| The variety of soft plastic baits for bass is | | | | ability with various hooks, so some |
| mind boggling. The choices available just in | | | | experimentation is necessary to produce the |
| worms alone, are enough to cause confusion | | | | desired results. One problem with floating |
| with the novice angler, and hours of debate | | | | worms is that they look no different than |
| among the more experienced. What size? | | | | standard worms. Keep your floaters in a |
| color?, straight tail? curly tail?, salt or | | | | separate bag or box in the original bag to |
| no salt?; what rig to use them on, drop-shot? | | | | keep them from getting mixed up with the |
| Carolina rigged?, weightless?, when are the | | | | regular worms.The "critter" baits such as the |
| best times to use each one? Then add in the | | | | soft plastic crayfish, lizards, frogs, and |
| endless variety of lizards, grubs, jerkbaits, | | | | hellgrammites, also catch a lot of big bass. |
| freakbaits, tubes, and creatures, and you end | | | | The craw type baits often have air pockets |
| up with more questions than answers. In the | | | | not only in the main body, but in the claws |
| following article I will try to list the most | | | | as well. Claws with air pockets float up off |
| effective plastic baits and presentations | | | | the bottom, putting it in a defensive posture |
| that catch not only numbers, but big bass as | | | | that triggers strikes from bass that are |
| well, whether it is in a lake, pond or river, | | | | fooled into believing it is a real crayfish. |
| just about anywhere in the country. There | | | | Experiment with different rigs, scents, and |
| will always be a new type of bait that one | | | | rattles in these baits until you find the |
| person or the other claims is better than the | | | | most productive in that particular area. The |
| others, but the following baits and | | | | floating worms and critters don't replace the |
| techniques will cover most any situation that | | | | old standbys, but they add another dimension |
| you are likely to encounter.Plastic WormsThe | | | | to your fishing.Tube BaitsThere are as many |
| original artificial worm manufactured by Nick | | | | different tube baits as there are worms, and |
| Creme, in 1949, was a standard straight | | | | more and more variations arrive each year. |
| tailed worm, but it spawned generations of | | | | Some of the best tube baits we have used for |
| worm companies and hundreds of soft plastic | | | | catching bedding bass, and bass that are |
| lure designs that are the mainstay of modern | | | | holding in tight to cover, are listed |
| bass fishing.Straight tailed worms are just | | | | below.Ringed TubesMany bait manufacturers |
| that--straight, with no bends or kinks in the | | | | have incorporated rings into their tube |
| middle, no curly tails, paddle tails, no air | | | | designs. Rings add bulk, trap air bubbles, |
| pockets, no flotation, nothing special at | | | | and feel soft and lifelike to the bass. They |
| all, just a worm. Regardless of their plain | | | | allow for better hookups by reducing the |
| appearance, many times straight tailed worms | | | | amount of plastic that the hook has to |
| are much more effective than other fancier | | | | penetrate. The first tube we ever bought that |
| styles. This was proven to us first hand one | | | | had this feature was a 4 1/2 inch tube made |
| day in a New York tournament. The bass | | | | by Larew. These baits are made with an |
| absolutely refused to hit any other style of | | | | injection-mold, rather than a dip process, |
| worm except a 6 inch straight tail in black, | | | | which is what you need to do to make a ringed |
| with a tiny bit of blue fleck in it. If you | | | | bait. A lot of manufactures are now adding a |
| didn't have that particular style of worm, | | | | skirt to the ringed tube, which gives it even |
| you were out of the money that day. Straight | | | | more bulk and a slower fall. The pulsating |
| tailed worms are often at their best when | | | | motion of the skirt and tail seem to come |
| bass are suspicious of anything out of the | | | | alive when rigged Texas or Carolina style, or |
| ordinary, such as in highly pressured | | | | used a jig trailer.Solid HeadThe first solid |
