Giant Worms up North?

[Turtle Angler]

I know that fishing a giant (10+ inch) worm is a classic summertime technique in the south, but is it commonly used up north? The natural glacial lakes up north differ significantly in structure, water temperature, and current compared to the highland and lowland reservoirs of the south and west.

 

So to my North Country guys, are you fishing a giant worm with success? If so, in what situation (water temp, time of year, water clarity, depth, etc)? 

[LrgmouthShad]

Big worms do work up North as well. I spent a while in NY and I got some nice fish on magnum sized worms.

 

I didn’t really have a criteria for when I use them, besides that I reserve them for summer. 
 

I will say though that up North, at least in NY and MI, in warm water it is super tough to get a spinnerbait off my rod

[Lmbasshunter]

Caught one of my biggest fish here in NY on a zoom ole monster 

[Jar11591]

I fish worms up to 12” in upstate NY. I do well with them in July and August. 

[padon]

idk what lakes your fishing but my suspision is that if you have grass the 10 inch ribbon tail will get bites.

[papajoe222]

My go to, summer time worm is a NetBait C-Mac. I don't recall the exact length, but I know it's over 12in. That and a Mann's Jelly Worm. I fish both the same way, on a light weight C-Rig with a short 18in. leader.  I know a lot of guys will tell you to use long leaders in the summer, but bite detection is much better with the shorter leader. To activate the tails, I use a quick, short sweep and then let it sit until I can't stand it and then I wait a little longer before moving it. 

Most of the lakes I fish have little vegetation, but the ones that do, I'll ditch the C-Rig and go with as light a weight as possible, not pegged.  Whether it's grass, rocks, or structure, as long as there's deep water fairly close, I'll fish the worm rather than a football jig.

[JediAmoeba]

Big baits catch big fish. Period.

[CM-fisher]

I've never used a ribbon tail worm up here in MN longer than 7 inches, but I don't see why a 10-12 incher wouldn't work. I have just never really thought of trying it

[roadwarrior]

10" Rage Tail Thumper 

https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/strike-king-rage-tail-thumper-worm?hvarAID=shopping_googleproductextensions&ds_e=GOOGLE&ds_c=BPS|Shopping|Smart|Fishing|General|NAud|NVol|NMT&gclid=Cj0KCQjw7uSkBhDGARIsAMCZNJsVi5CtL6EA4srIuDNhclVN73mEtDGo39dxkM1GXtcqfGl4U_J3bqoaAsydEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

[waymont]

I regularly use 10” worms in Illinois and Michigan 

[T-Billy]

OH fish love the Ol Monster in the summer.

[Jleebesaw]

I use 10" ribbon tails here in northern NY all summer. They work well. I use them on carolina rigs on deepish (20') rocky flats for smallies.

[softwateronly]

On 6/25/2023 at 5:16 PM, Turtle Angler said:

I know that fishing a giant (10+ inch) worm is a classic summertime technique in the south, but is it commonly used up north? The natural glacial lakes up north differ significantly in structure, water temperature, and current compared to the highland and lowland reservoirs of the south and west.

 

So to my North Country guys, are you fishing a giant worm with success? If so, in what situation (water temp, time of year, water clarity, depth, etc)? 

 

10" bull worm couple weeks ago in MI.  Fish a big worm anywhere you think there's big fish.  Caught a 7" bass today on a 11" keitech mad wag long worm, so don't stress about the size of fish.  I usually start throwing worms post spawn and continue till fall turnover.

 

scott

 

[MassBass]

I'll be going north with the 18" glades beast worm in July. For sure big worms work, not just a down south thing. Could imitate American eel.

[TriStateBassin106]

Oh yeah, I love throwing the zoom ole monster up here in New Jersey when it's hot out, you'll even catch dinks on it, xzone lures makes an 11inch ribbontail called the blitz worm which is also really good. 

[Primus]

They absolutely work , been throwing them a long time fishing for largemouth in SW Michigan.   Here are some that have worked for me ...

 

10" Ribbontail , typically on a Texas Rig with a 3/8 oz unpegged sinker. My favorites would be the Big Bite baits Kreit Tail and the old standby 10" Power worm 

 

Softwateronly mentioned the 10" Bull worm .In addition to fishing it with a slip sinker I've caught some real nice ones fishing it weightless with an 11/0 Owner offsest hook. When fished weightless it has a real nice gliding motion on the way down , think of this bait as a large trick worm . 

 

10" Xcite Baits Maximus , this is the bait that Yum copied with their Mighty worm. The big difference is that the Maximus is buoyant . One popular way to fish it is as a mag shaky head which has produced several nice fish. That said I've done better lately fishing it as a Neko Rig. Mustad makes a 3/16 oz screw in tungsten nail weight which matches up well with this worm . 

 

 

[Timpson]

Used the zoom ol monster today for the first time here in kentucky on a weightless t-rig nothing yet it just feels strange to me