Bass Fishing 101 - Plastic Worms

For the new bass fisherman, looking at the thousands of different lures that are out there can be overwhelming when trying to figure out what to tie on your line.  Using a lure that is not going to be effective, or not not knowing how to present a lure properly can be frustrating to the point where many then resort to fishing for an easier to catch species.  For the veteran angler it's always good to remember the basics, and remind yourself what got you hooked on bass fishing in the first place, and to have that old stand by ready for when times get tough and the fishing is slow.

The plastic worm has won more B.A.S.S. tournaments since they started back in 1967, and continues to be one of the top fish producers today.  They come in a variety of designs and colors, and can be fished in many different ways, but the basic concept remains the same.  I'm going to go over the basic Texas Rig for plastic worms.  There are other rigging methods, but the Texas Rig is the most basic, and best place to start.  Here is what you will need to get started:

Gear

1. Hook
2. Sinker / Weight
3. Worm

Gamakatsu Offset Worm, Extra Wide Gap

Let's start with the hook.  My personal favorite is the Gamakatsu Offset Worm, Extra Wide Gap, size 5/0.  Any hook in this general shape will work fine.  I like the bigger size because it puts the barb lower on the body of the worm, which gives you a better chance of hooking the fish.  If the fish grabs the worm below where the hook is, well your not going to catch him.

 

Texas Rigged Worm 

The next thing to think about is which weight or sinker to use.  I recommend the bullet style shown in the picture.  This basic shape allows the sinker to better get through cover and obstructions in the water such as limbs, vegetation, etc. which is where the bass like to hang out!  The actual size/weight of the sinker is a matter of personal preference and changing the weight will also change the "feel" of the worm as you are working it through the water.  I also like my sinkers painted black, which probably does not make a difference.

Slide your sinker on the line with the nose of the sinker pointing up, and then tie on your hook.  Now you are ready to pick out your worm!

When choosing which plastic worm to go with the main features to consider are length, color, and tail design.  My length of choice is 8 to 10 inches, but will fish a 6" worm from time to time as well.  I like to stick with darker colors for the lakes around here in Ohio, and you can often ask local bait shops about which colors are hot for a particular lake.  Tail designs vary but I like the ones with some type of swim tail that gives the lure a little more flair as it is coming through the water.  My favorite worm is the Zoom Magnum Worm in either watermelonseed, or greenpumpkin.  Next in line is the 5" or 6" Yamamoto Senko, or it's cheaper cousin the Yum Dinger, both of which are meant to be fished with no sinker, just the hook and worm.  You can also fish almost any other plastic lure using the same tackle and presentation methods.

Presentation

You have your plastic worm on the line and are ready to start fishing, but what's next?  First off you need to cast the lure into a spot where bass are likely to be.  This often involves some type of cover, don't be afraid to cast your worm into a weed bed, or right next to sunken trees/branches.  Yes, you will get snagged from time to time, but that is just part of the game you have to play.

You can retrieve your worm in a number of ways, and I often will try different approaches to see which one is going to work best on any particular outing.

1. 9 to Noon - With this retrieve you basically start with you rod tip pointed at nine o' clock and slowly raise the rod to twelve, pulling the worm slowly towards you, pause for a second, and gently reel in the slack line as you lower the rod tip back to 9.  Pause again and repeat.
2. Slow Retrieve - Just cast out the worm, let is sink to the bottom, then slowly reel it back in.  You can very the speed, and add a pause in here and there, to see if you can trigger the fish to strike.
3. Twitching method - With the rod held high give the worm about 3 quick twitches then pause.  Reel in slack, and repeat.

You can combine all three of these together, or come up with any different number of ways to present the worm.  Just remember that fish often strike during a pause, and always pay attention to strange movement with your line which can indicate that a fish has taken the bait.  Often you will feel a tapping with your rod when the fish bites.  When you think/know you have some action, set the hook!  Don't be afraid to set the hook even when you are not sure if it's a fish or not, and soon enough you will be able to tell the difference between your lure hitting an obstruction, and a bass actually taking the worm.

Pass this article on to any new Bass fisherman to help get them started on the right foot, and as always happy fishing!

"The fishing was good, it was the catching that was bad"

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