how long

[zbigbadaaron]

how long do you wait when you drop the rubber worm on the bottom and how long are your usual cast take to use a rubber worm

[Gatorbassman]

That is one of the things I change untill I find the time it takes to get a strike. One day it might be an instant strike but other days I might wait 6 to 10 seconds before moving it and when I do that is when I get a strike. With that said. I only do this when I am casting to spacific spots like brush, stumps and dock posts. I don't wait very long when I am dragging a larger area that has fish around it.

[JayW]

It all depends on how they are biting. If they're biting really good, I don't wait as long. If it's a slow bite... I'll let the worm sit for up to 30 seconds sometimes and then work it VERY slow! I've caught a lot of fish with the worm just sitting there on bottom.

[Catt]

I call it finding a rhythm, I pause a good 30 seconds after the bait reaches bottom, lower the rod to the 3 o'clock position while reeling slack & feel for anything unusual. Move the rod from 3 o'clock to 1 o'clock in three motions & pause 30 seconds & feel for anything unusual. Repeat

If this doesn't work I'll speed it up from 30 seconds to 20 seconds between pauses, & at the fastest 15 seconds. If still no bites I'll slow way down

[Senko4life]

Its all about what the bass want.  Some times I let the bait sit as long as I could possibly stand and other times it will only sit a few seconds.  But I always start slowest, becuase that is what works for me most of the time and speed up form there.  

For example if the majority of your hits are comming as soon as the bait touches bottom there is no need to let it sit for 30 seconds, speed up your hopping.

[captaininsaneo]

when in doubt, go slower!

[JuniorFisherJJ08]

when in doubt, go slower!

Agreed.

[grimlin]

I suck when it comes to fishing worms,so i'm learning off this thread as well.I don't want to highjack this thread.

I wanna add a question,what is the most common hook size and how is the hook set(sweeping side hook set?).

I lost 5 good fish today 4 of them spit the hook on the jump in the air...I kept that line tight as i could.I'm kinda wondering if the heavy weeds played a factor.

i fished that senko till my wrist got sore... ;D i was determined to learn how to work this senko right.

[Catt]

Even though a senko is made of plastic they are totally different from a plastic worm because of its body thickness. I have had very limited success with a senko so I'll leave hook requirements to RW and others.

Now a Texas Rigged worm is my absolute favorite bait/technique; it has produced more numbers of bass and more double digit bass than any bait I've ever fished. I prefer a straight shank hooks over offset hooks for the simple reason a straight shank hook allows the worm to slide up the line instead of balling up in the throat of the hook. I also prefer worms with rings which give an illusion of a thicker profile but have less plastic to penetrate. The rings also feel softer in a bass's mouth which in turn results in the bass holding on longer. My favorite worm is a Gene Larew 7 ½ salty ring worm; I couple this worm with a Mustad 3/0 Straight Shank Denny Brauer Flipping Hook.