| I've caught bass on crankbaits, spinners, | | | | the hook tip through the end of the head of |
| plugs and others. But for me, the most fun is | | | | the plastic and push it in about a quarter of |
| plastic worms on a Texas Rig. Don't get me | | | | an inch. Now run the hook tip out of the |
| wrong, catching a largemouth bass is catching | | | | plastic bait (belly side) and push the bait |
| a largemouth bass, and I'd gladly catch one | | | | up the hook towards the eye. Bury the tip of |
| with my mother's toe nail if they'd bite it. | | | | the hook into the bait near the abdomen or |
| What's my fascination with plastic worms and | | | | egg sac.Some people push it all the way |
| the Texas Rig?Simplicity in changing baits | | | | through and snug the hook tip near the body |
| from color to color and style, they are | | | | (on the backside or top). This allows for |
| weedless and effective. But there's more to | | | | better hook set, but results in more snags. I |
| it. I love them because I feel they are more | | | | like to push it through just before it breaks |
| interactive and you have to fool the bass | | | | out of the back where I can feel that it will |
| more than with other baits.If you throw out a | | | | pop through easily. If you do this, be sure |
| worm and just reel it in, you are not likely | | | | to set the hook hard to penetrate the |
| to catch many fish. You have to know how to | | | | plastic.When you cast the bait, let it settle |
| work it and you have to be very patient in | | | | all the way to the bottom and give it several |
| your presentation and when the fish | | | | seconds before moving it. Sometimes the |
| hits.Sometimes the strike will be like an | | | | longer you wait, the better luck you will |
| explosion, and you and bass both know what's | | | | have. Even 30 seconds or more.Try different |
| happening. Others it's very subtle. Sometimes | | | | presentations from very slow to moderate |
| you won't even know the bass has it until you | | | | (never very fast). I usually give the bait 1 |
| reel in the slack and feel something | | | | or 2 short pumps, let it fall while reeling |
| different going on. Maybe there should be | | | | in the slack, then give it 2 or 3 pumps. Be |
| slack in the line but it's getting tight. Or | | | | careful. Always reel in the slack, but more |
| vice-versa. Or maybe you can see the line | | | | often than not that's when you'll get the |
| going sideways in the water.That's one of my | | | | bite. They often hit it on the fall, so |
| favorites because you have to know the right | | | | expect something every time you bring in the |
| time to set the hook. Set it too soon and the | | | | slack.You can try longer pumps, like bring |
| largemouth may not have it in it's mouth | | | | the line in 2 or 3 feet then let it settle. |
| good. Set it too late and it might have spit | | | | Try moving it painfully slow, try bouncing it |
| it out. That's exciting; and frustrating.The | | | | quicker, try swimming it very slowly across |
| Texas rigged plastic worm (you can use it for | | | | the bottom and whatever else you can think |
| other plastics, too) is very portable. If you | | | | of. When something works, stick with it.Use |
| want to hike around the lake and fish the | | | | the worms around vegetation and rocks. My |
| shore, don't lug your whole tackle box. Just | | | | best luck has been around trees in the water. |
| get a worm pouch, load it with a few favorite | | | | Sometimes there will be trees that hang out |
| styles, colors, hooks and sinkers, stuff it | | | | into the water. These are hot spots for |
| in your back pocket and hit the trail.Plus, | | | | bass.One trick I learned by accident is to |
| you can change lures on the fly. Once your | | | | cast the Texas Rig out over a weak limb |
| Texas Rig is set up, it's a matter of pulling | | | | hanging over the water. You want a weak limb |
| the bait off the hook and sliding another on. | | | | because you want it to break or collapse when |
| No knots to retie. This gives you freedom to | | | | the bass hits, and it will. I move that |
| explore different colors and styles of | | | | plastic worm up and down, in and out of the |
| plastics in a hurry.In a Texas Rig, the | | | | water to tease and annoy the bass. If there's |
| sinker is a bullet slip sinker that rides | | | | one there, you'll get a strike.Happy |
| freely on the line with nothing else between | | | | fishin'---- |
| the rod and the bait (the benefit is that the | | | | |
| bass cannot feel the sinker when it strikes). | | | | By Bobby IvieBobby Ivie is an avid fishman |
| This drags the plastic bait down and allows | | | | and owner of He makes the biggest part of |
| it to bounce or swim along the bottom.To set | | | | his living on the Internet, |
| it up just run your line through a bullet | | | | NetBizWorkshop.netThis article may be |
| slip sinker (best sizes are from 3/8 oz. to | | | | reprinted as long as this source box is added |
| an ounce) and tie the line to a worm hook | | | | and the source box hyperlinks are kept |
| size 2 or 3. The twisted ones help with | | | | intact. |
| hookset.Once you have the hooked tied on, run | | | | |