Choose Your Lure, Three Must-Have Lures for Your Tackle Box Part II

Article by Craige Bottorff

Have you ever wondered what the guys running around the lake in those fast bass boats are using to catch their fish. If you knew would you give it a try? Chances are they will tell you one of their best baits is the plastic worm. One of the most effective bass catching lures of all time.

Hello, my name is Craige Bottorff owner of CFB Fishing Gear and this is the second in a series of three articles called Choose Your Lure, Three Must-Have Lures for Your Tackle Box. These are fishing lures that I have had a lot of success with and would recommend to anyone that would like to catch more fish. This time it is all about the plastic worm.

While this article is about the plastic worm, remember that there are a number of other soft baits like lizards or slug type baits that can be rigged and fished in much the same way.

The two most common ways to rig a plastic worm are Texas Style or the Carolina Rig. Both are effective. I find myself going with the Texas Style rig most of the time.

To rig Texas Style start with a bullet weight. There are several kinds and sizes of bullet weights but I like the Xcalibur Tungsten bullet weight in 1/8 or ¼ oz size. Led weights are out these days, Tungsten is in. The bullet weight goes on the line first and is allowed to slide freely resting against the hook, after the hook has been tied on.

There are a number of styles and brands of worm hooks. Some will have barbs to keep the worm from sliding down the hook. Others have been shaped at the top of the hook to keep the worm in place. Tru Turn Hooks makes a product called the Tru Turn Hitch Hiker and it screws into the soft bait and works with any offset hook. Try several different styles of hooks and choose the one that works best for you.

After you slide the line through the hole in the weight, tie on the hook. You are now ready to attach the plastic worm. Run the hook into the head of the worm about ½ inch and let the point come back out. Slide the worm up to the top of the hook. The bullet weight should side down against the hook and the head of the plastic worm. Stick the hook into the body of the worm where the hook almost goes completely through. This will keep it weedless as long as the point of the hook does not go completely through the body of the worm. Be sure the worm is straight on the hook and not kinked. That’s it, Texas Style.

The purpose of the Carolina Rig is to let the plastic worm float a short distance away from the bullet weight. This allows a different type of presentation and separates the worm from the bullet weight. This can be accomplished a couple of different ways. Some anglers rig Texas Style then slide the bullet weight up from the hook the desired distance and place a toothpick into the hole of the bullet weight to secure the line. This stops the weight from moving and keeps it at the chosen distance from the bait. Strike King makes a product called Strike King EZ-Rigs that gives the same results without the toothpick.

The great thing about the plastic worm is that it can be fished in heavy cover. You can fish trees and stumps to get down where the big ones hide. Drop it in the moss and tease a big momma off her nest.Letting the worm sink to the bottom and resting for a moment before giving it a slight twitch will often trigger a strike.

There are dozens of different brands of plastics out there. Some have flavors or salt added. I find that the most important thing with a plastic worm is the color. As far as size I like a 7 ½ inch worm. My two favorite colors are Electric Blue and Pumpkin Seed. Start with a variety of colors and find the ones that work best at your favorite honey hole. The plastic worm can be fun and is easy to fish. Another tackle box treasure.

Next time: Topwater Baits

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