| The variety of soft plastic baits for
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| | their flotation ability with various
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| bass is mind boggling. The choices
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| | hooks, so some experimentation is
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| available just in worms alone, are enough
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| | necessary to produce the desired results.
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| to cause confusion with the novice
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| | One problem with floating worms is that
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| angler, and hours of debate among the
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| | they look no different than standard
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| more experienced. What size? color?,
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| | worms. Keep your floaters in a separate
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| straight tail? curly tail?, salt or no
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| | bag or box in the original bag to keep
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| salt?; what rig to use them on,
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| | them from getting mixed up with the
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| drop-shot? Carolina rigged?, weightless?,
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| | regular worms.The "critter" baits such as
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| when are the best times to use each one?
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| | the soft plastic crayfish, lizards,
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| Then add in the endless variety of
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| | frogs, and hellgrammites, also catch a
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| lizards, grubs, jerkbaits, freakbaits,
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| | lot of big bass. The craw type baits
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| tubes, and creatures, and you end up with
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| | often have air pockets not only in the
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| more questions than answers. In the
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| | main body, but in the claws as well.
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| following article I will try to list the
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| | Claws with air pockets float up off the
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| most effective plastic baits and
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| | bottom, putting it in a defensive posture
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| presentations that catch not only
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| | that triggers strikes from bass that are
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| numbers, but big bass as well, whether it
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| | fooled into believing it is a real
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| is in a lake, pond or river, just about
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| | crayfish. Experiment with different rigs,
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| anywhere in the country. There will
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| | scents, and rattles in these baits until
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| always be a new type of bait that one
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| | you find the most productive in that
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| person or the other claims is better than
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| | particular area. The floating worms and
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| the others, but the following baits and
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| | critters don't replace the old standbys,
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| techniques will cover most any situation
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| | but they add another dimension to your
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| that you are likely to encounter.Plastic
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| | fishing.Tube BaitsThere are as many
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| WormsThe original artificial worm
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| | different tube baits as there are worms,
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| manufactured by Nick Creme, in 1949, was
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| | and more and more variations arrive each
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| a standard straight tailed worm, but it
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| | year. Some of the best tube baits we have
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| spawned generations of worm companies and
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| | used for catching bedding bass, and bass
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| hundreds of soft plastic lure designs
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| | that are holding in tight to cover, are
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| that are the mainstay of modern bass
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| | listed below.Ringed TubesMany bait
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| fishing.Straight tailed worms are just
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| | manufacturers have incorporated rings
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| that--straight, with no bends or kinks in
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| | into their tube designs. Rings add bulk,
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| the middle, no curly tails, paddle tails,
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| | trap air bubbles, and feel soft and
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| no air pockets, no flotation, nothing
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| | lifelike to the bass. They allow for
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| special at all, just a worm. Regardless
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| | better hookups by reducing the amount of
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| of their plain appearance, many times
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| | plastic that the hook has to penetrate.
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| straight tailed worms are much more
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| | The first tube we ever bought that had
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| effective than other fancier styles. This
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| | this feature was a 4 1/2 inch tube made
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| was proven to us first hand one day in a
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| | by Larew. These baits are made with an
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| New York tournament. The bass absolutely
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| | injection-mold, rather than a dip
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| refused to hit any other style of worm
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| | process, which is what you need to do to
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| except a 6 inch straight tail in black,
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| | make a ringed bait. A lot of manufactures
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| with a tiny bit of blue fleck in it. If
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| | are now adding a skirt to the ringed
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| you didn't have that particular style of
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| | tube, which gives it even more bulk and a
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| worm, you were out of the money that day.
