Whether you’re an experienced angler or a novice trying to get deeper into this spare-time activity and already facing fruitless fishing days, learn that there are ways to trick the fish you are after into your fishing hook.
One of them is the floating worm technique, a fun and productive way to catch spawn fish or bass many hobbyists prefer. Trick worms and the way you can use them are the things we cover in today’s post.
What is a trick worm?
Trick worms are soft plastic worms used as fishing bait to ensure you enjoy a good catch even when the weather conditions are less fishing-friendly and the fish you’re after are lazy. Since they come in various natural colors, they can work wonders in many fishing environments. You can also find them in brighter colors like yellow, pink, and white.
The market offers a great variety of trick worms but most of them are 6-7 inches long. You will find trick worms that are salt-impregnated and straight tailed segmented. It is recommended to go for a lime trick worm when using a white spinnerbait and a white worm for a chartreuse spinnerbait.
There is a generous selection of floating worms for sale so you can easily find the ones to meet your specific needs. Fishermen using trick worms on a Carolina or Texas rig have experienced great results when catching largemouth bass in lakes and ponds. They are great to use during the post-spawn season.
Rigging trick worm
One of the most common ways to get your catch is to rig a trick worm with no weight and thus use it almost like a floating topwater lure. There are some things you need to do in order to make sure this fishing method goes smoothly.
In order to prevent the fishing line from twisting, it is best to place a barrel swivel above the fishing hook (about 6 inches or so). You can also tie a 2/0 offset hook to your fishing line. In case you go for a non-onset hook, you will have to use a toothpick through the eye of the hook to make sure it doesn’t slip down. A sharp offset hook is preferred, though.
While some fishermen prefer a visible fishing line with trick worms, there are anglers who go for something less visible, even if that means strikes are more difficult to detect. It all depends on your personal likes, the level of your experience, and your eyesight. If you want to enjoy a solid hookup, then you should go for a heavier line. You can use the rig with casting or spinning tackles.
The Texas rigging method
There are various rigging methods you can go for yet one of the most popular ones among anglers is the so-called Texas rig. The soft-plastic worms catch bass in a great variety of waters and weather conditions. No matter if you’re into getting a bunch of bass or just one, the Texas rig will make sure you’re effective regardless of the water type or cover situations.
Getting your trick worm ready for the big catch using the Texas rig method involves simple steps. Once you’ve chosen your hook and the soft-plastic worm you are going to use, make sure you insert the point of the hook into the tip of the worm and bring it out the bottom of the lure about ¼ inch from the tip of the worm.
Then simply pull the hook through the tip of the trick worm until its eye rests inside the tip. Once you’ve done that, twist the hook so that its point faces back towards the plastic and insert it in a point at the other end of the bait. It is highly important to have the worm straight after rigging in order to keep the line from twisting.
The trick work is correctly rigged if the hook’s barb is inside the plastic and both its barb and point are covered by the bait in order to avoid hangups. The point of the hook should not come out the opposite side of the worm, though.
Carolina rig vs. Texas rig
Different targets and weather conditions call for different rigging methods. There are various fishing rigs you can go for depending mainly on the amount and thickness of the cover, the catch you’re targeting and weather conditions. The Texas rig is a great choice when fishing in heavy cover and trying to lure bass out of the vegetation in sunny and calm weather conditions.
The Carolina rig, though, is better when you need to make a longer cast and thus cover more water as it includes a heavier weight which keeps the trick worm closer to the bottom ensuring a more natural look and movement. If you’re out there for bass, the Carolina rig is a better choice as such fish roam in open water when the weather gets windy and cloudy.
Texas-rigged trick worms are ideal for catching bass when the fish moves on the spawning nest or right after the spawn when it guards its fry. Pitching the Texas-rig soft plastic worm into the bass nest and moving it in front of the bedding fish will surely trigger a strike. You can use this rigging method even in the post-spawn season.
Lightweights of 1/8 ounces can be matched with the Texas rigs, which renders it ideal for fishing in shallow waters. Carolina rigs can be matched with heavier weights that reach even 2 ounces without reducing the trick worm action. This makes them perfect for fishing deep water bass.
How to fish for bass with a trick worm
If you want to use the trick worm to lure bass, there are some steps you need to follow in order to make sure your fishing session is a successful one. The things you need include a fishing rod and reel or a quality and durable bass fishing rod and reel combo, 3/0 to 5/0 offset fishing hooks, fishing line, and of course the trick worms.
Choose a line that is at least 8-pound tested and tie the offset hook to it using a clinch knot. You will have to pass the loose end of the line through the hook’s eye, twist it around the main line several times (6 or 7) and pass it back through the loop that has formed above the hook’s eye. Wet the knot slightly and then pull it tight.
Use the Texas rig to place the worm on the hook. The top of the trick worm should be placed next to the point of the hook which you will have to push down through the top and center of the trick worm for ½ inches. Then push it out through the flat side of the trick worm. Remember that the worm should be straight after rigging.
Once you’ve taken care of that, you can cast the trick worm near brushes, docks or rocks and let it settle. Given that there is no weight when fishing the trick worm, it might take a few moments. When the worm gets closer to the bottom, let it be moved freely by the water. This will make it look natural.
Retrieving
There are many ways to fish the trick worm. Again, it depends on what you want from your fishing sessions, the weather conditions, and cover situations. The trick worm may be fished in various ways but the twitching method is recommended since it is regarded as being the most effective. Therefore, it is best to twitch it under the surface, pause and then let the trick worm sink.
When you reach the retrieving stage, make sure you begin by raising the tip of your rod several times to create that bouncing motion. Reel the trick worm a couple of feet and then let it settle to the bottom again. Repeat this step until you’ve retrieved the worm completely.
If the bass comes up to hit the worm, you will be able to see it. The trick worm might as well disappear if the fish sucks it in. That is the reason why many anglers go for bright colors. When using the worm in clear shallow waters, you will be able to see when the fish hits the lure. If the trick worm sinks and thus gets out of your sight, you can only know when you’ve caught something if the line jumps or moves.
If you feel the fish approaching and taking the worm, allow it to do so without setting the hook. If you do any moves before it actually takes the bait, it will feel you and go away before you get to set your hook.
Leave a comment
0 Comments