Swimming worm question

[LrgmouthShad]

Hey ya’ll,

 

I have been throwing swimming worms recently with mild success. When I retrieve these worms, they will often roll and twist on the retrieve. I have tried rigging straighter, using different hook sizes, and then switching to a twistlock. I have used EWG’s and twistlocks. I read online that EWG’s can cause this spin so I tried the twistlock but didn’t get any better results. 
 

how do you manage these issues while swimming a worm?

[BayouSlide]

If I plan on swimming a trick (straight tail) type worm, I tie to a swivel then attach the worm via a leader of 10 inches or so.

[Catt]

There is two definitions of "Swimming Worms"

 

One is to use a Trick Worm style worm & fishing it kinda like a jerkbait.

 

The second is simply retrieving a curltail or ribbontail worm near the surface.

 

The first will cause line twist, the second not so much.

 

Which are you using?

[LrgmouthShad]

17 minutes ago, Catt said:

There is two definitions of "Swimming Worms"

 

One is to use a Trick Worm style worm & fishing it kinda like a jerkbait.

 

The second is simply retrieving a curltail or ribbontail worm near the surface.

 

The first will cause line twist, the second not so much.

 

Which are you using?

Thanks for asking. I am using speed worms/burner worms on a straight retrieve. The 7” magnum sized ones, primarily.

 

more information: I’ve used bullet sinkers ranging from 1/8oz up to 1/4oz. Sometimes weightless. Still have this problem to varying degrees

[the reel ess]

26 minutes ago, LrgmouthShad said:

Thanks for asking. I am using speed worms/burner worms on a straight retrieve. The 7” magnum sized ones, primarily.

 

more information: I’ve used bullet sinkers ranging from 1/8oz up to 1/4oz. Sometimes weightless. Still have this problem to varying degrees

IDK that it matters. But a shaky head will fix that issue. I caught this bass on one. You can see it almost swallowed the hook.

[LrgmouthShad]

1 minute ago, the reel ess said:

IDK that it matters. But a shaky head will fix that issue. I caught this bass on one. You can see it almost swallowed the hook.

Nice bass. Those bigger speed worms seem to get big bites for me. I have some “fish stories” from years ago but won’t tell those lol. Bigger bites not the case with bigger ribbontails IME

[the reel ess]

Of course if you're fishing it weightless a shaky head won't help. Maybe a light weighted swimbait hook would help. I have a few with an 1/8 oz weight on them.

[LrgmouthShad]

1 minute ago, the reel ess said:

Of course if you're fishing it weightless a shaky head won't help. Maybe a light weighted swimbait hook would help. I have a few with an 1/8 oz weight on them.

Oh are you swimming them on a shaky head? I never would have thought of that. 

[RichF]

Try rigging the worm with the hook parallel to the tail.  The hook point sticks up through the body like a normal t-rig but you also want the speed worm tail to pointing upward like the hook.

[LrgmouthShad]

1 minute ago, RichF said:

Try rigging the worm with the hook parallel to the tail.  The hook point sticks up through the body like a normal t-rig but you also want the speed worm tail to pointing upward like the hook.

Thanks. I thought you want the tail to point down? So it catches more water in case close to the surface

[RichF]

I don't think it matters as long as the tail isn't sideways (with respect to the hook). 

I fish speed worms a fair amount with a regular trokar worm hook and 1/8th to 1/4oz weights.  I don't notice any rolling.  I never burn them in though.  Maybe a fast retrieve would cause the rolling.

[the reel ess]

18 minutes ago, LrgmouthShad said:

Oh are you swimming them on a shaky head? I never would have thought of that. 

I was dragging it on some structure that day. But since then I've used straight tailed shaky head worms with success. I got a bite Monday reeling the thing back fast. I'm rather new to the shaky head game so I'm just trying the possibilities. 

[Mike L]

For Speed Worms, Cut R’s, ribbon tail etc. anything with a tail designed to move it doesn’t matter. 
 

Magnum Speed Worm’s have been my go to top and mid range plastic for years, nothing else comes close. 
 

If it roll’s it roll’s and honestly I can’t tell you if it does or not. 
When retrieving weightless on top sometimes they’ll start on its side but takes just a few feet to right itself. 
 

I use a 5/0 Trokar TK 120 with a 3/16 when swimming. 
 

 

 

 

Mike

[bagofdonuts]

speed worms work really well on a swing head style hook as well. just sayin.

[LrgmouthShad]

Thanks for all the comments and suggestions so far. I’m getting the sense that I should experiment and see what works. If it rolls and gets bites, good. If I find a way to make it not roll and it works better, great. 

[galyonj]

On 8/4/2021 at 11:37 AM, bagofdonuts said:

speed worms work really well on a swing head style hook as well. just sayin.

It might be pretty sweet to put one on a scrounger head, now that y'all have me thinking about it.

[Bass Rutten]

I fish the speed worm on swim jigs, you could remove the skirt but I like it with the skirt, never rolls and comes through the jungle better than bullet weights, should work for most worms.