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| | slower fall. The pulsating motion of the
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| Straight tailed worms are often at their
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| | skirt and tail seem to come alive when
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| best when bass are suspicious of anything
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| | rigged Texas or Carolina style, or used a
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| out of the ordinary, such as in highly
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| | jig trailer.Solid HeadThe first solid
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| pressured tournament lakes. Many times in
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| | head tube was introduced right after
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| these situations the bass are put off by
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| | Denny Brauer won the classic. It is made
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| a curly tail waving in the current. But
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| | by Strike King, but now there are many
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| the opposite can be true for the same
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| | more manufacturers. This was a great
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| fish, in the same lake, when they are on
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| | innovation, since it gave standard worm
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| their beds during the spawn. Many times,
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| | hooks enough plastic in which to gain a
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| the movement of a curly tail will cause
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| | firm hold. The main problem with finesse
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| the extra enticement you need to catch
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| | tubes is that the thin noses won't stay
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| them. Plastic worms aren't at their best
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| | put on worm hooks.After these tubes came
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| in cold water, but then nothing is. When
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| | out, many other new innovations followed,
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| the water is cold, bass will feed only
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| | such as longer and fatter tubes. Now
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| occasionally, and whether it is spring,
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| | there are many tubes in the 4 1/2 and 5
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| fall, or winter, the slow, slightly
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| | inch sizes. There are even bigger tubes
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| twitchy retrieve with a straight tail
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| | than that, they are Saltwater tubes,
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| worm will work wonders. But the key to
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| | which we have used successfully in the
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| this is working the worm slowly, only
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| | California Delta for BIG bass. Oversized
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| twitching it occasionally, allowing the
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| | tubes also are easier for bass to find in
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| worm to stay in the strike zone as long
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| | cover or muddy water.Tube CrittersThe 5
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| as possible, where the sluggish bass will
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| | inch Sala Tube from Mister Twister,
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| notice, and possibly hit it.These worms
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| | features a solid head and a body shaped
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| also work well for bedding bass, but
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| | like a salamander. This bait also has
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| don't hesitate to put on a small curly
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| | eyes. This is part of the Exude line of
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| tail worm if the bass won't pick up the
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| | baits, which contains a water soluble
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| straight tail. The fact that most
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| | scent that gives the plastic a slimy feel
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| straight tail worms are not floating
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| | when wet. These baits work very well on
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| models can be an advantage. While
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| | bedding bass in lakes all over the
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| floating worms have a lot to offer in
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| | country. Because it has a lizard type
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| terms of waving around just off the
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| | shape it produces a stronger reaction
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| bottom, bass are in the habit of
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| | from bedding bass than a regular tube
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| searching and feeding off the bottom.
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| | does. We like to use this tube in heavy
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| Eels, worms, crayfish, nymphs, frogs, and
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| | cover also, on 20-25 pound test line.
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| other prey are often found there.
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| | When we fish real nasty cover, we use it
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| Smallmouth in particular make a habit of
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| | on a jig with braided line, such as
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| routing in the rocks and gravel to find a
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| | "Spiderline."Another new type of tube is
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| meal. Plastic worms, rigged weedless, and
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| | the tube craw. This bait mimics a
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| worked slowly across the bottom, look
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| | crawfish well, and can be worked in all
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| more like natural prey trying to hide and
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| | types of cover. Another craw type tube
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| escape than something floating off the
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| | bait is the Yum Craw Bug. The tail of
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| bottom and waving around.To accomplish
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| | this bait is curled under like a crawfish
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| this, the standard Texas rig with a
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| | on the move. We always use this tube when
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| bullet weight is best. The Texas rig
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| | fishing for bass that have received a lot
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| keeps the worm from getting hung up, and
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| | of pressure. It seems to get strikes from
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| the weight gets the worm to the bottom
