Straight, Curly, or Ribbontail

[Mobasser]

A good worm fisherman I knew years ago told me he changed plastic worms according to water temp.                                             Early season- only straight tail styles, less action.                            Late Spring, introduce curly tail plastics.                                   Summer, Warm water, everything. Curly, Ribbontail, and large plastic worms.                               Fall,  most styles work well.                                                          Cold water, end of season, back to straight tail styles.                     He was successful by choosing plastic worms this way. The important time for him was early spring and late in the year, when he liked a straight tail worm the best.                                        Overall, this has worked out for me too.                                        Has anyone else chosen plastic worms based on water temps?

[Mike L]

There are other considerations that I put more thought into than water temp. 

However, in areas of the country with a wider temperature range and more varied natural habitat, I can see where it would be something to at least think about. 
 

 

 

 

 

Mike
 

 

 

 

 

 

[Team9nine]

That sounds like as good a plan as any to me…though I’m personally about 90% straight tail worms year round these days.

[BrianMDTX]

23 minutes ago, Team9nine said:

That sounds like as good a plan as any to me…though I’m personally about 90% straight tail worms year round these days.

I cast a Zoom Mag 2 semi-frequently but mostly straight tails. 

[A-Jay]

I don't always fish a worm,

but when I do it's usually a Cut - R Worm

A-Jay

[scaleface]

I have found some brush piles that are super thick . I think they are made out of buck brush . Crappie love the things . Bluegills hang out there too . I discovered that a stick worm is the best thing to throw in there . They dont have anything  appendages or protuberances  stands out to grabs the attention of the little fish . I dont even toss my all time favorite Jelly Worms in there because I'm afraid the little boogers will grab that little spade tail . 

[Bankbeater]

90% of the time the worm I am using is a straight tail worm. 

[DitchPanda]

I'm in the north country and that's similar to what I do. But I will add that I throw a straight tail...namely senkos and TRDs...more often than anything in all conditions and water temps.

[Hook2Jaw]

Shakyhead?  Z-Man Fattyz.

Texas rigs get YUM Dingers most of the time, but I'll mix in YUM Ribbontails, ZOOM Ol' Monsters, and Z-Man Mag Fattyz.

 

The summer typically sees the baits with action, as well as the post spawn.

[tholmes]

I usually start with a ribbon-tail and on the rare occasions when the bass don't hit it, I switch to a straight worm. I don't think I've ever fished a curly tail worm.

 

Tom

[WRB]

It comes down to how I feel at the moment. 

Texas rigged brass n glass Straight tails, Ribbon tails at night or off color water, usually a little faster retrieve.

Finesse is usually straight tails, Slip shot rig both straight, slit and curl tails.

Dart jigs Curl tails.

Shaky head jig straight spit tails ( slit tail about 1”)

Straight tails include several shape types, fished slower or wacky rigged.

Tom

 

 

[HaydenS]

10 Inch Ribbon tail in the summer, when they’ll eat it.

Straight tail everywhere else, and when they won’t eat a ribbon tail in the summer. 

[J.Bass]

7 hours ago, A-Jay said:

I don't always fish a worm,

but when I do it's usually a Cut - R Worm

A-Jay

This worm will catch fish when you can’t catch them on any other plastic. Only issue I’ve had is the tail get ripped off after a few bass. Otherwise the action is deadly. I really like it in post spawn and fall when bass are feeding up for winter.

For me the summer days senkos wacky rigged are the best. Ribbon tails work in summer but I’m more heavy on wacky rig. 

[padon]

i generally use worms with less action early in the spring, but ill mix it up just to see.i fish a straight tail alot but in the dog days of summer on deep weeds or brush its hard to beat a 10 inch curly tail.

[Log Catcher]

I generally use the same system of worm fishing. I use mostly straight tails in the early part of the year. If I use a ribbon tail worm it will be either a 6" or 7.5" worm. I don't throw the Mag 2 or Ol Monster worms until up in June most of the time

[Mbirdsley]

9 hours ago, Mobasser said:

A good worm fisherman I knew years ago told me he changed plastic worms according to water temp.                                             Early season- only straight tail styles, less action.                            Late Spring, introduce curly tail plastics.                                   Summer, Warm water, everything. Curly, Ribbontail, and large plastic worms.                               Fall,  most styles work well.                                                          Cold water, end of season, back to straight tail styles.                     He was successful by choosing plastic worms this way. The important time for him was early spring and late in the year, when he liked a straight tail worm the best.                                        Overall, this has worked out for me too.                                        Has anyone else chosen plastic worms based on water temps?

I agree with this.  I haven't gotten into throwing big worms though yet.  Most years the water won’t get into the mid 70’s low 80’s up here in Michigan untill early-to mid June.  Some places in the northern lower or U.P. It may never happen 

[papajoe222]

I never really thought about it, but that about sums up my choices. The one exception is using a C-rig for early pre-spawn. Then it's a small, action tail.

[KP Duty]

9 hours ago, WRB said:

It comes down to how I feel at the moment. 

 

 

 

This

[Catt]

14 hours ago, WRB said:

It comes down to how I feel at the moment. 

 

Exactly ?

 

It's pretty much like color, I pick one, thread it on a hook, & chunk it.

 

The bass either say; pretty dang good choice Catt, or ROFLMAO!

 

Some days it creature baits, lizards or craw worms.  

[Spankey]

Could be something to it, but it might be one of those thing that has to do with being a confidence bait. I’ve had days out where the majority of that time out was throwing soft plastics. Caught fish on a Kut, Straight & Curly Tail worms in the same outings. I have patterns of them that I have more confidence in. All of which are very basic. But there very well may be something to your thought about it.