| tournament lakes. Many times in these | | | | head tube was introduced right after Denny |
| situations the bass are put off by a curly | | | | Brauer won the classic. It is made by Strike |
| tail waving in the current. But the opposite | | | | King, but now there are many more |
| can be true for the same fish, in the same | | | | manufacturers. This was a great innovation, |
| lake, when they are on their beds during the | | | | since it gave standard worm hooks enough |
| spawn. Many times, the movement of a curly | | | | plastic in which to gain a firm hold. The |
| tail will cause the extra enticement you need | | | | main problem with finesse tubes is that the |
| to catch them. Plastic worms aren't at their | | | | thin noses won't stay put on worm hooks.After |
| best in cold water, but then nothing is. When | | | | these tubes came out, many other new |
| the water is cold, bass will feed only | | | | innovations followed, such as longer and |
| occasionally, and whether it is spring, fall, | | | | fatter tubes. Now there are many tubes in the |
| or winter, the slow, slightly twitchy | | | | 4 1/2 and 5 inch sizes. There are even bigger |
| retrieve with a straight tail worm will work | | | | tubes than that, they are Saltwater tubes, |
| wonders. But the key to this is working the | | | | which we have used successfully in the |
| worm slowly, only twitching it occasionally, | | | | California Delta for BIG bass. Oversized |
| allowing the worm to stay in the strike zone | | | | tubes also are easier for bass to find in |
| as long as possible, where the sluggish bass | | | | cover or muddy water.Tube CrittersThe 5 inch |
| will notice, and possibly hit it.These worms | | | | Sala Tube from Mister Twister, features a |
| also work well for bedding bass, but don't | | | | solid head and a body shaped like a |
| hesitate to put on a small curly tail worm if | | | | salamander. This bait also has eyes. This is |
| the bass won't pick up the straight tail. The | | | | part of the Exude line of baits, which |
| fact that most straight tail worms are not | | | | contains a water soluble scent that gives the |
| floating models can be an advantage. While | | | | plastic a slimy feel when wet. These baits |
| floating worms have a lot to offer in terms | | | | work very well on bedding bass in lakes all |
| of waving around just off the bottom, bass | | | | over the country. Because it has a lizard |
| are in the habit of searching and feeding off | | | | type shape it produces a stronger reaction |
| the bottom. Eels, worms, crayfish, nymphs, | | | | from bedding bass than a regular tube does. |
| frogs, and other prey are often found there. | | | | We like to use this tube in heavy cover also, |
| Smallmouth in particular make a habit of | | | | on 20-25 pound test line. When we fish real |
| routing in the rocks and gravel to find a | | | | nasty cover, we use it on a jig with braided |
| meal. Plastic worms, rigged weedless, and | | | | line, such as "Spiderline."Another new type |
| worked slowly across the bottom, look more | | | | of tube is the tube craw. This bait mimics a |
| like natural prey trying to hide and escape | | | | crawfish well, and can be worked in all types |
| than something floating off the bottom and | | | | of cover. Another craw type tube bait is the |
| waving around.To accomplish this, the | | | | Yum Craw Bug. The tail of this bait is curled |
| standard Texas rig with a bullet weight is | | | | under like a crawfish on the move. We always |
| best. The Texas rig keeps the worm from | | | | use this tube when fishing for bass that have |
| getting hung up, and the weight gets the worm | | | | received a lot of pressure. It seems to get |
| to the bottom and keeps it there. The | | | | strikes from heavily pressured bass that you |
| Carolina rig is another option for the | | | | wouldn't normally get. We usually rig this |
| straight tail worm. This type of rig allows | | | | bait on a 3/0 or 4/0 Gamakatsu hook, with a 3 |
| for a deeper, slower, even retrieve. The | | | | 16 ounce bullet sinker, and 14-20 pound test |
| straight tail worm, and even retrieve, make | | | | Spiderline Mono. They make a small 2 inch |
| this rig resemble an eel, although in smaller | | | | craw now also, which we use for |
| sizes, the bass may see it as a slim | | | | drop-shotting. I like to use the Craw tube in |