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| | heavily pressured bass that you wouldn't
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| and keeps it there. The Carolina rig is
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| | normally get. We usually rig this bait on
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| another option for the straight tail
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| | a 3/0 or 4/0 Gamakatsu hook, with a 3/16
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| worm. This type of rig allows for a
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| | ounce bullet sinker, and 14-20 pound test
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| deeper, slower, even retrieve. The
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| | Spiderline Mono. They make a small 2 inch
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| straight tail worm, and even retrieve,
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| | craw now also, which we use for
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| make this rig resemble an eel, although
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| | drop-shotting. I like to use the Craw
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| in smaller sizes, the bass may see it as
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| | tube in muddy water, because it is more
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| a slim baitfish, or even a large
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| | buoyant than regular tubes and moves more
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| dragonfly nymph.We found that these
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| | water. Rattles can also be added to this
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| straight tail worms are excellent for
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| | tube to increase it's effectiveness in
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| fishing in the river. We cast them across
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| | muddy or stained water. There is also a
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| the current, using a high rod technique,
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| | tube now called a Fork Craw, which I like
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| to minimize drag and allow the worm to
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| | to use when fishing grass. It is thinner
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| drift with the current. Often a little
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| | and slides through vegetation more easily
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| twitch will provoke a strike, but the
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| | and presents a smaller profile which is
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| twitch should be subtle, just enough to
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| | great for clearer water.Another new type
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| move the worm a little bit. We also cast
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| | of tube is the Double-tail tube, which
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| the worm straight upstream, which works
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| | has two curled tails that appear as
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| very well in the rivers since they
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| | wings. Luck "E" Strike also makes a new
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| require less weight to sink naturally and
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| | tube called a "Ring Daddy." It was
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| can be fished dead with the current to
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| | designed by Rick Clunn who believes the
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| resemble a dead or dying shad or other
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| | rings give off a hydrodynamic signal that
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| baitfish. Both Texas and exposed hook
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| | appeals to bass. I have used this bait
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| riggings work, but the Texas seems to be
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| | effectively when pitching and flipping.
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| the best if there are any snags or it is
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| | When we need to skip a tube under docks,
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| a rough, rocky bottom. Tackle is
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| | we like to use Strike King's new baits
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| important when fishing straight tail
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| | called the Tube Craw, Wild Thang and Tube
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| worms, since much of the fishing depends
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| | lizard. They have smooth bodies which
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| on slow techniques. I like to use a real
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| | make them ideal skipping baits. I use
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| sensitive rod, such as a G. Loomis, with
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| | them on a 4/0 hook with a 5/16 ounce
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| the reel spooled with a sensitive line,
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| | bullet weight. The Wild is a great bait
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| such as Stren Sensor, or any other
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| | for after the spawn, and it catches huge
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| sensitive line. Using an outfit like this
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| | bass. It is 5 inches long, has a hollow
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| makes it easier to detect strikes, but
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| | body, and a shredded tail. I always use
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| you should always maintain contact with
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| | this bait when I believe the bass are
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| the worm, even when Deadsticking it. I
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| | looking upward. I like it in the summer
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| like to use a small weight to accomplish
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| | months, and I have fished it with a
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| this. Cross-stream casts in the current
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| | swimming motion very successfully. The
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| will usually maintain some tension, but
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| | tube lizard is a great bait for the
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| upstream casts require a retrieve as fast
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| | spawn, through the post spawn period.Soft
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| as the current to keep slack out of the
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| | JerkbaitsSoft Jerkbaits like the Zoom
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| line and make sure that you detect all
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| | Super Fluke are great substitutes for a
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| the strikes.Straight tail worms are also
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| | hard Jerkbaits when the grass is too
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| great for deep jigging. The jigging
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| | thick to use a hard bait with treble
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| action makes the worm seem alive without
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| | hooks. This bait was the best producer
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| a curly tail waving around in the water.
