5 Things to Know About Using Soft Plastic Worms for Bass

Soft plastic worms are some of the best bass lures to use when fishing areas of heavy vegetation during the warm summer months. Bass often prefer to congregate where they can find thick cover on summer days because the plant life provides shade while also helping to oxygenate the water. However, making the decisions about which worms to use depending on the area and conditions can be a bit of a challenge since there are many colors, sizes and styles available.

Here are a few helpful tips for selecting the right worms given the place you plan to fish and the water conditions:
 

1. Lighter worm colors are going to be more effective in clear water with good visibility. Try translucent baits in colors like gold, pearl, or smoke.

2. Darker colors are best to use in cloudy water with low visibility or at night. In these situations, go for colors like black, june bug, or dark blue.

3. On sunny days, use worms with metal flakes to take advantage of the reflecting light to attract fish.

4. The most popular worm sizes range between 5 and 12 inches. Use a 2/0 hook for worms between 5 to 8 inches and a 3/0 hook for worms between 9 to 12 inches.

5. Always have an assortment of u-tail and ribbon tail worms that are easy to rig Texas style. U-tails and ribbon tails will produce fish in a variety of water conditions.

6. Have a pack or two of salt-impregnated plastic stick baits on hand to rig wacky style on a weedless hook. Wacky style rigs can be very effective due to the fluttering motion created by the ends of the worm as it drops to the bottom.

Aside from these tips on color, size and style, the final key to using plastic worms effectively is to fish these baits slow. You'll notice a marked difference in the number of hits you get when you let the bait drop and just give the line a slow twitch every minute or two.

Debbie Hanson

Debbie Hanson is an award-winning outdoor writer, women’s sport fishing advocate, IGFA world record holder, and freshwater guide living in Southwest Florida. Hanson’s written work has appeared in publications such as Florida Game & Fish Magazine, BoatUS Magazine, and USA Today Hunt & Fish. To learn more about her work, visit shefishes2.com or follow her on Instagram @shefishes2.