Choosing big summer worms when fishing deep?

[txchaser]

Assume I'm fishing in 18'-25' FOW, basically near the thermocline, and the water visibility is 4'. And if I'm fishing a big worm slow I'd rather have fewer, larger fish.

 

I don't really have any good sense for how to choose a worm other than trial and error, and given that this is fewer, larger bites, can be tough. 

 

Worms from 8" (but fat) to 16"

 

Ribbon tail or straight? Or even XL lizards? 

 

Color really even matter much at that depth given the visibility? If it does, just start with the standard four? Or something in the summer-ish plum/red/redbug/etc? 

 

[AlabamaSpothunter]

Just got home from fishing exactly this way, and have been doing so for about 4-5x weekly for close to a month.  

 

My thermocline is around 10-12ft though (viz is about 2.5-3), so I've been targeting flats that have large portions in the 8-10ft range near deep main lake body water, main lake points, and anywhere else that I can find heavy cover in that 8-10ft range.     The key for me is the heavy cover, that's where all the big fish over 5lbs have been coming from for the most part.  

 

Tonight I only got 5-15.5lbs which is on the low end average of this technique, and time of year night fishing for me.    Three nights ago I hit 5-22.5 with a 7lb kicker.   

 

Free Rig has been a huge thing for me with these plastics over the T Rig, I've seen the light on the Free Rig. 

 

My go to baits:

 

1. Zoom Ol Monster 10.5"  in Black Grape, and Junebug

2. Zoom Magnum 8" Lizards in Black Grape, Blackberry, Black, Black w/ red flake

3. Roboworm 7" Fat Straight Tail in Black Grape, Afterdark, and Midnight.

4 Found a new standout tonight actually.....the 6th Sense Boosa Worm.  Only have in pumpkinseed juice I think is the name.

 

I've even used D Bombs when I got around areas with too many Spots because they'd rip the tails off all the baits.     

 

Big profile, dark colors, slightly above the thermocline, heavy cover is huge, and focus on main lake body features and areas.  

 

One of the easier and more consistent patterns I've learned over the last year.   Hope that helps a little.  

[Catt]

Mister Twister’s Mag 8" BUZZ Worm - green pumpkin blue tail 

 

6th Sense Ridge Worm  - Nirvana

[Pat Brown]

I'm a big fan of 10.5" and I bite them down when fish want a smaller profile!  I peg my weights always because when I'm throwing a t rig it's gonna be in the nastiest stuff on the lake.

[Catt]

Forgot ?

 

Double Z's Magnum T-Worm - Bug Bug #104

 

Throw it on a big shaky head

[LrgmouthShad]

My #1 choice if I am just dragging or hopping deep is a zoom mag 2. 
 

Experiment with colors but you better try the red/purple variants. Some of my favorites are plum, plum apple, cranberry, tequila sunrise, black, scuppernong, and red bug. 

[flatcreek]

Zoom ol monster

Culprit Fat Max

[txchaser]

The thing I love about this place is how I can go in thinking I might be able to carry fewer sizes/brands/colors and come away with a dozen new ones.

 

[Glenn]

 

[GreenPig]

11" Damiki Mega Miki ll, 10" Strike King Bullworm, 12" Zoom Magnum Ol Monster, and 10.5" Monster. I usually fish the Zooms on a T Rig and the straight worms on a Magnum Shakey Head but will fish the Zooms on a Shakey Head when the bass request that presentation. 

I only fish darker colors in the big worms at night. During the day I'll try GP, Watermelon Red, Plum, etc.

[roadwarrior]

Rage Thumper

https://www.strikeking.com/en/shop/soft-baits/rgtw10

[king fisher]

I don't know why, but so far the Monkey hasn't been a great influence when it comes to worms.  I fish two worms, T rigged or C rigged.  Zoom ole monster, and Zoom Mag. Trick worm, in either Junebug, or Green Pumpkin.  I also fish a 7 inch Senko weightless in shallow water.  One of these will always be on one of my rods.  

[Darth-Baiter]

On 8/10/2023 at 10:54 PM, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Just got home from fishing exactly this way, and have been doing so for about 4-5x weekly for close to a month.  

 

My thermocline is around 10-12ft though (viz is about 2.5-3), so I've been targeting flats that have large portions in the 8-10ft range near deep main lake body water, main lake points, and anywhere else that I can find heavy cover in that 8-10ft range.     The key for me is the heavy cover, that's where all the big fish over 5lbs have been coming from for the most part.  

 

Tonight I only got 5-15.5lbs which is on the low end average of this technique, and time of year night fishing for me.    Three nights ago I hit 5-22.5 with a 7lb kicker.   

