Soft Bait: Worms

There is a staggering variety of worm types, colors, and sizes available. Tempting as the catalog pictures are, you don't need them all... you just need the one that works today, and finding it is the fun part. Start with smaller worms in clear water and when bass are inactive. Use larger worms in stained water for more disturbance, and dark colors for higher visibility.


CURL-TAIL WORM
Probably the most popular style-your basic nightcrawler imitation with a thin curly swimming tail that wriggles nicely with just a little line movement. Sizes range from 5 inches up to 11 inches for going after real monsters. Usually Texas rigged, but often Carolina rigged. Curl-tails are pretty good in weedy cover, but in brush, the tail tends to get wrapped up on twigs. A good choice once the water warms up.

RIB WORM

Similar to the curl-tail worm, but with a "slotted" body made up of thin ribs. These rings can trap air on the cast, and release little fizzy bubbles in the water, for a little more noise and action. They also give the bait a softer texture. However, this also makes the bait weaker, and more vulnerable to snagging and tearing off the hook.

FINESSE WORM
Short, thin, and straight-tailed, the finesse worm is popular for presentations to finicky or spooky bass. Its subtle, whippy action draws enough attention where a big flappy bait might be too much. Most typically fished on a splitshot rig with spinning gear. Great approach to try where the water is clear or cold, or the fish are suspended or heavily pressured.

FLOATING WORM

These are made with an especially buoyant plastic that allows you to fish the worm right on the surface with just a hook, and gives the bait a nice slow sink when you weight it. Even bottom-rigged with a heavy sinker or jighead, the floating worm is reaching up for the surface, giving it a lively, bobbing action above the bottom as you move the weight. Great for weightless and wacky rigs, as well as trailers.

FLAT WORM
This is sort of a cross between a grub and a rib worm, with a swim tail but a very wide and deeply ribbed body. It features a nice big profile, a very soft chewy texture, trailing bubbles and a wiggle-a whole lot of bass appeal. Versatile and increasingly popular. Most styles are between 4 and 6 inches.

FRENCH FRY

  The name describes its plain rectangular shape and size perfectly--no wriggly tail, no legs, no fins, no ribs-but for some reason, it catches fish. Has only a very subtle action, typically fished Carolina-rigged or splitshot. Most are about  4 inches in length.