Worm questions

[Nickman]

A couple of questions for those that fish worms.  This has probably been asked somewhere but I didn't see it.  I am newly back to fishing and new to fishing worms. So my questions are these.  What percentage of bites you get with worms do you actually hook?  And what length of worm do you use most?  Currently I am using 6 inch worms and getting lots of hits and lots of smaller fish.  But not catching a high percentage of my hits.

Thanks

[roadwarrior]

Welcome aboard!

"Worms" covers a lot of ground. For soft plastics in general,

hook-up is something north of 95%. Once hooked, landing

ratios are much higher.

My #1 bait for most of the past twelve years has been the

6" Senko, but you will catch better numbers with the 5"

version. For more traditional "worms" I prefer 7" and longer.

To improve your hook-up ratio, practice the "snap set" also

called the "quick set". When you detect a bite, lower your rod

tip while reelingdown quickly. When you feel the fish, snap

your wrists to raise the rod tip to 11 or 12:00, without moving

the postion of your hands relative to your body. Speed is key,

snapping the rod will drive the hook home.

Once hooked, move the fish to you, maintain tension on the

line and never double set the hook. The fish should be

pulling drag or coming you way if you are determined to land

the bass. Play with the fish after you have them in the boat!

http://www.bassresource.com/fish/plasticworms.html

8-)

[Nickman]

Thanks RoadWarrior,

I fished years ago in highschool and then quit for golf and running.  Couple of months ago I started again.  Worms were not huge years ago and so I never developed any technique with them.  Right now I just have the basic ring tailed worms in various colors all 6 inch.   Initially I was not even getting bites but that has progressed to bites but a high percentage of misses or at least what seems high compared to my memory of fishing cranks and spinners years ago.

[hawghunter1744]

YUM 10'' Grape Red Flake Ribbontail worms... works every time.

[WRB]

I don't know the vintage of the Jimmy Houston worm article posted above, it's at least 20 years old.

To fish plastic worms successfully you need to have the correct rod and line, the reel is only needed to cast and retrieve and plays a minor role in worm fishing. The most import termnal tackle is the worm hook size and style you are using.

The hook style depends on the presentation and the type of cover you plan to fish. The hook size is selected for the worm diameter and presentation method; drop shot, split shot, Carolina, Texas, straight or wacky rigged.

Can you let us know what type of rod, line and hook you are currently using? and what type of lake you normally fish.

WRB

[roadwarrior]

I don't know the vintage of the Jimmy Houston worm article posted above, it's at least 20 years old.

I posted that particular article because of the links that will take you to most of the worm related articles on the website. After reading it in a little more detail, the specific recommendations do seem dated.

Regarding equipment:

I suggest a 6 1/2' or 7' rod. Depending on the situation, M, MH or Heavy Power/ Fast Action.

I use 4/0 EWG Offset Worm Hooks for most soft plastics.

On spinning gear, #6 Yo-Zuri Hybrid Ultra Soft; #12 for baitcasting equipment.

8-)

[Steve H]

Remember, not all bites are bass bites. I believe I catch more than 90% of the legitimate bass bites I get on soft plastics some days 100%

Many times when you feel "machine gun and multiple machine gun" bites they are panfish of some sort.

[gatrboy53]

size of worm to use is relative.big fish bite little worms and little fish bite big worms.a 6'' worm is somewhat standard but at certain times not what is needed.hook up ratio should be hi,there are times when they just wont take it and as stated there are times its either yearlings or panfish.for someone just gettin the hang of it i wouldnt recommend the snap set.the traditional real down untill you feel tension and set hard strait up will result (untill you get the feel for it)more and better hook ups.for a 6'' worm use a 3/0 ewg.depends on your gear if you might need a wire hook.a bass of any size will take the bait as soon as you feel it.  

r

[warmer]

I believe I catch more than 90% of the legitimate bass bites.

i believe every time i swing and miss it was something other than a bass!

[Nickman]

Thanks for all the comments.  In respose to some of the questions/comments.  At this point my equipment is cheap, lower end shakespeare baitcasting reels, lower end berkley rods that are medium heavy with a fast action.  Since I am buying all except the old crank baits I am starting off cheap and going up from there.  

I suspected that it might be panfish that did more nibbling, I have caught a few perch on the worms.    

I am fishing a variety of places, all small empoundments so far.  All range in the 10-30 acre variety.  One ringed with lilly pads, one ringed with moss and grass another is a damned valley that drops off from the shore rather quickly.  Almost like a strip pit.    I don't have a fish finder at this point but after reading here feel it may be necessary to do very well.  Mostly "pounding the shores" as I have read here would be what we are doing.

[gatrboy53]

you dont need a df to do well.you'll learn more w/o one at first.you'll learn to read water and surroundings.