array of living forage, this lure presents very few negative cues, and is hard for big bass to learn not to hit.

 

Here is the official answer:

Studies have proven that the plastic worm is the only lure made that a BASS CANNOT REMEMBER!

That is, a bass will continue to strike a worm even after repeated catches, whereas a bass will "turn off" to other lures, spinner baits and crank baits etc. after wearing them out on them. That's why you cannot continue to catch them on your honey hole with the same lure over and over. Bass will stop eating that which will eradicate them. Not true with the plastic worm, however. Although we all know bass will prefer a different bait at different times (i.e. "the pattern") you can always go back to the worm to catch them

I just don’t believe it. Go somewhere with bass and clear water. Take a whole fresh feisty night crawler and throw it in the water. Bass love to eat this. You’ll see them. I know bass love whole worms. And I know worms are not smart. When I had a kiddie pool in my yard, with a slide and steps, dozens of worms would kill themselves every night climbing into the pool. They have to do the same thing around every lake, too. So I have to believe it’s really just that bass love to eat worms. And worms love to jump into the water overnight.

[Mobasser]

I've tried wacky rig and shakey head worm rigs. I've caught some on shakey head, but the 2acky rig hangs up too much in milfoil weeds. Again, the Texas rig glides through these weeds better than anything else. Still the best- in any cover. Another plus- they can be used with a casting outfit, spinning rod, or spincast setup.All fisherman can use this. The more you practice with a Texas rig, it only gets better. 

[primetime]

Kind of hard to beat a Texas rigged plastic worm when you are not sure what to use. You don't have to worry about snags, if shallow or soft bottom, just go weightless....I started pitching a Senko a few years ago with a pegged weight and it works awesome. You would think the heavy weight would kill the action, but I think it's like a tube, it falls in a way that generates reaction strikes....For some reason I always thought pegging the weight on a senko was not "Correct" but I was certainly wrong....

 

Anytime I take someone fishing who is not used to weeds or soft baits, I tend to simply give them a senko or trick worm, with or without weight and just tell them to cast it and let it sink, then twitch it a few times and stop...Kind of always works if you are on fish.

[Mobasser]

48 minutes ago, CrankFate said:

I just don’t believe it. Go somewhere with bass and clear water. Take a whole fresh feisty night crawler and throw it in the water. Bass love to eat this. You’ll see them. I know bass love whole worms. And I know worms are not smart. When I had a kiddie pool in my yard, with a slide and steps, dozens of worms would kill themselves every night climbing into the pool. They have to do the same thing around every lake, too. So I have to believe it’s really just that bass love to eat worms. And worms love to jump into the water overnight.

There's been a lot of speculation over the years as to exactly what a plastic worm looks like to a bass. I've watched smaller bass swim along and watch my plastic worm, looking like their mesmerized by it, then suck it in at the last minute. To me, I think it looks like an easy meal, too easy for them to pass up. It falls into the predator nature of bass. They go for the easy meal first. I think this is why they are a favorite of trophy bass anglers. A worm moving slowly through their living room is just too easy to pass up. Because the Texas rig can be fished in these hideouts, it works very well.

[Catt]

9 hours ago, Largies4Life said:

I have all my confidence in wacky rigging a worm. I haven't given it a true test T-rigging it, however. I always resort to the wacky rig when it comes to worms, but I really want to expand my horizon using the T-rig. Do you all prefer weightless T-rigging with worms or do you prefer a pegged weight? I mainly throw Gary Yamamoto worms for wacky rig, any preference on worms for t-rigging vs. wacky rig?

 

If you like a Wacky Rig try a Zoom Trick Worm on a 3/0 straight shank hook & insert a 1" paneling nail in the tail.

 

The 3/0 hook & the nail will cause the worm to fall horizontally!

 

I seldom peg my weight even in grass, I want separation, I want that piece of plastic chasing that weight to the bottom.

 

There's a major misconception that the separation between the worm & weight is in feet... it's in inches. Once you apply pressure to work the worm that distance slams shut.

 

It is also believed that when your Texas Rig comes up to a limb the weight will fall over the limb first leaving the worm on the other side.

