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