Proper Plastic Worm Technique?

[TimsFordManiac]

I am only 15 and im just now getting started in bass fishing and i was kinda wanting to know how to properly use a plastic worm? Any advice is appreciated. Thanks

[BrianSnat]

There are numerous ways to rig and work a plastic worm and hundreds of types of worms. No techniques are proper or improper. What is proper is what works for you.

Go to Youtube and do a search on words like "Texas rig", "Carolina rig", "wacky rig", "dropshot", "plastic worm technique", "Senko", "shaky head" (I'm sure others here can give you more terms to search on) and you'll see dozens of instructional videos.

When I started plastic worm fishing I'd cast and retrieve it like a crankbait. Then I learned the Texas rig and used that with great success. Then the Carolina rig.

Since I started visiting this website I've learned the virtues of baits like Senkos, and techniques like dropshotting.

[Nashua Nev]

I am kind of new to this also. I asked the same question. there are a few videos posted on this site but also a site called youtube that some showed me has many videos.

[TimsFordManiac]

Thanks, On crankbaits do you reel fast or slow?

[BrianSnat]

Thanks, On crankbaits do you reel fast or slow?

Both. Whichever the fish are hitting. If they ain't hitting fast I try slow, and vice-versa.

[Catt]

The Texas Rig was originally designed to fish a plastic worm but today it is used with any type of soft plastic.

Fishing the Texas Rig

1) Make a long cast

2) Strip 3 or 4 arms length of line, this will assure a vertical fall

3) Count the bait down, 15' of water count to 20 to make certain the bait is on the bottom, do it in your head if need be

4) Pause a good 30 seconds after the bait reaches bottom

5) Lower your rod to the 3 o'clock position while reeling slack & feel for anything unusual

6) Move the rod from 3 o'clock to 2 o'clock to 1 o'clock to 12 o’clock in three motions (speed varies).

7) Pause 30 seconds & feel for anything unusual

8) Repeat 5, 6, & 7 all the way back to the boat

9) If at any time you feel a noticeable tap, tug, line tighten, heaviness, or see line movement.

10) Without hesitation drop the rod, reel the slack, and set the hook

Between each movement is a pause long enough for the worm to settle back to the bottom briefly before the next movement. During this whole process I'm keeping a semi-tight line feeling the whole time for anything unusual because I don't know when I'll be bite. It's the classic hopping of an Ole School Texas Rig we all learned years ago, I just never stopped using it; I use this same technique when fishing a Jig-N-Craw.

[Scorcher214]

Catt did a great job explaining it. Remember, hook sets are free.

[Captin Obvious]

You can learn a lot by looking in the articles on this site

Just for Starters

Plastic Worms

Finessing The Worm

There are plenty more so go find'em and then start catching those bass

Capt.O

[Lund Explorer]

The Texas Rig was originally designed to fish a plastic worm but today it is used with any type of soft plastic.

Fishing the Texas Rig

1) Make a long cast

2) Strip 3 or 4 arms length of line, this will assure a vertical fall

3) Count the bait down, 15' of water count to 20 to make certain the bait is on the bottom, do it in your head if need be

4) Pause a good 30 seconds after the bait reaches bottom

5) Lower your rod to the 3 o'clock position while reeling slack & feel for anything unusual

6) Move the rod from 3 o'clock to 2 o'clock to 1 o'clock to 12 o’clock in three motions (speed varies).

7) Pause 30 seconds & feel for anything unusual

8) Repeat 5, 6, & 7 all the way back to the boat

9) If at any time you feel a noticeable tap, tug, line tighten, heaviness, or see line movement.

10) Without hesitation drop the rod, reel the slack, and set the hook

Between each movement is a pause long enough for the worm to settle back to the bottom briefly before the next movement. During this whole process I'm keeping a semi-tight line feeling the whole time for anything unusual because I don't know when I'll be bite. It's the classic hopping of an Ole School Texas Rig we all learned years ago, I just never stopped using it; I use this same technique when fishing a Jig-N-Craw.

Great Post!

I'm only going to add one thing. There is nothing wrong with setting the hook when there isn't a fish on the line. Like stated above, anything unusual. It will take a little while, but with practice you'll learn what a fish feels like. Until then, they don't charge extra for hooksets, so swing away!

[Red]

I followed advice from members here like Catt when I statred a few years back. I had a ton of luck with a t-rigged worm. Sadly I have kinda lost touch with this technique. I think it is about time I get back to it. It is hard to beat a blue fleck power worm on my home lake but I just don't throw it anymore. I will this weekend now thanks to this thread.

Good Luck!

Cliff

[Gangley]

The beautiful thing about a worm is that there is no definitive way to use it. You can use your imigination and come up with loads of presentation techniques. However, that being said, there are techniques that generally work better than others, and Catt mentioned a favorite of mine. Another favorite is to reel the worm steadily in, but with a super slow turn of the reel handle (approximately 7-10 seconds per complete revolution of the handle with a 7.1 ratio) along with a steady and slow lift and drop of the handle from 3:00 to 2:00 back to 3:00. That presentation is generally best with a ribbon tail in my experience. Don't worry about messing up a worm presentation though, its hard to do because they are so versatile. Good luck and enjoy the time spent on the water.