 

When I feel my rig coming up the limb I simply hop the rig over the limb, let it free fall & hold on!

[greentrout]

my dad set me up with a zebco 33 stren line creme t rigged purple worm when i was a boy ... caught my first bass outside of columbia, sc on a farm pond... still use an old zebco on occasion ... mostly a bc now ... the thrill is still there ... dad did good ...

 

good fishing... 

 

 

https://tpwmagazine.com/archive/2015/mar/LLL_creme/

[thinkingredneck]

I can't add much.  I have about 60 different plastics, 11 different worms in Junebug and several in Candy bug.  Having said that, I use a trickworm or Creme scoundrel 95 percent of the time.   Usually Junebug or Candy bug.  Love it.  Weightless or change weight depending on the situation. 

 

The only thing I like as well is catching one with a fly rod popper.   However, no fly rod bait touches the plastic worm for results.

 

Cheap, effective and fun.   What is  not to like?

[Mobasser]

Good replies all! Since we're on this topic, what about worms and weights? I'm using Mann's, Culprit, Zoom, and some old Mister Twister worms I found in my tackle. I might pick up a couple more bags. I've spray painted slip stinkers too. Usually, black , red, and blue. I think it may make a difference at times. I've gone back to using straight shank worm hooks too. Gramma and Mustad- various sizes. I thing I hook more with a straight shank hook.

[scaleface]

While wading for river smallmouths I observed them turn down plastic worms . Move to within an inch  then back off .   Those same fish then not even hesitate to engulf a plastic   craw . I've seen it enough that I use craws , tubes , hula grrubs ...something with appendages all the time now when targeting smallmouths .

 

 

[Mobasser]

1 minute ago, scaleface said:

While wading for river smallmouths I observed them turn down plastic worms . Move to within an inch  then back off .   Those same fish then not even hesitate to engulf a plastic   craw . I've seen it enough that I use craws , tubes , hula grrubs ...something with appendages all the time now when targeting smallmouths .

 

 

The craws must be their primary food source. It's weird, I've watched largemouth swim along, eying my worm then hit it, right before I lift it out for another cast. I've seen them reject spinnerbaits though. Only they know why their doing it. It's good you know about the smallmouth and crawfish.Youve found what they like most

[N Florida Mike]

16 hours ago, scaleface said:

LOL I just came from Wal-Mart and bought three bags of 6 inch Tequila sunrise   .20 a pack .

Those are great. My fav. color too.

[Mobasser]

3 minutes ago, N Florida Mike said:

Those are great. My fav. color too.

That's another part of why I like plastic worm fishing so much. You don't need to spend a fortune to get into it. I've caught them on the Lucky Strike worms too. Good baits.

[N Florida Mike]

23 hours ago, Catt said:

My #1 go to Texas rigged plastics!

 

From weightless to Punch Rigs

 

All four seasons of the year 

 

Any water depth including top water

 

Any type of cover

 

Any type of structure 

 

Day or night!

This about sums it up for me !

21 hours ago, Harold Scoggins said:

Gave me my PB. The Mann's 9 or 12" Jelly Worm is the King of Worms.

Same here.

11 hours ago, bigjean663 said:

First bass I ever caught on the coveted Toledo Bend was on a Texas rigged red Shad Culprit worm. From that point on, I’ve got a setup dedicated to the Texas rig. Doesn’t matter if I’m bank fishing or in a boat, got one ready to go. 

That red shad culprit is one of the best baits ever created.

Still in my box on every trip. Won me a tournament. I probably fished it 80 % of the time for 15 years.

[N Florida Mike]

I have one box of trick worms, 1 box of culprit worms, 1 box of other curly tailed worms ,  1 box of old assorted worms, including manns J worms,  1 box of senkos ( which I consider a worm ) 1 box of plastic creature baits, and 1 box of flukes.

I have one box of hard baits ( that I seldom use ) and A few spinnerbaits. 

Wonder what my favorite kind of baits are ??

[Brad Reid]

17 hours ago, Mobasser said:

For fisherman on a budget, plastic worms are a good way to go. You can pickup worms, hooks and slip stinkers for the price of 1 of the high end plugs on the market these days. The Lucky Strike worms from Wal Mart, will catch a lot of bass. As others have said, it can teach a person to slow down, and fish a spot more thourouly, which is often what it takes to catch fish.

