Fishing a big ribbon tail worm

[Bandersnatch]

Do you fish them weight less or with weight ? If you fish them with weight how much is it and do you peg it. 
 

I’ve recently went down the rabbit hole of big ribbon tails and their ability to be quite versatile. It seems as if you can almost fish them like a speed worm, flip them, drag them, c rig them. 
 

actually have noticed the speed worm seems to have some crossover into the ribbon tail, 

 

thinkijg a free sliding 1/8 ounce gambler rattling weight when you can get away with it ? 
 

does anybody skip them under docks ?

[Big Swimbait]

As light as I can use to get it to the depth I want.

[Catt]

R.O.F. - Rate Of Fall

 

I'll will use 1/8-1/2 oz weight

 

Never pegged 

 

Mr. Twister Hang 10"

[T-Billy]

30 minutes ago, Big Swimbait said:

As light as I can use to get it to the depth I want.

^THIS^ My favorite way to fish them is with a pegged 1/8 oz, just SLOW rolling them around shallow laydowns and weeds. The strike is always violent, and you usually get to see it. 

[Mike L]

I use 2…

10” Rage Anaconda with 1/8 and my favorite a Culprit Fat Max and a 3/16 that I got my PB on.
I’d rather throw them both unpegged in light or sporadic cover only.
They’re not as effective in moderately thick grasses where I won’t use either. 
 

The Speed Worm has a much different action and will use it on top frequently, where the ribbon tails are more effective throughout the water column. 

 

 

 

Mike
 

[Captain Phil]

10" Culprit original worm in Red Shad with 1/8 oz. weight, not pegged.

[Jmurphy87]

I usually go light with my weight unless they are nipping at the tail, that’s when I go to a heavier weight to give them less time to look at it and trigger a reaction strike. One of the places where I fish that was the ticket to getting bites with a hookup, versus getting the tail chewed off slowly.

[Pat Brown]

One of my favorite ways to catch fish in the summer!

 

I like 8-11" ribbon tail worms and my favorite ones are the Netbait C Mac, Zoom Ole Monster,  Berkley Power Worm Tackle HD Hawg Monster and 6th Sense Ridge Worm.

 

Favorite colors are motor oil, redbug, junebug, black grape, morning dawn, plum, black, green, brown for different water clarity etc.

 

I like 1/8-1/4 oz weights unpegged for shallow water worming around and 3/8-1/2 oz for pitching it into cover and deeper wormin.

[scaleface]

The heaviest I can get away with . 

[Catt]

40 minutes ago, Pat Brown said:

6th Sense Ridge Worm

 

 

[LrgmouthShad]

I can’t say I have ever skipped them under docks

 

Same as Catt, 1/8oz to 1/2oz. If it’s thick grass and it pulls cleanly, contrary to what other people may do, I will use a heavier weight instead of a lighter one. I will also use heavier weights when it’s windier and deeper. Usually I stay somewhere around 3/16-1/4oz
 

No pegging

 

Zoom Mag II is my favorite ribbontail worm 

 

 

[Bandersnatch]

5 hours ago, Catt said:

R.O.F. - Rate Of Fall

 

I'll will use 1/8-1/2 oz weight

 

Never pegged 

 

Mr. Twister Hang 10"

Thanks boss! 

1 hour ago, scaleface said:

The heaviest I can get away with . 

Why the heaviest ? Do you get more bites with the faster rof?

What’s obvious here is people love big worms! I caught some bigs on my last trip to florida as was just certain this is something I’m going to

do wherever I go 

[Jar11591]

Love fishing a big worm in the summer. It’s almost that time. I fish weights from 1/16oz up to 1/2oz depending on the situation, depth, cover, and fish’s mood. Never pegged. I use Rage Anacondas and Culprit 10” ribbon tails. 

[scaleface]

58 minutes ago, Bandersnatch said:

Why the heaviest ? Do you get more bites with the faster rof?

Much of the time, yes. I didnt say I always use a heavy weight but the heaviest I  can get away with .  I'd much rather pitch with a 5/16th oz weight then struggle   with a 1/8th oz.   Deep water same thing . The heavier weights are easier to cast , sink faster and stay in contact with the bottom better .

[Cbump]

I also use heavier weight. 1/2 oz almost exclusively. I want It down on bottom fast and want to feel It. I fish them 15’ plus and drag on bottom. 

[Lmbasshunter]

Usually with a weight 1/8-1/2oz depending on depth. Dont overlook throwing them

weightless in shallow water especially around grass

[LrgmouthShad]

1 hour ago, Cbump said:

I also use heavier weight. 1/2 oz almost exclusively. I want It down on bottom fast and want to feel It. I fish them 15’ plus and drag on bottom. 

Yeah you aren't the only one. 

 

In this video series, both the pros agree on using a heavy weight most of the time - a 1/2oz - although Albert acknowledges that due to fishing pressure, he can sometimes get more bites on a lighter weight. 

 

I still stand by using a 3/16 or 1/4oz most of the time, but will go heavier or lighter. 

 

[BigAngus752]

Great for late summer bass in the warmest water of the year.  I use a Berkley Kingtail MaxScent in 7ft or deeper water at the base of rip rap banks, dock footings, bridge pilings, etc.  Just enough weight to get it down and feel the bottom. 

[Catt]

2 hours ago, LrgmouthShad said:

Albert acknowledges that due to fishing pressure, he can sometimes get more bites on a lighter weight. 

 

Pretty sure Glen said that ? 

[LrgmouthShad]

Just now, Catt said:

 

Pretty sure Glen said that ? 

You're right, that's my mistake. And then Albert follows up with "Well gee thanks Glen, I didn't know that, but now I sure do!" ??

[bp_fowler]

So this is probably a dumb question but how big is “big”? Does it have to be 10 inches or larger?

[LrgmouthShad]

Just now, bp_fowler said:

So this is probably a dumb question but how big is “big”? Does it have to be 10 inches or larger?

Totally subjective the way I see it

 

I think my preferred "big" worm is actually on the extreme small side of "big worms." Especially because of how thin it is. So to me, a worm 9" or larger, or 7" or larger with a lot of thickness... like a 7" senko

[Lmbasshunter]

4 hours ago, LrgmouthShad said:

Yeah you aren't the only one. 

 

In this video series, both the pros agree on using a heavy weight most of the time - a 1/2oz - although Albert acknowledges that due to fishing pressure, he can sometimes get more bites on a lighter weight. 

 

I still stand by using a 3/16 or 1/4oz most of the time, but will go heavier or lighter. 

 

I always experiment with weights. I’ll change my weight size before I change colors. I’ve had days where a heavier weight outfished the lighter weight and vice versa 

[Log Catcher]

I use the Zoom Ole Monster with an 1/8 ounce pegged sinker. I get more bites and have better luck with the Ole Monster than I do the Mag II worms.

[J Francho]

Paint me a heavy weight as well - 3/8 - 1/2 oz. is my most common choice. I'm still hooked on the big Berkeley Powerworms. Black is always good for me.