[Missouribassman95]

Texas rigging is a great way to start off with the worm. Hop it along the bottom ,and be sure to watch your line. Sometimes the Bass will inhale it and u won't feel a thing.

[Shad_Master]

One thing I would add to the great tips already presented here is to get a variety of bullet weights from, say, 1/16 oz up to at least 1/4 oz. Try to use the lightest weight the wind and the water depth will allow. After you have a "feel" for what is going on, you may want to adapt your T-rig to the weight that is most comfortable for you and the conditions you are fishing. Now, go out and hang a big ole guddun!

[Catt]

Rate of fall is essential to success with plastics so don’t fall into the theory of using the lighted weight you can get away with. Sometimes the bass want a faster rate of fall & sometimes they don’t. Believe me a 2 lb bass can inhale a ½ oz weight long before it can hit bottom in 6-8’ of water.

[hatrix]

I like to imagine what the worm is doing in the water and how it looks. I sorta pretend there is always fish watching it and try to move it how I think they want it. Like if I was a fish and watched it go like this and like that I would bite it so then they should bite it to.

[Shad_Master]

Rate of fall is essential to success with plastics so don’t fall into the theory of using the lighted weight you can get away with. Sometimes the bass want a faster rate of fall & sometimes they don’t. Believe me a 2 lb bass can inhale a ½ oz weight long before it can hit bottom in 6-8’ of water.

What you say may be true - but when you are learning, you want to pay more attention to the worm than the weight. If you are just starting out you want to give the fish plenty of time to see your worm and not have it go dropping by them. That's why I said to work with adjusting your weight after you have some experience.

[Lucas412]

It is hard to beat a blue fleck power worm on my home lake but I just don't throw it anymore. I will this weekend now thanks to this thread.

Good Luck!

Cliff

Had great luck with just that this past week. Between the power worm and a wacky rigged senko we had a great couple days.

Luke

[Nashua Nev]

awesome guys thank you very much i started plastics last year lots of great help for me too

[WRB]

I am only 15 and im just now getting started in bass fishing and i was kinda wanting to know how to properly use a plastic worm? Any advice is appreciated. Thanks

Welcome to bass fishing.

To be successful with the plastic worm you need a few basic items; a rod that has enough power to set the hook, line that has enough strength to set the hook and a hook that is sharp and large enough to penetrate the worm and the basses mouth.

1. medium to medium heavy fast action rod, 6' to 7' long.

spinning rod/reel combo, 6 to 10 lb premium mono or FC line.

casting rod/reel combo, 8 to 15 lb premium mono or FC line.

2. hooks; depends on how you rig and how big in diameter the worm is.

Texas rig; sliding bullet sinker and straight shank worm hook with barbs on the shank.

The Texas rig used with a casting rod/reel combo and 12 to 15 lb line with 3/0 to 4/0 worm hook when using 6" to 10" worms. Spinning rod/reel combo you can down size to 8 to 10 lb line, 1/0 to 2/0 hooks and 5" to 6" Texas rigged worms.

Sinker weight depends on the worm size, line size and water depth or cover type.

General weight sizes are; 1/8. 3/16, 1/4 and 3/8 oz. 3/16 oz is a good starting weight the Texas rig.

If you have a spinning out fit a finesse Carolina rig (slip shot); Texas rig with a weight stopper to keep the weight about 12" to 24" above the worm, is a good rig to use. Another option is the drop shot rig using a spinning outfit.

The hook is very important; buy premium sharp worm hooks and take your time to learn how to rig the worm properly.

There are many ways to fish the plastic worm; the proper technique is the one that works for you.

Good luck.

Tom

PS; a hour on the water with a good worm fisherman will save you a lot of time and effort.

[dhami013]

All this is good advice. Just be patient and get a lot of time on the water. When the fishing is slow I always result to plastics. The bite always picks up. Go to the pinned thread the best of bass resource and read the one that is guaranteed to catch fish. It is guaranteed to catch fish.

Once you start getting the hang of it, don't be surprised if you get hooked on it. I started only fishing ribbon tails, but changed up to fishing tons of different plastics. The Zoom Baby Brush Hog is an excellent plastic choice. Go with earthy colors. It is a fish slayer. Senkos are always productive. You'll soon find yourself buying and trying out tons of different styles.

My preferred method, is casting into a good looking spot (i.e. structure or cover) letting it sit, then begin hopping it twice, pause, hopping it three times, pause, then two times. Then start over. When I was learning how my Pops told me to cast it out, let it sit, then just raise my rod tip from 3 o' clock to 12 o'clock. Then letting it sit. Then repeating. Like many have said, pay attention to any irregularities. Have a sensitive rod, I find that flouro is a sensitive line, plus it's nearly invisible.

Good luck to you.

Post some pics.

[TimsFordManiac]

Thanks guys, this really has helped.. Went out on the lake yesterday and caught 4 or 5 largemouth.Didn't have much size but hey im just now starting bass fishing..

Thanks

[BassThumb]

You can also fish heavier T-rigs like a football jig, with a slow drag and a few hops(if any) and pauses thrown in. This sometimes works well if the fish aren't interested in the lift/fall retrieve.

[Lake Forest Bassin]

This site is the best place to come if you want to learn about fishing techniques or just fishing in general.Lot's of great articles and lots of great people willing to share their knowledge. So read up and hit water!