How to Hook a Plastic Worm for Bass Fishing

Bass fishing is on every angler’s ‘to do’ list because of the thrilling and challenging fight that this fish puts up after getting hooked. You can make the most of your fishing experience if you learn how to hook a plastic worm for bass fishing.

How to Hook a Plastic Worm for Bass Fishing

Plastic worms are an essential part of the tackle box for every season. Various ways of the presentation can get the bass to come up and bite these soft plastic lures and therefore, they always work for all anglers.

However, there are a few ways to hook the worm so that it moves naturally and is successful in getting the fish to come out of its place to try and eat it. You can try various ways to hook these lures and get the results you want. Some of the popular ways are

• Texas Rig
• Carolina Rig
• Wacky Rig
• Drop Shot Rig

Texas Rig

This is one of the most common ways of rigging a plastic worm. This rig works well in areas where there is heavy vegetation and rocky structures. The predator fish hides in dark places to catch fish, and this rig works like magic. You can set up this rig by following the easy steps

• Use a shank hook and pierce the head of the worm onto it
• Then again, pierce the worm almost a quarter of an inch below the first piercing
• Move the worm to the center of the hook and twist it
• The worm will appear to be hanging with its head on the hook
• Now, push the hook back into the body to make it weedless
• The final look is a curved worm that seems to be alive as its head is straight

If you rig the worm with a weight attached to the line, the rig is presented horizontally at the bottom of the lake. If you do not use a sinker, it moves horizontally towards the top of the water. Since the hook is covered, you can use this rig in heavy cover.

Carolina Rig

This rig allows the worm more natural movement, and so, it becomes irresistible for bass. The weight attached to the hook will help move this plastic horizontally. This soft lure seems to be squirming and trying to move forward.

• Use an egg sinker with the line, and a brass crackler or bead behind it
• Tie a barrel swivel to the end of the line
• Tie a leader to the other end of the barrel swivel
• Attach a hook at the end of the leader
• Hook the worm by piercing its head with the hook, and then moving it up and piercing it again. This will appear with its body hanging down as its head is on the hook

As the body of this lure is free, it moves naturally with the water. The rig appears to be a worm swimming at the bottom of the lake. The Carolina Rig works well for shallow areas where there is scanty weed growth.

Wacky Rig

You can use this rig without weight to move horizontally, although if you use a weight, it can be fished at the bottom of the lake. This rig can be used in various conditions and its name is probably due to the numerous ways in which it moves.

The trick is that the worm should be tied to the hook properly, and it should also be free enough to move in water as if it is twisting and turning as it goes horizontally in the water, or on the floor of the lake.

Wacky rig can be tied by using a soft plastic worm and tying it on the hook from the middle. So half of the worm is on one side, and half on the other. This rig works in all water conditions and the movement is always successful in attracting big bass.

Drop Shot Rig

Plastic worms work well because they look real. You may have noticed how a small change in the way you rig them can make a huge difference in different water conditions. The drop shot rig includes the use of a sinker tied to the line, and then the hook is attached.

You can set up a drop shot rig with ease and then for maximum success. This rig makes the worm move up and down as it slowly moves horizontally off the ground. The enticing movement can be a great way to explore clear water or even muddy water. Moreover, this rig works at all depths easily.

• Tie the hook to the line and keep almost a foot or little more from the loose line at the end
• Use the tag end to pass it through the hook eyelet. This will point the hook outwards
• You can attach the worm to the hook by hooking it through the nose
• Add a sinker at the end of the line

Which Rig Is Best?

Each way of hooking the worm is successful, however, some rigs work better in special water conditions. For example, the Texas Rig is a good choice for muddy water and the Carolina Rig can get in narrow and shallow places to find some big bass.

Anglers who want to know more about the various rigs must try them all when they head out to fish for bass the next time. The best way to know which rig will work for you at the lake you choose is to try it there.

The Top Worms for Bass

Artificial lures are a great way to catch fish, and once you learn to use worms in various ways, each of them will become a must-have item for you. The primary plastic worms used for bass fishing are

• Ribbon tail
• Finesse worm
• Wacky worm

Whichever rig you choose for presentation, these three worms can be used to get the type of results you want. Novice anglers want to be sure of what they use and what results to expect from each.

Ribbon Tail Worm

The ribbon tail worm is good for muddy waters, or when you need a subtle vibration and fast action. The water movement is mimicked by this worm easily and it seems to be a free worm trying to wiggle its way forward.

You can use ribbon tails in many different kinds of rigs as they are long, thin, and very agile. The name of these worms is due to their length and soft movement. Whichever fishing technique you use, this worm will move in water to get the big fish.

Finesse Worms

Finesse worms are a great choice for jigging and dragging and you can rig them in any way that you need. These worms are a good choice to move closer to the floor of the lake, and then jig it to make the tail wiggle as the worm seems to be coming out of the earth.

Wacky Worms

The wacky worm works with spinning and casting gear, which means that it will get you more bites because this soft plastic body moves freely in the water. As the worm moves with the water, it seems to glide. This movement is irresistible for bass.

Conclusion

The first step towards finding big bass in every season is to know how to hook a plastic worm for bass fishing. The various rigs can be useful in all water conditions, and seasons. Anglers must know which rig to try for the quickest and biggest catches.