Is Bigger Always Better??

[bdjk00]

Im a die hard plastic worm fisherman (practically all that I use).

I usually use a Zoom finesse worm either pumpkin or green pumpkin colors.

I do see these big 10" trick worms that are also sold.

Was wondering if it is worth the time to fish a bigger bait on the off chance to catch a lunker. or is it more practical to keep fishing the finesse worms??

Basically im asking will bigger bass sometimes eat smaller worms?

[tholmes]

"Basically im asking will bigger bass sometimes eat smaller worms?"

Yes.

Tom

[Shad_Master]

The immediate answer to your queston is "Yes". It really depends on the mood of the fish. Sometimes they want a smaller finesse type bait and sometimes they are so aggresive they will try to eat the outboard. It all boils down to what presentation will work at that time. Factors that can affect the outcome are things like weather, water temperature, fishing pressure, etc. Don't limit your pony to just one trick.

[Grey Wolf]

You are missing so many fish because of your single-mindeness. As they say "variety is the spice of life." This applies to fishing also.

[Mattlures]

Worms in general are not big baits. A 1 pound bass has no problem eating a 12 in worm. We as fisherman think of them as big because they are long but most big worms arent that big. As for small worms catching big bass, yes they do but when you are using small worms like 6in you are prety much targeting small fish. When I worm fish I generaly use an 8 in hand pour durring the day and a bigger 10-12 in at night. I catch both small and big bass.

[Raul]

If I were after a lunker a worm would not be my first choice of bait.

[Deeg]

I never seem to have any luck with plastic worms and such. I try to jig and play those lure types without success and go back to the spoons, buzz baits, and other crank baits and have success. I would really like to pick up whatever talent I am missing with this lure type. Another fishing skill in my arsenal would be great.

[Raul]

I never seem to have any luck with plastic worms and such. I try to jig and play those lure types without success and go back to the spoons, buzz baits, and other crank baits and have success. I would really like to pick up whatever talent I am missing with this lure type. Another fishing skill in my arsenal would be great.

I hate to fish worms & jigs, I like to fish cranks & spinners but I recognize that most of the times what I like is not what works best, there´s a big bunch of times when no matter how tasty my cranks and spinners look the fish won´t bite them. So in order to catch fish consistently I had to bite on my right nut and learned to fish with worms then bite my left nut and learned to fish with jigs. Don´t think of it in terms of luck, think of it in terms of lack of experience, learn to fish them and force yourself to fish them cuz you don´t know when you gonna need it badly. The best way to force yourself is to leave the stuff you normally use at home ( you won´t have the temptation ) and learn to fish with worms & jigs, it´s a lot more fun to catch a few than to come home empty handed.

[Randall]

For me I do best for big bass on 6.5 to 8 inch straight tail worms. I think alot of it has to do with the fact I have to use light line 6-8 lb test to get bit alot of times from the bigger bass. A few days back we had a best five that went around 30lbs with an eight to nine pounder for the largest but fished behind two or three other boats throwing big worms on the spots we fished in water with 10+ feet of visibility. So for me the smaller worms do better than the larger ones because of where I fish. If I go up in line size I go to big senko type baits or jigs unless I am swimming the worm. If I am swimming the worm I use big grubs that are seven to ten inches long.

[Quillback]

I like Zoom Ol Monsters but there are times when I do well with the 6" Zoom U-Tale. Seems that in this neck of the woods, once it gets to be mid-summer the bigger worms work better than the samller ones.

Seems that when I watch tourneys on TV, that the pros, if they're throwing a worm, will thorw a big worm. Not all the time, but usually they are tossing a big worm, and I've heard them say that they feel they can catch bigger fish on a bigger worm. They know they aren't going to win a tourney with a limit of 12" fish.

[Sam]

Nope. Bigger is not always better.

You will catch monster bass on a six-ince finesse worm.

Just put the bait in front of their faces and chances are they will eat it.

[BobP]

Do small worms catch big fish? Yes, but they also catch lots of small fish. Do larger bass often prefer larger worms? Also yes. Bass are efficient predators and, all other things equal, large predators have a preference for larger prey. If they aren't biting, should you automatically downsize? No. It's often better to go bigger before trying something smaller. JMHO, if one thing isn't working you have to experiment to find out what they want that day - and they don't always want smaller.

[Catt]

70-75% of my double digit bass were caught on a 7 ½” Gene Larew Ring Worm but I throw that worm 75-80% of the time.

Looking at statics from the Texas Share-A-Lunker Program there were several caught on a Crappie Jig!

If you throw 10” plus worms all the time care to guess what your bigger bass will be caught on?

It’s the where not the what

[ww2farmer]

It’s the where not the what

The most important factor in all of bass fishing. You can't catch them if they ain't there. It may sound a little......I don't know, cocky I guess, but I tend to get a real good idea of what kind of fisherman I am dealing with when the first thing they want to know is what bait, and/or what color I caught fish on rather than IMHO, the more important things like what depth, type of cover, etc........... Once you have found the fish, the right bait/presentation in the right place can maximize the number and quality of fish you catch. But I have also seen and had days when you could put almost any thing on a hook and catch fish if you were on them. Why? Who knows. The only thing I do know is to find fish first, then worry about bait selection.

[Deeg]

I hate to fish worms & jigs, I like to fish cranks & spinners but I recognize that most of the times what I like is not what works best, there´s a big bunch of times when no matter how tasty my cranks and spinners look the fish won´t bite them. So in order to catch fish consistently I had to bite on my right nut and learned to fish with worms then bite my left nut and learned to fish with jigs. Don´t think of it in terms of luck, think of it in terms of lack of experience, learn to fish them and force yourself to fish them cuz you don´t know when you gonna need it badly. The best way to force yourself is to leave the stuff you normally use at home ( you won´t have the temptation ) and learn to fish with worms & jigs, it´s a lot more fun to catch a few than to come home empty handed.

Thanks for the input. I will keep that mind the next time I am on the lake and there are a number of fish swimming through the fish finder.

[J Francho]

My personal best largemouth from NY came on a 10" worm. it's not always better, but it can be.

[RoLo]

Is Bigger Always Better??

I'm going to let that one slide

I've caught runt bass on worms that were as long as the bass itself.

In other words, if the worm wasn't struck head-first, the bass wouldn't get hooked.

On the flipside, I seem to remember that Kevin VanDam caught a bass over 11 lbs on a 4" fry worm.

That said, I'm most comfortable fishing plastic worms longer than 6" but shorter than 10" ("Actual" length, not advertised length)

On a side note, I've never fished a 10" Trick Worm, but I have fished the 7" Magnum Trick Worm, and do not like it.

Although I'm not thrilled about the spindly body of a standard 6" Trick Worm, it has better action than the Magnum Trick Worm.

I believe the action of the worm is far more important than the length of the worm.

Roger