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Bass Fishing Tips (Plastic Worms)
Plastic worms are excellent bass baits, especially for largemouth bass. These plastic worms come in a large variety of shapes, colours, sizes and actions, and can be fished in a number of ways under different conditions.
When choosing plastic worms, try to stay with 6 to 7 ½ - inch (15 to 19 cm) sizes. Look for those with the action tails, they attract bass from a greater distance. When the bass are less active turn to the worms with less action for a more subtle presentation.
Personally I like the black, purple, blue, green, or brown plastic worms. The worms that are peppered with the metal flake seem to work even better. Now when fishing very clear water avoid the flashy worms. Try to match the colours you use with the natural bass foods, such as crayfish, leeches, or baitfish. In stained or murky water, use the brighter, larger worms with more action. The black is also good under these conditions.
Fish the plastic worms Texas-rigged for weedy areas, the worm stays in place better and the action is more pronounced. Use heavier line 10 to 14 pound test when fishing worms around cover, but beef it up for the thickest cover. A long weed lines or open water the heavier line is not necessary, especially for small mouth bass.
When fishing plastic worms try to feel the cover you are fishing, Try to keep contact with the bottom and skim the bait over cover. Disturbing the cover will attract more fish and you will get more strikes.
Usually when a bass takes the worm all you will notice is a slight twitch in the line, a spongy heaviness in the rod tip, or a slow movement of the line toward the cover. If you are looking for spectacular hits from bass, try using top-water baits or buzzbaits. Bass simply suck in a worm, but they can also blow it out just as fast. That is why you should always be a line watcher. When to set the hook is debatable. Some anglers like to wait a few seconds. Other anglers recommend setting the hook immediately. Myself I tend to set the hook right away!
Plastic worms can be cast all along weed lines, tossed into pockets and holes in weed beds, or pitched to the shoreline cover, such as brush piles, docks or trees. If rigged weedless , with the hooks imbedded in it the worm becomes the ideal lure for catching bass in most all conditions and practically any type of cover you would encounter.
The visual attraction of these baits have also been augmented by adding scents that make them taste and smell like real prey.
When selecting your hook size. Consider the size of your plastic worm Generally, size three and four worm hooks work well with 6 ½ to 7 ½ inch (17 to 19 cm) worms. Use sharp hooks of course. They have greater penetrating power and need a less powerful hook-set.
For largemouth. Use 4 to 8 inch (10 to 20 cm) worms. Drop down to 4 inches (10 cm) or less for smallmouth bass. The small black worms, which resemble leeches, are great. They can be fished with smaller non-weedless hooks and split-shot in the more open situations these larger bass inhabit. The simple Carolina rig, with a larger hook, worm, and shot also works well for finessing those largemouth in open-water situations.
If you are not using plastic worms for bass fishing yet you are missing out on great action. They are cheap, effective and an exciting way to catch bass. But just get out there and enjoy fishing and mother nature.
About the Author: Jack Phillips has been an avid Canadian angler for over 50 years. Fishing Canada provides solid advice for walleye, bass, pike, muskie, a variety of trout, arctic char bass fishing tips and more. Idea's on when and where to go on your next trip to Canada. Ice fishing tips. Delicious fish recipes also!
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