Budget, for sure!

 

If one stayed with nothing more than this one presentation, a T-Rigged worm, you could use a more or less basic 7' rod give or take a foot, a basic reel of either sort . . . spinning or casting, 12 lbs. line of any sort give or take some test rating range there too, fish it from the bank, a kayak or a $70,000 bass boat. You could fish nothing but 2 or 3 colors, a few different nose weights, a few different worm styles.

 

You are in business!

 

Say, there is a nice recent video of one of the bass pro anglers talking about this very issue, that so many have gotten away from the simplicity and effectiveness of fishing a simple worm. He says he has won more money off of worms than any other bait, that he often catches fish behind another boat or two that missed them throwing other things, say jigs.

 

Brad

[Mobasser]

4 minutes ago, N Florida Mike said:

I have one box of trick worms, 1 box of culprit worms, 1 box of other curly tailed worms ,  1 box of old assorted worms, including manns J worms,  1 box of senkos ( which I consider a worm ) 1 box of plastic creature baits, and 1 box of flukes.

I have one box of hard baits ( that I seldom use ) and A few spinnerbaits. 

Wonder what my favorite kind of baits are ??

Sounds like me too. As I've gotten older I've paired down what I take fishing. I have more fun, and can just focus on fishing- instead of hauling in all kinds of stuff that I really won't need.Plastic worms rigged Texas style will ALWAYS be in my tacklebox.

1 minute ago, Brad Reid said:

Budget, for sure!

 

If one stayed with nothing more than this one presentation, a T-Rigged worm, you could use a more or less basic 7' rod give or take a foot, a basic reel of either sort . . . spinning or casting, 12 lbs. line of any sort give or take some test rating range there too, fish it from the bank, a kayak or a $70,000 bass boat. You could fish nothing but 2 or 3 colors, a few different nose weights, a few different worm styles.

 

You are in business!

 

Say, there is a nice recent video of one of the bass pro anglers talking about this very issue, that so many have gotten away from the simplicity and effectiveness of fishing a simple worm. He says he has won more money off of worms than any other bait, that he often catches fish behind another boat or two that missed them throwing other things, say jigs.

 

Brad

I may be wrong here, but Catt pointed out to me in another thread that the plastic worm has won more tournaments than any other bait in history. In various sizes colors and riggings. But in the end it's still a plastic worm.It will always be my #1 confidence bait for sure!

[Mobasser]

I fished some smaller tournaments years ago with an older guy, who carried little else but Culprit blk/blue plastic worms. He liked to use a spinnerbait or trap more as a search lure, then work the area more slowly with the Culprit worm. His approach was very simple, but I saw it pan out for him lots of times, with top 3 finishes and big fish of the day. He had less fancy tackle then anyone in the tournament, but had the utmost confidence in the Texas rig worm. It worked for him

[N Florida Mike]

5 hours ago, N Florida Mike said:

I have one box of trick worms, 1 box of culprit worms, 1 box of other curly tailed worms ,  1 box of old assorted worms, including manns J worms,  1 box of senkos ( which I consider a worm ) 1 box of plastic creature baits, and 1 box of flukes.

I have one box of hard baits ( that I seldom use ) and A few spinnerbaits. 

Wonder what my favorite kind of baits are ??

Forgot to mention my frog and swimbait boxes, but you can still see where my affection in bait selection is. !!

[waymont]

I always have a texas rigged plastic of some kind with a bullet weight pegged ready on every trip.

[Catt]

6 hours ago, N Florida Mike said:

I have one box of trick worms, 1 box of culprit worms, 1 box of other curly tailed worms ,  1 box of old assorted worms, including manns J worms,  1 box of senkos ( which I consider a worm ) 1 box of plastic creature baits, and 1 box of flukes.

I have one box of hard baits ( that I seldom use ) and A few spinnerbaits. 

Wonder what my favorite kind of baits are ??

 

Back when I used the old Plano Guide series worm boxes I weighed one em & it weighted 35#!

 

That was just one ?