 

Free Rig has been a huge thing for me with these plastics over the T Rig, I've seen the light on the Free Rig. 

 

My go to baits:

 

1. Zoom Ol Monster 10.5"  in Black Grape, and Junebug

2. Zoom Magnum 8" Lizards in Black Grape, Blackberry, Black, Black w/ red flake

3. Roboworm 7" Fat Straight Tail in Black Grape, Afterdark, and Midnight.

4 Found a new standout tonight actually.....the 6th Sense Boosa Worm.  Only have in pumpkinseed juice I think is the name.

 

I've even used D Bombs when I got around areas with too many Spots because they'd rip the tails off all the baits.     

 

Big profile, dark colors, slightly above the thermocline, heavy cover is huge, and focus on main lake body features and areas.  

 

One of the easier and more consistent patterns I've learned over the last year.   Hope that helps a little.  

on big worms, are you upsizing the sinker?

[KP Duty]

On 8/11/2023 at 4:31 AM, Catt said:

Mister Twister’s Mag 8" BUZZ Worm - green pumpkin blue tail 

 

6th Sense Ridge Worm  - Nirvana

Are the 8" mag twisters fat?  It would explain why they are $8 a 10pk.

[Darth-Baiter]

i once hooked (but didnt land) a very good bass when i put a 10" worm on a regular football head jig.  that big Zoom worm, on a jig.  it looked ridiculous, but it worked.  i was so unprepared for the hit, i just sat there like a dumbstruck knucklehead.  by the time my brain caught up, i put the worst hookset of my life into that bass.  it shook it easily on the first jump.

[Catt]

12 minutes ago, KP Duty said:

Are the 8" mag twisters fat?  It would explain why they are $8 a 10pk.

 

Nope! Not really 

[AlabamaSpothunter]

14 minutes ago, Darth-Baiter said:

on big worms, are you upsizing the sinker?

Since I'm fishing at night there is usually no wind, so I've not found the need to jump above 1/4th oz to maintain solid feedback.   Also not fishing greater than about 10ft so additional weight isn't needed there.

 

I'm of the mindset that the lightest weight should be used to allow better action on these baits.  

[Darth-Baiter]

we are of the same mindset.  I dont like going over 1/4 either.  the worm itself is already so heavy.  

[Choporoz]

10" Rage Tail Anaconda on swinghead; GP and Red Shad.  T-rig if throwing in cover

[WRB]

Uptons Customs* 9” & 13” Straight tail in Aaron’s Tragic; green w/red flake back, blue neon vain, dark brown belly, contrasting colors. Floating worm that stands off the bottom and hand poured soft. 

* available from Hog Framer.

Texas rigged with sliding 3/8 oz painted bullet weight and 8mm green hologram glass faceted bead.

Tom

[AlabamaSpothunter]

18 minutes ago, WRB said:

Uptons Customs* 9” & 13” Straight tail in Aaron’s Tragic; green w/red flake back, blue neon vain, dark brown belly, contrasting colors. Floating worm that stands off the bottom and hand poured soft. 

* available from Hog Framer.

Texas rigged with sliding 3/8 oz painted bullet weight and 8mm green hologram glass faceted bead.

Tom

Dang those Uptons by Hog Farmer are amazing looking, and finally give me an option of bigger "Roboworms" than 7".

 

Pricey, and I'm sure they'll last for a fish but the colors, hand poured nature, and size makes them really unique.  I'll give them a try, thanks. 

Uptons Customs Straighttail Worm - Hog Farmer Bait Company (hogfarmerbaits.com)

[Darth-Baiter]

Found some. 9” Reaction Innovation.  Green pumpkin because I’m boring. 
 

go time!

[WRB]

4 hours ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Dang those Uptons by Hog Farmer are amazing looking, and finally give me an option of bigger "Roboworms" than 7".

 

Pricey, and I'm sure they'll last for a fish but the colors, hand poured nature, and size makes them really unique.  I'll give them a try, thanks. 

Uptons Customs Straighttail Worm - Hog Farmer Bait Company (hogfarmerbaits.com)

Josh Uptons worms available at Hog Farmer. Josh has a full line of soft plastics available direct from Uptons Customs, he isn’t easy to contact at times.

Tom

[1984isNOW]

At First Uptons looked good, until I found out it's not a fishing lure, it's a fish catheter, looks painful.

 

I'll stick with ol' monster and have some SK anaconda to try.

[T-Billy]

Ol monster. Black. Haven't found a need for any other big ribbon tail, or other color. Black works all the time.