Topic: Wacky Worm for Bass

[George]

This is the year of learning for me between getting the 1197c SI unit and changing some fishing techniques.  

For the past few years I have read about fishing the Wacky worm style, this year I tried it.  I have had great success, in the last month I have caught over a 100 bass from a 1/2 lb to 6 lbs.  I have fished behind several boats and picked up lots of bass.  I am fishing a small clear water lake which gets a lot of pressure and is known to be difficult to fish, most people go away without catching anything.  I am fishing in reeds, grass and in clear areas with hard bottoms.  I'm using a Spinning outfit with 6 lb test line with 1/0 finesse wide gap hooks (have used others as well), currently using 4.8" plastic worms draped over the hook and hooked through the collar of the plastic worm.  Two colors, Candy Watermelon Flake and and a sand color worm.  I'm not using any weights and let the worm sink slowly, also limited use with drop shot wacky style.  I have caught many fish next to the reeds with success, at first I thought I would be breaking them off in the reed and I have found very few of the bass ran into the reeds and managed to get them all out without breaking off.  I am impatient so I fish it kind of fast, most of the time the worm does not hit the bottom and in many cases it is when I start to bring it back that I feel the fish.  Interestingly , even with the exposed hook it does not tend to snagged in the weeds or rocks.

I have heard of some folks even using this style in salt water with success.  If you have not tried this method you should give it a chance.  Also, I have lost some pretty big bass because I failed to set the hook (get to excited).

Give it a try
George

[RGecy]

Happy Birthday George!

George,

I have used this method for many years with great success.  My uncle has a very large pond with clear water, lots of grass.  We would let the worm settle down slowly and usually before it hit bottom or as you start to bring it in the Bass would strike.  We have pulled near record Bass out of there.  Not unusual to catch a 8lb+ on any given day.

I live on the coast here in SC and most guys here are salt water anglers and go after everything from Red Fish and Cobia to Tuna and Sailfish.  I have always liked the fresh water better for some reason.  It just seems like there is less skill in Saltwater Fishing.  Drop the line and hope something bites.  In fresh water you have to work the bait a little more.

Robert

[George]

Thanks Robert

Keep up the great work
George

[RGecy]

Thanks George.  Hope you had a great birthday!

Robert

[blharr4400]

George,

This is a great method and I will share a little trick with you that works great for me on my local clear lake.  Just to clear things up on what "clear" is I am in sothwest michigan and we have a lake here that the locals refer to as "gin clear" and it is not uncommon to be able to see the bottom in 20 to 25 feet of water on a calm day with a good pair of polorized sunglass ( the oakleys are worth there wieght in gold).  As I love to fish a worm wacky style but dont have the patients for it to sink I often use a weighted hook 1/32 or 1/16 to help get the bait down and create a different fall rate then normal.  I have found that if I use much more then a 1/16 the worms sink to fast and loose where wiggle at the ends.  Give this a try next time... I think you will find that you like it.

[George]

blharr4400

Your right, I cannot always wait either, I usually have to rods set up wacky one with light weight drop shot and one without a weight.  There are times when drop shot even shallow water works best and there are time when no weight is more productive.  At anytime I at least 3 rods on plastics and wacky is now my favorite.  Right now drop shot is working the best picking up 10 to 20 bass up to 6 lbs, when I go out.  It is not uncommon to have a 50 bass day in the spring. 

My lake is small and weekends are difficult because of all of the boaters when the bite starts, many of them are intrusive and come in within 20 feet, making lots of noise, etc.  I try to give everyone as much room as possible.  I will not enter an area that someone else is fishing.  I  am seeing more obnoxious boaters then ever before, I have even had people cut be off when backing up to put my boat in the water.

George

[sonar2000]

Happy Birthday George.  You now join harry and I.   I know what you are talking about with people and the "I am the only one here that counts"  not only on the lake but on the road.  We will just have to have patience because nothing will change them..  At least you can keep the worm secret from them and catch while they sit and watch.      Chuck

[George]

Chuck

My Birthday is in June I do not want to rush it, but thanks anyway.  This posting was done last year.

George

[sonar2000]

I know that.  but since  harry and I got older we wanted to start your celebration early just in case you were to forget.      chuck

[George]

You know Chuck I guess you are right, every day is a new day with a fresh start.  So I guess I am going to party for the rest of the year.  Truth be known live is good as long as there is another day on the lake and you have your family around you.

George

[sonar2000]

And of course the lucky wacky worm  on the hook.   chuck

[RzorbackAngler]

I used the wacky worm this spring with great success on Lake Ouachita in Arkansas.  I caught bass up to 4 lbs.  I'm using the japanese flick worm in Watermelon color.  This is sure a great technique... you can fish behind other anglers and still catch fish

[Patty]

don't limit yourselves to worms guys! we use gulp leeches more than worms now... they work great for us... I still use senko and such but usually the leeches out perform... wacky rig the floating ones on eighth ounce jig heads they flutter nicely and sit with the ends up on bottom... small mouths love them....