| baitfish, or even a large dragonfly nymph.We | | | | muddy water, because it is more buoyant than |
| found that these straight tail worms are | | | | regular tubes and moves more water. Rattles |
| excellent for fishing in the river. We cast | | | | can also be added to this tube to increase |
| them across the current, using a high rod | | | | it's effectiveness in muddy or stained water. |
| technique, to minimize drag and allow the | | | | There is also a tube now called a Fork Craw, |
| worm to drift with the current. Often a | | | | which I like to use when fishing grass. It is |
| little twitch will provoke a strike, but the | | | | thinner and slides through vegetation more |
| twitch should be subtle, just enough to move | | | | easily and presents a smaller profile which |
| the worm a little bit. We also cast the worm | | | | is great for clearer water.Another new type |
| straight upstream, which works very well in | | | | of tube is the Double-tail tube, which has |
| the rivers since they require less weight to | | | | two curled tails that appear as wings. Luck |
| sink naturally and can be fished dead with | | | | "E" Strike also makes a new tube called a |
| the current to resemble a dead or dying shad | | | | "Ring Daddy." It was designed by Rick Clunn |
| or other baitfish. Both Texas and exposed | | | | who believes the rings give off a |
| hook riggings work, but the Texas seems to be | | | | hydrodynamic signal that appeals to bass. I |
| the best if there are any snags or it is a | | | | have used this bait effectively when pitching |
| rough, rocky bottom. Tackle is important when | | | | and flipping. When we need to skip a tube |
| fishing straight tail worms, since much of | | | | under docks, we like to use Strike King's new |
| the fishing depends on slow techniques. I | | | | baits called the Tube Craw, Wild Thang and |
| like to use a real sensitive rod, such as a | | | | Tube lizard. They have smooth bodies which |
| G. Loomis, with the reel spooled with a | | | | make them ideal skipping baits. I use them on |
| sensitive line, such as Stren Sensor, or any | | | | a 4/0 hook with a 5/16 ounce bullet weight. |
| other sensitive line. Using an outfit like | | | | The Wild is a great bait for after the spawn, |
| this makes it easier to detect strikes, but | | | | and it catches huge bass. It is 5 inches |
| you should always maintain contact with the | | | | long, has a hollow body, and a shredded tail. |
| worm, even when Deadsticking it. I like to | | | | I always use this bait when I believe the |
| use a small weight to accomplish this. | | | | bass are looking upward. I like it in the |
| Cross-stream casts in the current will | | | | summer months, and I have fished it with a |
| usually maintain some tension, but upstream | | | | swimming motion very successfully. The tube |
| casts require a retrieve as fast as the | | | | lizard is a great bait for the spawn, through |
| current to keep slack out of the line and | | | | the post spawn period.Soft JerkbaitsSoft |
| make sure that you detect all the | | | | Jerkbaits like the Zoom Super Fluke are great |
| strikes.Straight tail worms are also great | | | | substitutes for a hard Jerkbaits when the |
| for deep jigging. The jigging action makes | | | | grass is too thick to use a hard bait with |
| the worm seem alive without a curly tail | | | | treble hooks. This bait was the best producer |
| waving around in the water. Again, the key | | | | for the top ten finishers in the finals at |
| here is sensitive tackle, as the bass will | | | | Lake Gaston. We had tried many other baits |
| often hit the worm on the fall. Straight tail | | | | that day, but the Fluke was the winner, hands |
| worms are serious bass takers. If a bass | | | | down.There are a variety of different rigging |
| follows another type of worm but doesn't take | | | | techniques for soft plastic Jerkbaits, but I |
| it, then try a straight stick of a worm. They | | | | want the maximum action I can get with this |
| may not look like much, but can take serious | | | | bait, so I use a really large offset hook |
| limits of bass when they are off their normal | | | | made by Eagle Claw. This hook is bigger than |
| feed.Worms/Floating Worms, & CrittersFirst, | | | | what most anglers use for the Fluke, but the |
