| Plastic worms are probably the most popular | | | | usually form a u-shape, which is similar to an |
| fishing lure on the market today. Soft plastic | | | | actual worm falling through the water column. I |
| worms are so popular because they work great | | | | definitely get more reaction strikes with these |
| for bass and most fishermen enjoy fishing for | | | | worms when I use an aggressive retrieve. These |
| bass. Let's talk about some of the different styles | | | | are also the worms that I prefer when I use a |
| as well as some tips on how to use them. | | | | drop shot rig. |
| Some of my favorite plastic worms are 7 to 11 | | | | Drop shot rigs are set up with the hook above |
| inch worms with a long curly-tail at the end. There | | | | the weight. When you tie your knot to the hook, |
| are many different types of worms, but the | | | | leave some extra line so you can attach a weight |
| worms with a long tail at the end are the easiest | | | | to it. With this set up, your weight will hit the |
| to use, especially for beginner anglers. You can | | | | bottom and the worm will sit about a foot to a |
| use these worms with no weight, a small split | | | | foot and a half above the bottom. Drop shotting |
| shot, Carolina rigged or Texas rigged style. Just | | | | plastic worms can work wonders when fish are |
| cast it out and retrieve it slowly with a lift and fall | | | | deep. An aggressive retrieve with a quick jerk |
| retrieve. | | | | and then a fall will produce many strikes. |
| Most bass will bite on the fall so pay attention. I | | | | Over the past year or so, I have had a lot of fun |
| will use 7 inch worms early in the year and 11 inch | | | | rigging worms wacky style. (This also works well |
| worms during the summer. 11 inch worms will | | | | with live worms.) The wacky style rig is where |
| work well for bass in the 2 to 3 pound range and | | | | you hook the worm in the middle. For me, this rig |
| big bass love them. Go big in the summer. Use | | | | works better when bass are more active in |
| the bigger worms in the summer and you will | | | | warmer water. I'm talking about late spring |
| catch more fish and lots of big fish. | | | | through the summer. I use a fairly aggressive |
| I also have a lot of success using worms that | | | | jerk and fall retrieve with pencil-style worms |
| don't have a tail. Basically, these worms are thin | | | | when I fish wacky style. I have fished with many |
| and pencil-like with no curly tail at the end. While | | | | anglers that do well with a slow lift and fall |
| these worms will not work as well as the curly tail | | | | retrieve as well, so try a few different retrieves |
| worms with a basic lift and fall retrieve, they | | | | with the wacky style and see what works best |
| usually have better action with a quick more | | | | for you. |
| aggressive jerk then fall retrieve. The body will | | | | |