Why So Few Floating Plastic Worms? 2024
waskeyc reply :
I’ve been puzzled by the scarcity of floating plastic worms on the market for bass fishing. There are a few, mostly marketed for topwater, but the vast majority of plastic worms sink. Add the weight of a hook, and they sink even faster. Now for putting a worm on a jig, a Texas rig, wacky rig, or whatever, having sinking worm is just fine.
But when it comes to Carolina rigs, doesn’t a floating worm make a lot of sense? Cast out, wait for the rig to sink to the bottom, but the worm floats up a few inches, right in front of the bass’s face. Reel in, and sinker drags through the bottom debris, attracting attention, while the worm floats along just above, in plain view. Is there a tough bite leaving the bass hidden in bottom rocks and roots after a cold front? Just let the worm sit, floating just above the bottom, tantalizing the slow-moving fish. As has been mentioned on another thread, people have been trailing crankbaits behind Carolina rigs for years.
We have lures for a wide range of depths from the surface down, and weighted lures for bottom fishing. Since most fish orient to the bottom, rather than a specific depth (open water thermocline excluded), having a lure that could be fished at “bottom plus X” makes a lot of sense.
So why does this not seem to be common practice? Is it difficult to make floating plastic worms? Does it turn out that a worm laying on the bottom is just as effective? Are people already doing this and the lure makers haven’t caught on yet? What do you think?
Teal reply :
Find worms that dont have ANY or a low amouunt of salt. Another trick (as long as water isnt super clear) is to use a heavy mono to help that worm float.
I dont really have an answr as to why. But i have found boat dragging a soft plastic and having one withand a littlea bouyancy are efective
Teal reply :
Both, not boat oops....
webertime reply :
Hag's Tornado's float (at least for a very long time before sinking)
ALL of the Strike King and Z-Man Elaztech baits float. I use the Rage Shrimp and Hag's f5 Tornado a lot and have great success DS'ing and C-Riging them.
Comfortably Numb reply :
Basically comes down to the plastic used. Additives must be added to get it to float. These additives (microbubbles) make the bait stiff and much less durable.
Some people make just the tails of a trick type worm in the float plastic and this works well.
grampa1114 reply :
Go to www.floatworm.weebly.com and tell Jim that Grampa sent you.
Diggy reply :
zman worms n lizards from wally world do the trick, cheap and last for manyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy fish
waskeyc reply :
I will have to give these Z-Man ElaZtech worms a try.
wnybassman reply :
Plastic by itself floats pretty good. All my hand pours float right back to the surface if I strip the bait off on a hookset. Commercial baits are loaded with salt because salt is cheaper than plastic by volume.
Jaiden reply :
Strike King Zeros used to be my go to bait for wacky or Texas rigging. However, after a few fish on one they'd fill with air pockets and float. You could try those.
TourPT reply :
Xcite baits makes some floaters in different styles from worms to craws and shads and such. Can't say how well they work yet for I just purchased a few bags and we have ice here, but they look like some good baits.
Sam reply :
On 1/24/2013 at 11:50 PM, Teal said:Find worms that dont have ANY or a low amouunt of salt. Another trick (as long as water isnt super clear) is to use a heavy mono to help that worm float.I dont really have an answr as to why. But i have found boat dragging a soft plastic and having one withand a littlea bouyancy are efective
Yep. Go on-line and look for salt-free worms and they will float.
Also, hit the fly fishing store and get some paste to put on your line so it will float.
Check out this site: http://www.probass.net/protips/JeffBruhl/jb25.php
Good luck.
flipin4bass reply :
Remember the Terminator Cyber Flex baits? Man, I miss those baits, I use to haul em in using their lizard and creature baits. I think some other company (VMC maybe?) bought the company and then shut the line down. I also remember that you couldn't mix them with other plastics or they would melt, but other than that, they would float up to the sky.
KYntucky Warmouth reply :
On 1/25/2013 at 5:07 PM, flipin4bass said:I also remember that you couldn't mix them with other plastics or they would melt
Elaztech will do the same....always keep them seperate.
