The Gas Station Worm

[Mobasser]

I've seen these worms in gas stations and convenience stores for many years. I always dismissed them as a gimmicky thing.                                My grandson bought two of these Kellys worms recently, and has been using them with a friend fishing after school. He's caught several bass on these worms.                                            These are sold on a display card, and are individually packaged. They're bent in a U shape, and have a pre rigged leader of 17lb test line. The leader is 12" long.                                       The instructions are to cast, turn the reel three times and pause, then repeat. If weight is needed, crimp a split shot on the mainline, just above a ball bearing swivel. Aiden has been using a bullet sinker instead of split shot. Weight is not much more than 1/4 oz.              He also told me that he's had better results by reeling the worm for several feet, then pause.                 Doing some research, I've found out these were first made in Indiana in 1960.  The action on this is very similar to the Japanese Inu rig. A swimming worm that compresses back in shape when you pause. Aiden is using the purple/ white color three hook Striper model. Reviews on these baits are very positive.       These could be fished on a baitcasting outfit, spinning rod, or a youngster with a spincast outfit. I probably shouldn't have written them off so quickly years ago. What's old, becomes new again. Has anyone had experience with these Kellys pre rigged worms?

[Catt]

Interesting 😉

 

[Bazoo]

Awesome, hmmm.

 

I just need to see a pic of how they are rigged, and what shape they are when laying "natural" and I'll figure out a way to duplicate it with a Zoom Trick Worm. I'll have to research it some. Never seen anything like it. I'll be keeping my eyes peeled for them.

[bowhunter63]

I use them when I can find em. I hook em to a swivel on 8 to 10 lb test on spinning rod. A lot of fun and they work great . I caught a 6 lb Largie on one Easter Sunday several years ago 

Bass Pro says they have them 

[NorthernBasser]

44 minutes ago, Catt said:

Interesting 😉

 

 

I don't use them anymore, but these worms are a big reason I have such a love affair with bass fishing. As a little kid first starting out, I caught more bass on these things than I could ever count. 

[fishwizzard]

I have a card full of them but have never really fished them much.  I picked them up for a coworker who was talking about using them as a kid and while we did have a fun afternoon slaying pond dinks with them, I have never really gone back to them.  Most of my ponds are full of SAV and have muck bottoms, so they snag and/or catch debris like crazy. 

[Bazoo]

After checking them out on their website... I'll bet the secret ingredient is anise scent, not the worm specifically. 

 

Has anyone else tried anise scented worms?

[Mobasser]

9 minutes ago, Bazoo said:

After checking them out on their website... I'll bet the secret ingredient is anise scent, not the worm specifically. 

 

Has anyone else tried anise scented worms?

I've used anise oil on baits before. Like all scents, it may or may not work. I think the secret here is the action.

[LrgmouthShad]

7 minutes ago, Bazoo said:

After checking them out on their website... I'll bet the secret ingredient is anise scent, not the worm specifically. 

 

Has anyone else tried anise scented worms?

I applied Bang Anise to plastics for ~6 months. If I benefitted, I mostly attribute this to the spray masking offensive odors. My catch rate did not worsen and perhaps improved slightly. BaitFuel marketing claims oil-based scents like Bang do not dissolve and consequently do not smell to bass. I recommend reaching your own opinion through critical thinking.

 

Regardless of what bass think, I love anise scent.

[fishwizzard]

Thinking about them more, has anyone tried them as a weightless river presentation?  Cast up-stream and slowly lift-n-twitch them back with the current, letting it sink into the deeper holes? 

[Catt]

I mix 1/2 oz pure anise oil with Baitmate, before that it was Fish Formula.

 

Some of my most productive lures came from little country stores.

[FrnkNsteen]

I have a friend who doesn't fish much, and when he does, it's usually with a spincast for panfish. He does occasionally use these to fish for Bass and calls them his "Super worm".

 

He has decent luck with them occasionally. He typically just casts them out and. Slowlyvreels and twitches them back in.

[Mobasser]

12 hours ago, Catt said:

I mix 1/2 oz pure anise oil with Baitmate, before that it was Fish Formula.

 

Some of my most productive lures came from little country stores.

Catt, you should do a Google search for Wisey Worm.com. They have great colors and Mustad hooks. They look good for this type of worm. Made in Wisconsin.                       It's a small business up there. Wisey Worm.

[Catt]

We throw what's call a Cheater Worm, it's only 4" but it catches everything. Crappie, Bream, Bluegill, Rock Bass, Kentucky Spots, & Largemouth.

 

Looks like these 

[greentrout]

 

 

[MAN]

1 hour ago, Catt said:

We throw what's call a Cheater Worm, it's only 4" but it catches everything. Crappie, Bream, Bluegill, Rock Bass, Kentucky Spots, & Largemouth.

 

Looks like these 

Creme has a version of this that I used as a kid and still use. Great lure

[Captain Phil]

This thread is like a time machine for me.  The first bass I caught on a plastic worm 60 years ago was just like this worm.  Creme still makes it and it still works just as well.  I once fished a State Federation tournament on Lake Toho with a guy that used a curved spinning worm with no weight.  He used a Zebco 33 and said he caught a ton of fish.  It amazed me until I found out he was the top rod in his bass club!  At one time, no bass fisherman would think of going out without Anise oil.  We bought it at drug stores and used a dipping pot.  One of my great memories of night fishing in the Everglades was the smell of Anise.  There are very few things that are truly new in bass fishing.  

[papajoe222]

On 10/26/2023 at 3:10 PM, Bazoo said:

Has anyone else tried anise scented worms?

I add anise oil to bags of worms that I won't be dipping in JJ's or Spike-It. Don't know if it makes a difference, but I've been doing that before I ever began using the dyes.

 

I prefer the Magnum Bass Stopper (weedless) over the Kelly's, but have used both with success. They are an awesome presentation for introducing someone to bass fishing. Attach them with a good swivel snap and maybe a small split shot, I prefer putting it on the leader not my mainline. Kids love them because they're fairly inexpensive, they catch fish, that rear hook sticks the short strikers and they don't have to worry about threading a plastic worm on a hook.

[Bazoo]

This is a neat thread. I'm learning a lot. I will have to try some anise oil for my soft plastics. It seems that is uncommon now and might just give me the edge where I fish. Thank you all for sharing.

[Catt]

@Bazoo if you use anise make sure its 100% pure anise oil, not essential oils.

[the reel ess]

I bought a few a while back and they just flat out work. Caught a 3 pounder first time. They're far from weedless, which makes them a sort of open water lure for me. But if you use weightless or very little weight you can keep them off the bottom on retrieve. This is a variation of what we called a do-nothing rig in the 80s. That rig was not curled in the package. These will twist line so a small swivel is not a bad idea.

 

EDIT: Take it easy on the hooksets and play the fish. These are small hooks.

[the reel ess]

On 10/26/2023 at 11:13 AM, Bazoo said:

Awesome, hmmm.

 

I just need to see a pic of how they are rigged, and what shape they are when laying "natural" and I'll figure out a way to duplicate it with a Zoom Trick Worm. I'll have to research it some. Never seen anything like it. I'll be keeping my eyes peeled for them.

I like the Zoom "Finesse Worm" in 4" size when I can't buy a bite. I'll just rig it on a very light C-rig. It will get bites where you didn't even believe there were fish.