| I've caught bass on crankbaits, | | | | To set it up just run your line through |
| spinners, plugs and others. But for me, | | | | a bullet slip sinker (best sizes are |
| the most fun is plastic worms on a Texas | | | | from 3/8 oz. to an ounce) and tie the |
| Rig. Don't get me wrong, catching a | | | | line to a worm hook size 2 or 3. The |
| largemouth bass is catching a largemouth | | | | twisted ones help with hookset. |
| bass, and I'd gladly catch one with my | | | | Once you have the hooked tied on, run |
| mother's toe nail if they'd bite it. | | | | the hook tip through the end of the head |
| What's my fascination with plastic worms | | | | of the plastic and push it in about a |
| and the Texas Rig? | | | | quarter of an inch. Now run the hook tip |
| Simplicity in changing baits from color | | | | out of the plastic bait (belly side) and |
| to color and style, they are weedless | | | | push the bait up the hook towards the |
| and effective. But there's more to it. I | | | | eye. Bury the tip of the hook into the |
| love them because I feel they are more | | | | bait near the abdomen or egg sac. |
| interactive and you have to fool the | | | | Some people push it all the way through |
| bass more than with other baits. | | | | and snug the hook tip near the body (on |
| If you throw out a worm and just reel it | | | | the backside or top). This allows for |
| in, you are not likely to catch many | | | | better hook set, but results in more |
| fish. You have to know how to work it | | | | snags. I like to push it through just |
| and you have to be very patient in your | | | | before it breaks out of the back where I |
| presentation and when the fish hits. | | | | can feel that it will pop through |
| Sometimes the strike will be like an | | | | easily. If you do this, be sure to set |
| explosion, and you and bass both know | | | | the hook hard to penetrate the plastic. |
| what's happening. Others it's very | | | | When you cast the bait, let it settle |
| subtle. Sometimes you won't even know | | | | all the way to the bottom and give it |
| the bass has it until you reel in the | | | | several seconds before moving it. |
| slack and feel something different going | | | | Sometimes the longer you wait, the |
| on. Maybe there should be slack in the | | | | better luck you will have. Even 30 |
| line but it's getting tight. Or | | | | seconds or more. |
| vice-versa. Or maybe you can see the | | | | Try different presentations from very |
| line going sideways in the water. | | | | slow to moderate (never very fast). I |
| That's one of my favorites because you | | | | usually give the bait 1 or 2 short |
| have to know the right time to set the | | | | pumps, let it fall while reeling in the |
| hook. Set it too soon and the largemouth | | | | slack, then give it 2 or 3 pumps. Be |
| may not have it in it's mouth good. Set | | | | careful. Always reel in the slack, but |
| it too late and it might have spit it | | | | more often than not that's when you'll |
| out. That's exciting; and frustrating. | | | | get the bite. They often hit it on the |
| The Texas rigged plastic worm (you can | | | | fall, so expect something every time you |
| use it for other plastics, too) is very | | | | bring in the slack. |
| portable. If you want to hike around the | | | | You can try longer pumps, like bring the |
| lake and fish the shore, don't lug your | | | | line in 2 or 3 feet then let it settle. |
| whole tackle box. Just get a worm pouch, | | | | Try moving it painfully slow, try |
| load it with a few favorite styles, | | | | bouncing it quicker, try swimming it |
| colors, hooks and sinkers, stuff it in | | | | very slowly across the bottom and |
| your back pocket and hit the trail. | | | | whatever else you can think of. When |
| Plus, you can change lures on the fly. | | | | something works, stick with it. |
| Once your Texas Rig is set up, it's a | | | | Use the worms around vegetation and |
| matter of pulling the bait off the hook | | | | rocks. My best luck has been around |
| and sliding another on. No knots to | | | | trees in the water. Sometimes there will |
| retie. This gives you freedom to explore | | | | be trees that hang out into the water. |
| different colors and styles of plastics | | | | These are hot spots for bass. |
| in a hurry. | | | | One trick I learned by accident is to |
| In a Texas Rig, the sinker is a bullet | | | | cast the Texas Rig out over a weak limb |
| slip sinker that rides freely on the | | | | hanging over the water. You want a weak |
| line with nothing else between the rod | | | | limb because you want it to break or |
| and the bait (the benefit is that the | | | | collapse when the bass hits, and it |
| bass cannot feel the sinker when it | | | | will. I move that plastic worm up and |
| strikes). This drags the plastic bait | | | | down, in and out of the water to tease |
| down and allows it to bounce or swim | | | | and annoy the bass. If there's one |
| along the bottom. | | | | there, you'll get a strike. |