WRB reply :
Most hand poured soft plastic worms are not salt imptregnated , the salt is usually sprinkled into the poly bag that contains the worms, or onto the belly of the poured worm. One exception is Roboworms, an automated "hand pour", that uses salt brine mixed in the plastic. The notion that Roboworms, Iovino worms, Uptom's and other hand poured worms don't float is nonsense, they all float. Hand pours may not float like a air filled plastic worm, they still will raise to the surface when submerged without any added weight. These worms will not float a standard wire worm hook, the tail end will still rise off the bottom. If you use a light wire or small drop shot hook, these worms become nearly neutral in buoyancy.
High production injection molded worms tend to sink due to the type of soft plastic they are made with. Highly salt impregnated soft plastics will sink; like a Senko!
Tom
MCS reply :
On 1/25/2013 at 7:06 AM, waskeyc said:I will have to give these Z-Man ElaZtech worms a try.
I ran across set the hook baits. They have some hand poured floating worms.
Dingah reply :
On 1/24/2013 at 11:50 PM, Teal said:Find worms that dont have ANY or a low amouunt of salt. Another trick (as long as water isnt super clear) is to use a heavy mono to help that worm float.I dont really have an answr as to why. But i have found boat dragging a soft plastic and having one withand a littlea bouyancy are efective
This is true! And if you dont know if your bait has salt in it or not, just stick it in your mouth and if you dont taste salt, your worm is salt free! (just a little trick i do to see if my worms have salt or not 
)
-Ryan
Silas reply :
On 1/25/2013 at 1:27 AM, grampa1114 said:Go to www.floatworm.weebly.com and tell Jim that Grampa sent you.
I've been using these a couple of weeks and find that they are FANTASTIC!!
The Craw bait has been particularly successful: try it with a 2/0 hook, 6 inches line, a plastic Carolina Keeper, a reg glass bead, and a 1/8 oz tungsten bullet weight. Floats off the bottom.
Very good personal service from Jim!
je1946 reply :
Manns Jelly worms when they first came out floated, don't know if the new ones do. Little trick I use when I c-rig I put a small piece of pipe insulation up ahead of the hook ,with the bigger worms, and lizards it's tough but it will keep them up long enough to slow the rate of fall, when using tubes or the paca craws I stuff them with the pipe insulation works like a charm takes awhile to learn how much U need but after a while you get the hang of it.
gallowaypt reply :
I found a Gambler floating worm at bass pro.
Primus reply :
On 1/25/2013 at 3:58 PM, TourPT said:Xcite baits makes some floaters in different styles from worms to craws and shads and such. Can't say how well they work yet for I just purchased a few bags and we have ice here, but they look like some good baits.
Xcite baits are the real deal. Their Maximus worm profile was copied by Yum but is a much better bait due to it being bouyant. The Raptor tail junior makes a nice bulky jig trailer.
grampa1114 reply :
Check out Float-it worms 7" worm video at...www.floatworm.weebly.com.....awesome....
TNBassin' reply :
ZMAN worms float great. They make some great drop shot baits.
joe475 reply :
On 1/30/2013 at 8:30 AM, Silas said:I've been using these a couple of weeks and find that they are FANTASTIC!!
The Craw bait has been particularly successful: try it with a 2/0 hook, 6 inches line, a plastic Carolina Keeper, a reg glass bead, and a 1/8 oz tungsten bullet weight. Floats off the bottom.
Very good personal service from Jim!
Your right Silas and Grampa
I too been using the same worm. When I email jim he told me all Ztech (zman) plastics melt. Hes plastics are the real thing and they are 100% plastic with a addative in it. Plus I can use a 3/0 hook to make it float. But your right silas a 2/0 will make it float real high on a Caroline keeper. I like 4 foot leaders. and it floats like jim said. I asked Jim about melting and he told me the floatit will not melt with your other plastics. I try putting a bag togther and they have not melted yet. To me they are very flexable and catch couple bass on them like most plastics.
I went to youtube and found the trick worm jig head that floats with hes 7" worm. Here it is if you want to check it out. It looks like a cheap video but he makes hes point very good on hes baits.
Primus reply :
Some more options for you...