| almost all plastic worms float. Usually, just | | | | bigger hook not only adds casting weight, but |
| adding any hook to the worm is enough to sink | | | | it shifts the weight to the rear of the bait |
| it. This allows a variety of bottom | | | | and causes an exaggerated "walk-the-dog" |
| presentations, but they are not that great | | | | action on the retrieve. It's a great bait for |
| for working on the surface as a topwater. | | | | bass in weed pockets, or in deeper, thinner |
| True floating worms have air blown into the | | | | grass like the situation we ran into on Lake |
| PVC mix to create enough flotation to keep | | | | Gaston. This bait definitely gave you an |
| them on the surface. Many times over thicker | | | | advantage that day. I use a light/dark |
| cover these worms shine. When the bass are | | | | pattern with these baits, but occasionally go |
| active, and would be hitting a buzzbait, or | | | | to colors like watermelon and green pumpkin, |
| other topwater bait, but the cover doesn't | | | | in the clearer water sometimes. I use this |
| allow it, these floating and curly tail | | | | bait a lot in place of a surface bait like a |
| worms, can be fished right on the surface, | | | | rat, and if a bass blows up on it and misses, |
| and worked quickly over thicker vegetation | | | | which happens a lot in heavy scum and grass, |
| like a buzzbait. This has drawn some | | | | then I just maneuver the bait to the hole |
| tremendous strikes throughout lakes and | | | | created by the bass and let it sink. Most of |
| rivers all over the country. Most of these | | | | the time the bass will still be there and |
| floating worms will float with a hook up to | | | | take the Fluke on the drop, something I can't |
| about a 3/0. Some of the more popular | | | | do with the rat.All of these baits and more |
| companies that manufacture these worms are | | | | can be very effective for big bass at times. |
| Riverside, Bass Pro Shops, Culprit, Bass | | | | At night I use a 10-12 inch worm for some |
| Assassin, Creme and others. Carolina Fish and | | | | huge bass. But none of these baits will work |
| Fur offer some great hand made floating | | | | for the beginner or intermediate angler |
| worms. Most of the companies also make other | | | | unless you are fishing in the right spot. |
| floating baits, such as Mann's, who calls | | | | Some of the best advice I can give is: Fish |
| them Floating Creatures, and they come in | | | | slowly, when you think you're fishing slowly, |
| frog and lizard shapes.Air pocket worms have | | | | slow down some more. Fish some of the smaller |
| a bunch of pockets of air, such as the | | | | lakes and rivers. With emphasis on |
| Riverside Air Worm, and others have single | | | | tournaments, many anglers forget about the |
| large pockets, like on the Culprit Burst | | | | great fishing in some of the smaller lakes |
| worms. Bass Pro Shops sold some worms a few | | | | and rivers that you can't fish in a bass |
| years back that we had a lot of luck with, | | | | boat.Don't make your fishing too complicated. |
| that were called Caterpillar worms. They have | | | | Use a few basic baits to start, then expand |
| a prickly or spiny exterior that holds air | | | | after you have learned how to use those |
| bubbles. Most of these worms not only take | | | | starter baits. Find the right depth; You |
| numbers of bass, but also take big bass. We | | | | can't catch fish if you fish above them or |
| have been in many tournaments where the big | | | | below them. Learn how to use the electronics |
| bass was taken on a small worm or creature | | | | on your boat properly.Fish as often as you |
| bait. These floating baits also work well | | | | can, nothing can replace the knowledge you |
| when rigged to work over deeper structure | | | | get from being on the water a lot. The first |
| such as brushpiles or weedbeds. A lot of | | | | few years I started fishing, we spent at |
| these worms are designed to hold different | | | | least 8 hours a day, 3 or 4 days a week |
| scents also. Some are designed to have the | | | | fishing. Get out on the water as much as you |
| scents injected right inside of the worm. All | | | | can, nothing replaces hands on experience. |
| floating worms vary in their flotation | | | | |