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| | for the top ten finishers in the finals
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| Again, the key here is sensitive tackle,
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| | at Lake Gaston. We had tried many other
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| as the bass will often hit the worm on
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| | baits that day, but the Fluke was the
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| the fall. Straight tail worms are serious
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| | winner, hands down.There are a variety of
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| bass takers. If a bass follows another
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| | different rigging techniques for soft
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| type of worm but doesn't take it, then
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| | plastic Jerkbaits, but I want the maximum
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| try a straight stick of a worm. They may
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| | action I can get with this bait, so I use
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| not look like much, but can take serious
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| | a really large offset hook made by Eagle
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| limits of bass when they are off their
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| | Claw. This hook is bigger than what most
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| normal feed.Worms/Floating Worms, &
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| | anglers use for the Fluke, but the bigger
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| CrittersFirst, almost all plastic worms
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| | hook not only adds casting weight, but it
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| float. Usually, just adding any hook to
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| | shifts the weight to the rear of the bait
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| the worm is enough to sink it. This
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| | and causes an exaggerated "walk-the-dog"
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| allows a variety of bottom presentations,
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| | action on the retrieve. It's a great bait
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| but they are not that great for working
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| | for bass in weed pockets, or in deeper,
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| on the surface as a topwater. True
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| | thinner grass like the situation we ran
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| floating worms have air blown into the
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| | into on Lake Gaston. This bait definitely
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| PVC mix to create enough flotation to
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| | gave you an advantage that day. I use a
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| keep them on the surface. Many times over
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| | light/dark pattern with these baits, but
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| thicker cover these worms shine. When the
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| | occasionally go to colors like watermelon
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| bass are active, and would be hitting a
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| | and green pumpkin, in the clearer water
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| buzzbait, or other topwater bait, but the
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| | sometimes. I use this bait a lot in place
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| cover doesn't allow it, these floating
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| | of a surface bait like a rat, and if a
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| and curly tail worms, can be fished right
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| | bass blows up on it and misses, which
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| on the surface, and worked quickly over
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| | happens a lot in heavy scum and grass,
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| thicker vegetation like a buzzbait. This
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| | then I just maneuver the bait to the hole
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| has drawn some tremendous strikes
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| | created by the bass and let it sink. Most
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| throughout lakes and rivers all over the
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| | of the time the bass will still be there
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| country. Most of these floating worms
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| | and take the Fluke on the drop, something
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| will float with a hook up to about a 3/0.
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| | I can't do with the rat.All of these
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| Some of the more popular companies that
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| | baits and more can be very effective for
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| manufacture these worms are Riverside,
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| | big bass at times. At night I use a 10-12
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| Bass Pro Shops, Culprit, Bass Assassin,
| |
| | inch worm for some huge bass. But none of
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| Creme and others. Carolina Fish and Fur
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| | these baits will work for the beginner or
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| offer some great hand made floating
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| | intermediate angler unless you are
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| worms. Most of the companies also make
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| | fishing in the right spot. Some of the
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| other floating baits, such as Mann's, who
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| | best advice I can give is: Fish slowly,
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| calls them Floating Creatures, and they
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| | when you think you're fishing slowly,
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| come in frog and lizard shapes.Air pocket
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| | slow down some more. Fish some of the
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| worms have a bunch of pockets of air,
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| | smaller lakes and rivers. With emphasis
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| such as the Riverside Air Worm, and
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| | on tournaments, many anglers forget about
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| others have single large pockets, like on
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| | the great fishing in some of the smaller
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| the Culprit Burst worms. Bass Pro Shops
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| | lakes and rivers that you can't fish in a
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| sold some worms a few years back that we
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| | bass boat.Don't make your fishing too
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| had a lot of luck with, that were called
| |
| | complicated. Use a few basic baits to
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| Caterpillar worms. They have a prickly or
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| | start, then expand after you have learned
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| spiny exterior that holds air bubbles.
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| | how to use those starter baits. Find the
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| Most of these worms not only take numbers
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| | right depth; You can't catch fish if you
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| of bass, but also take big bass. We have
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| | fish above them or below them. Learn how
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| been in many tournaments where the big
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| | to use the electronics on your boat
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| bass was taken on a small worm or
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| | properly.Fish as often as you can,
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| creature bait. These floating baits also
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| | nothing can replace the knowledge you get
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| work well when rigged to work over deeper
| |
| | from being on the water a lot. The first
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| structure such as brushpiles or weedbeds.
| |
| | few years I started fishing, we spent at
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| A lot of these worms are designed to hold
| |
| | least 8 hours a day, 3 or 4 days a week
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| different scents also. Some are designed
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| | fishing. Get out on the water as much as
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| to have the scents injected right inside
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| | you can, nothing replaces hands on
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| of the worm. All floating worms vary in
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| | experience.
|
