| Over the past several years the sinking | | | | out of heavy structure and in thick weeds. This |
| stickworm has not only brought plastic lures back | | | | rig provides great hooksetting ability, as the hook |
| into the mainstream, it has produced an incredible | | | | does not have to travel through the plastic to get |
| number of catches and become a staple in bass | | | | to the lip of the fish. |
| boxes across the world. The Senko was | | | | Simply cast the stickbait out and let it do its slow |
| introduced by Gary Yamamoto several years ago | | | | fall. Be sure to keep your line fairly tight as a lot |
| and this soft jerkbait has become a favorite | | | | of hits occur while the bait is sinking. You really |
| presentation of mine as well as a solid fish | | | | have to focus on your line as fish will swim up to |
| catching bait in practically any condition. There are | | | | the bait and inhale it slowly and you won't see or |
| several companies who have jumped on the | | | | feel a big strike. When the bait has hit the bottom |
| bandwagon and produced a similar stickbait. This | | | | and is just resting, I always let it sit there for |
| list includes the Yum Dinger, Berkley Sinking | | | | about 2or 3 minutes. I know this sounds a bit |
| Minnow, Tiki Stick, Strike King Zero and my all | | | | boring but this method produces a lot of catches |
| time favorite, the Gambler Ace. These worms | | | | for me. After the stickbait has been sitting for a |
| are heavily impregnated with salt, which makes | | | | while, slowly lift your rod tip, then let it down and |
| the bass want to hang on and not let go! Some | | | | reel in the slack as the bait starts the falling |
| of them are even coated with scents like garlic | | | | pattern again. I like to give the stickbait a few |
| and anise to make them more appealing. I would | | | | jerks now and then on a slack line as it will dance |
| like to discuss three rigging methods that I have | | | | around a bit and encourage nice strikes. One |
| found to be the most strike producing worm | | | | mistake that most anglers make is to set the |
| methods. They are the Texas rig, the jig rig and | | | | hook too early when using a stickbait. When you |
| the wacky rig. We will also discuss presentation | | | | feel or see a hit take place, just relax for a |
| and color as well. | | | | moment and allow the fish to take the bait |
| When you first study the stickbait, you might | | | | before you set the hook. I know this can be |
| realize that it looks like a plain, simple non-fancy | | | | frustrating and you are probably wondering how |
| worm. Yamamoto actually got the idea for this | | | | many fish you will lose by following this method, |
| worm from the shape of the old Bic Click ink | | | | but when the fish actually takes the bait you |
| pens. There is really nothing about this worm that | | | | almost have a guaranteed catch! Many times they |
| really jumps out and grabs you. I have had people | | | | come up to the bait just to get a taste and when |
| tell me "It looks like that worm won't do anything" | | | | the taste the salt, they grab it again and won't let |
| which is precisely what it's supposed to do! It's | | | | go. |
| been labeled the "do nothing worm" which explains | | | | Jig Rig |
| the slow horizontal fall that the worm is most | | | | This presentation is used when fish are suspended |
| famous for. This horizontal fall drives fish | | | | and you are having problems getting them to hit. |
| absolutely crazy and produces a multitude of | | | | With a 3" or 4" stickbait and a 1/8oz jig head you |
| strikes. When the bass see this bait, they consider | | | | can keep the bait in the "zone" for a longer period |
| it to be a nice meal and something that will not | | | | of time thus resulting in more strikes. I use 1 |
| require a big chase to capture. The majority of | | | | 16oz to ¼oz jigs depending on the speed |
| my hits have occurred while the bait is on the | | | | of the fall I am trying to accomplish. Depending on |
| slow downward descent, but I receive many hits | | | | the structure you are fishing, the jig stickbait can |
| when the bait is sitting on the bottom doing | | | | be jerked, dragged or skipped across the bottom |
| nothing. | | | | just like you would a bass jig or tube bait. Weed |
| These stickbaits come in so many colors and | | | | lines and ledges are a great place to run this bait |
| combinations that it's impossible to list them all. | | | | as long as hang-ups are not a big issue. I like to |
| When selecting your colors, take a look around | | | | go to this presentation when nothing else is |
| you and see what colors are the most prevalent. | | | | working. It is a finesse presentation that will put |
| You have heard fly fishermen say, "match the | | | | fish in the bag for you. |
| hatch", this is exactly what you are trying to | | | | Wacky Rig |
| accomplish when choosing colors of plastics. My | | | | This has been a favorite presentation of worm |
| best producing colors whether fishing in a | | | | fishermen for a long time and it is just as deadly |
| tournament or just practicing on a local shore has | | | | when wacky rigging the stickbait. You should |
| been watermelon black flake, watermelon red, | | | | downsize your hook a bit to a 1/0 or 2/0 size |
| watermelon gold flake, pumpkin with chartreuse | | | | when presenting the wacky rig. I like to cast the |
| tail and my #1 color is Junebug. I would suggest | | | | stickbait out and let it sink and sit for a few |
| you try these colors first and see how they fair | | | | minutes. I then began my retrieve, but instead of |
| for you as many of us fish primarily much of the | | | | slowly raising my rod tip I shake the tip on the |
| same waters in Colorado. | | | | way up and then let the bait fall. You must be |
| Texas Rig--Weightless/Weedless | | | | careful not to get the wacky worm in thick grass |
| I prefer to fish this rig with no weight at all unless | | | | or structure, as the hook is not weedless. Holes in |
| I am somewhere down South where I have to | | | | structure as well as weedlines that are adjacent |
| punch through extra heavy weed cover to get | | | | to open water areas are great places to try this |
| the stickbait in the water. In Colorado, I have | | | | technique out. Sometimes you will just want to |
| always fished this rig weightless. This allows for | | | | bounce the stickbait across the bottom by jerking |
| the slow horizontal fall to take place and will | | | | it on a stack line, especially in shallow water areas. |
| produce the most strikes. These stickbaits come | | | | This will give the bait a swimming action, which will |
| in a variety of sizes from 3" up to 8". We will | | | | produce violent strikes. Rocks that are slightly |
| focus on a 5" and 6" model, which is the most | | | | under the water's surface are one of my favorite |
| used size according to all the manufacturers. | | | | areas to focus on when wacky worming. I cast |
| Depending on the conditions and what size hooks | | | | beyond the rock structure, let the rig fall and sit a |
| you have available, you should try and use a 3/0 | | | | while, then start shaking it up the far side of the |
| hook as a minimum and up to a 5/0 size. The | | | | rock. I will then bring it over the top of the rock |
| hook I would recommend is the Gamakatsu EWG | | | | and slightly shake it down the front of the rock. I |
| or the Gamakatsu G Lock. These hooks are | | | | was using this technique in a medium size farm |
| sharp right out of the package and will ensure | | | | pond in Larimer County Colorado several months |
| good hookups. The nice thing about this rig is you | | | | ago and this technique enabled me to catch 11 |
| can run it through about anything and remain | | | | smallmouth in the 3lb and 4lb range in about an |
| weedless. I use this rig to skip under docks, in and | | | | hour. |