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The plastic worm ranks among the deadliest and most versatile lures any angler can cast for bass.
Patent records reveal that as early as the 1860s artificial worms were made from the rubber compounds available in that era, but those crude imitations never really caught on. The development of the plastic worm as we know it today came much later, beginning with the discovery of flexible vinyl in the 1930s, which gave lure makers a unique medium to work with.
By the early 1950s, several individual lure makers were making their own versions of soft, durable plastic worms. Some of those creations really caught fish, but often their popularity tended to be regional. It didn't take long for the secret to get out, however, and by the late 1960s, plastic worms had revolutionized bass fishing.
Most of the worms back then tended to look like imitations of a night crawler, although they were produced in some improbable colors like purple, black, red or blue. And those outrageous colors did, and still do, catch bass very well.
Soft-plastic worms have now been a staple lure in the bass angler's arsenal for more than 50 years. The establishment of tournament bass fishing during the early 1970s revolutionized the sport with tremendous advances in equipment and fishing techniques that have ultimately benefited all bass anglers.
Plastic worms were soon transformed from simple night crawler look-alikes into all sorts of slinky creations in every size and color combination imaginable and then some. They are also relatively inexpensive lures, allowing even the casual fisherman to carry a good selection of styles and colors in his tackle bag.
Plastic worms are versatile lures that can be fished in numerous ways. One of the most basic and effective methods for fishing plastic worms is the so-called Texas rig, which uses a special worm hook with an offset bend and a bullet-shaped slip sinker. Because the hook point is completely hidden within the body of the worm, this rig can be fished through thick weeds or around brush, sunken trees and other nasty stuff that would be impossible to penetrate with virtually any other type of lure.
Crawling the worm slowly around the cover is generally an effective tactic, but there will be times when the fish will respond to a more aggressive presentation, so experiment a little to find the right pace on any given day.
In more open water, worms can be fished on a jighead with success. A useful jighead tactic that has gained popularity is the so-called shaky-head worm. This method employs the use of slender worm four or five inches long with lots of action. The worm is rigged on a special jighead designed to set on the bottom with the hook bend standing almost straight up.
Cast the rig to specific spots where you suspect a bass to be hanging out, and after it settles to the bottom, jiggle the rod top slightly just enough to make the worm shake and quiver. This maneuver can sometimes tease a disinterested summer bass into striking.
One of my favorite summertime bass tactics is fishing 4- to 5-inch plastic worms with no weight. Make sure it isn't a floating worm, however, because the key to this technique is allowing the worm to sink slowly on its own.
Rig the worm the same as a Texas rig but skip adding any weight to the line. You want the worm to sink ever so slowly while falling as close to horizontal as possible. This setup is best fished with spinning gear using 6- or 8-pound line.
Cast the weightless worm near some type of fish-holding structure, preferably in two to about six feet of water. Weed lines are one of the best places to target this time of year with this technique, but sunken logs, docks, steep banks or other fish-holding structure
Some crude artificial worms were made during the 1800s using the rubber compounds available in that era. The discovery of flexible vinyl in the 1930s gave lure makers a better medium to work with, and by the early 1950s, several individual lure makers were making their own versions of soft, durable plastic worms. Some of those creations really caught fish, but often their popularity tended to be regional. It didn't take long for the secret to get out, however, and by the late 1960s, plastic worms had revolutionized bass fishing.
During the last 50 years, plastic worms have transformed from simple night crawler look-alikes into all sorts of slinky creations in every size and color combination imaginable and then some. Besides being deadly effective on bass, most types of plastic worms are also relatively inexpensive lures, allowing even the casual fisherman to carry a good selection of styles and colors in his tackle bag are also worthwhile possibilities.
Carefully watch your line for the slightest twitch or other indication of a bite. Most takes occur as the worm gently quivers on its descent. If the worm makes it to the bottom without being eaten by a bass, I twitch it up a few feet with the rod tip, reel in the slack and let it settle again. Depending on the structure or water depth, that maneuver can be repeated once or twice before reeling in for another cast.
Waiting for the weightless worm to sink is about as exciting as watching paint dry, but on days when the bass can't be tempted with more active methods, this agonizingly slow technique can be worth the extra patience it requires. Bluegills and other panfish can sometimes drive you crazy by grabbing the end of the worm and running off with it.
Despite that, treat any take as a bass bite and set the hook accordingly. You might be surprised how often what feels like just another pesky bluegill turns out to be a three- or four-pound bass.