Fishing with a plastic worm

I went to my favorite tackle shop today so I could stock up on some plastic worms. With the hot weather upon us I am concentrating on building up my plastic worm supply so I can get down deep to those fish. Last month we talked about colors and sizes that I use. I like the 8?flip tails the best. I have a really nice motor oil color worm with shades of watermelon red in it. It works really well around here. I抦 sticking with the number 3 worm hooks. I generally use the Texas Style rigging method. I fish lakes and ponds with a lot of heavy cover; it seems the Texas Rigs are best for fishing those conditions. The Carolina rig also works well. You just have to get a feel for areas you fish in. The more you fish a place, the more knowledgeable and comfortable you become with that area.

Be aware of the wind directions, clearness of the water, and even possible approaching storm systems. Fish change the actions based on the conditions just as you and I would. My best fishing days have been those when I am by myself, the quiet solitude puts the advantage in my favor. I am able to slip up on lurking bass in the shadows or moss much easier. That is serious fishing that you can really get in tune with. There is also that day when the whole family goes fishing with you. You might not catch a lot on those days, but the joy one gets from being in nature with those you love more than makes up for the detoured fishing time.

The general rule in worm fishing is to use light or natural colors in clear water and then move to the darker color worms in cloudy or dirty water. You can actually use different sizes of worms for many different kinds of fish. With a well stocked worm box, one can be pretty successful, no matter what fish you are seeking.

Look for submerged structures and rocks in the water, also those shaded areas from trees or docks. Look at the water closely and you can tell where the shallows and drop-offs are. When you see the spot where you think those bass are lurking, cast past it five to ten yards. Work your worm back in, altering your retrieval patterns, bouncing off the bottom or letting it sink and settle a bit. The best luck I have had from a boat is trolling horizontal with the shore line and casting close to the bank and working that worm back to the boat. Really pay attention to rocky points that jet out into the water. Throw your worm crossways past the point and bounce it up over the point and back to the boat. For those who are fishing a plastic worm on the bank, the style is a little different. Cast on the edges of those shadows, up and down each side of the points, or along the outside edges of the moss beds. When the bass start biting, mimic that same retrieve the best you can until they stop biting. Then find a new spot and go again!

Bass are pretty predictable animals. They are predators that love to ambush their prey. Be aware of the weather forecast. My grandpa used to say if the barometric pressure was up, bass will be deep. Bass don抰 have to exert as much energy in deep water during high pressure as they would in shallow water. If that barometer drops, bass will get active and head for shallow water.

Know the cover in the lake or pond you plan to fish. Be aware of the depth of the water you抣l be fishing in. It抯 important to find what the bass are feeding on. Ask other anglers, or look in the stomachs of the fish you catch. When you know the situation you抮e facing. I don抰 hurt to draw maps of you fishing hole. When the water is down you should go take a good look at that spot. Make note of downed trees, stumps or even boulders that are usually submerged. I did this two years ago and found the reason I was having such good luck in an area of one of my favorite ponds was there were downed trees and stumps all over a sloped area I loved to fish. Do your homework before going to that fishing hole. You will have vast knowledge where and how to fish those plastic worms. You抣l spend less time experimenting with lures and more time catching fish!