Too early for a 12" magnum worm?

[Swamp Girl]

Is it too early to use a 12" magnum worm in Maine? Our water temps are in the low sixties and we are pre-spawn. I want to target a big girl tomorrow morning.

[T-Billy]

Throw that sucker. They'll let you know whether they want it in pretty short order. I caught two on a 10" Ol Monster today. We're coming out of the spawn, but our temps have fallen back into the mid 60's. 

[Swamp Girl]

Then I will, Tim. I'll rig it tonight. Thanks. 

[LrgmouthShad]

Alright that’s a wrap folks 🤓

Good work, Tim 

[Swamp Girl]

I just rigged it and am taking my two big swimbaits and some big Senkos too. 

 

@LrgmouthShad: Feel free to weigh in. I really don't know when bass start hitting worms. 

[LrgmouthShad]

@ol'crickety I really have no idea. Never tried the really huge worms in water that cold. I see no reason why they shouldn’t work, but I don’t have experience or knowledge to back it up, so I’m silent on this one.

[Swamp Girl]

Have you tried smaller worms in water in the low sixties?

[LrgmouthShad]

@ol'crickety absolutely

Do not shy away from the larger worms though. Listen to T-Billy. I actually misread the water temps. I thought it was colder for some reason. I may have thrown huge worms in those temps. I can’t really remember 

[T-Billy]

If they wont eat the worm, simply swap to a beaver. They'll eat that thing ice out till ice over. Peg that sinker if you're in grass. I actually peg it all the time. Some would label me a heretic for that, but it works for me.

[Pat Brown]

Yeah I peg mine all day every day.  I caught two converting my pegged T rig to a C rig on the fly while it rained this morning.

 

All I can say is bass LOVE BIG WORMS.

 

Throw them.😎👍🏼🎣⭐

[Swamp Girl]

Thanks, Pat. Out of reactions. 

[PhishLI]

A 12" eel is a nice snack for any bass. You have them there, so throw it!

[12poundbass]

I don’t remember which pro said it, but it made sense….

 

if the bass can get one big meal over several little meals they go that route, ie several minnows or one big slow easy to snatch fish or in your case worm.

[Swamp Girl]

15 minutes ago, PhishLI said:

A 12" eel is a nice snack for any bass. You have them there, so throw it!

 

I'm rigged and ready. Also throwing my two, big swimbaits and threw some big Senkos in my tackle bag too. 

 

10 minutes ago, 12poundbass said:

I don’t remember which pro said it, but it made sense….

 

if the bass can get one big meal over several little meals they go that route, ie several minnows or one big slow easy to snatch fish or in your case worm.

 

Yeah, that makes a lot of sense. 

 

15 minutes ago, PhishLI said:

A 12" eel is a nice snack for any bass. You have them there, so throw it!

 

Yep, there are eels in that pond. 

[WRB]

If the bottom is mucky use a lighter weight  it picks less junk. In fact a #4 (1/8 oz) split shot about 8” above the worm works good during pre spawn.

Tom

PS, Bill Murphy’s stitching technique.

[GreenPig]

I vote YES. Goodluck.

[Swamp Girl]

Thanks, GP.

[Catt]

Yamamoto 10” Ichi Worm is made from Mega Floater Formula

 

[Swamp Girl]

How do you fish that floater,  Catt?

[T-Billy]

6 hours ago, WRB said:

If the bottom is mucky use a lighter weight  it picks less junk. In fact a #4 (1/8 oz) split shot about 8” above the worm works good during pre spawn.

Tom

PS, Bill Murphy’s stitching technique.

I agree 100%. In fact I rarely go above 1/4oz with a worm, and usually it's 1/8 or 3/16. Even ribbon tail worms don't have much drag, so it doesn't take much weight to get 'em down. + Slow is the name of the game with worms IMO. 

 That stiching technique is a killer with a ned for early season smallies.

[Swamp Girl]

I go light too. The water I fish is sooooooo weedy that going heavy only gets me into weeds that much quicker. I landed more bass yesterday because I'm dealing with fragile zombie weeds rather than tough, living weeds. Even then, a few times, bass gathered enough zombie weeds to break free. 

[rangerjockey]

Around here it's too early. That's not to say you won't catch some on it. Post spawn generally is the time for the  shaky head with a more finesse style worm or creature bait.

The big worm deal is July-August in the dog days.

[Catt]

3 hours ago, ol'crickety said:

How do you fish that floater,  Catt?

 

I throw it Texas Rigged weightless, Texas Rigged weighted, & Carolina Rigged.

 

Both Texas Rigs can be fished on the surface, mid-depth, or on the bottom.

[Swamp Girl]

Thanks, Catt. I've thought of using one a shakyhead jig. Because it floats, it would stand up on the bottom.

[Catt]

@ol'crickety the tail floats, not to sure about the whole worm.

 

If you want a floating shaky head worm, check out Double Z's Magnum T-Worm.