Power Team lures offers a lot of terrific baits and most of the baits in their line-up float.
Check out Dichoso baits, he will pour you baits in a floating no salt formula in any color you can imagine.
Last year I had some baits poured with a Senko type of profile with a no salt formula and had very good results fishing this on a football style shaky head or fished on a Carolina rig. Bulky profile seems to attract a larger average fish than your typical finesse worm.
sarcazmo reply :
Just found this while searching. Know its old but figured I'd add some.
I've found a couple manufacturers that make some buoyant worms. One is action airetale and the other is xcite baits. Just got some excite batis in but havent had a chance to fish them yet. Also power team lures (my new fav company) baits all seem to at least be neutral.
aavery2 reply :
On 1/26/2013 at 7:45 AM, WRB said:Most hand poured soft plastic worms are not salt imptregnated , the salt is usually sprinkled into the poly bag that contains the worms, or onto the belly of the poured worm. One exception is Roboworms, an automated "hand pour", that uses salt brine mixed in the plastic. The notion that Roboworms, Iovino worms, Uptom's and other hand poured worms don't float is nonsense, they all float. Hand pours may not float like a air filled plastic worm, they still will raise to the surface when submerged without any added weight. These worms will not float a standard wire worm hook, the tail end will still rise off the bottom. If you use a light wire or small drop shot hook, these worms become nearly neutral in buoyancy.
High production injection molded worms tend to sink due to the type of soft plastic they are made with. Highly salt impregnated soft plastics will sink; like a Senko!
Tom
Nonsense huh? Here is a picture of 4 different Roboworms, both 4 1/2" and 6" and not one of them float. Not even a little bit, they sink to the bottom like a rock without the slightest indication that they will ever float. I suggest you pull some out of the bag and try them yourself before you make posts like this.
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smalljaw67 reply :
I have a bunch of floating plastics, I even have a few bags of the Terminator snap back plastics that really float but don't get them near another soft plastic. That said I don't use the floating plastics too much and when I do it is only the warm weather months that I do and there is good reason. Floating worms can be fantastic but I've also had them hurt my fishing and I proved it to myself by switching out to a sinking type worm and I started hooking fish were I was missing them, what was happening is the fish often will grab the tails of a floating plastic. Yes, they work well but worms loaded with salt are still around for a reason, and it is because they are tools just as floating worms are so don't concern yourself with worrying about how well a worm floats, try it out and see if it catches fish in the situations you want it to catch fish.
JoePhish reply :
Producto Tournament Worms float. Seems like I'm always recommending these worms - love 'em.
They make other products that I haven't tried yet that may or may not float.
BassAssassin726 reply :
On 1/25/2013 at 1:27 AM, grampa1114 said:Go to www.floatworm.weebly.com and tell Jim that Grampa sent you.
I gotta have those. They look awesome! Everytime Im dragging a Carolina or Split Shot rig Im wishing my worm was floating behind. But it says on the homepage that if youre looking for floating worms, trick worms, senkos. I only saw the curly tail worm and the one beaver bait. Do they have more styles?
aquaholic reply :
I bought some floating worms the other day that actually say floating on the bag and they dont float. I want to think they are zoom, id have to check though. They do float in fast running water but sink in anything else.
cajunpapi reply :
Bass Pro Shop has a good line of floating plastic worms.
The Commodore reply :
I think some Culprit baits float and I have some non salted Zoom Trick Worms that float. I will say that both the Culprit and Zooms aren't very buoyant, but they float.
MarkH024 reply :
My roboworms do not float initially either which is rather disappointing. They float better after an extended time in the water but proven to be far longer than I'd like my first bite to be. I might try to presoak them to see if that helps.
I really like Dream Shots from SK. They don't float but are super light and have a great slow fall. Tear up really easy though.
FunkJishing reply :
http://www.ebay.com/itm/TRU-TUNGSTEN-WEIGHTED-SOFT-PLASTICS-10-BAGS-5-DART-TAIL-WEIGHTED-HAND-POURED-/181577037869?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a46d5b82d#ht_215wt_1118
if you can find the non-weighted versions of these worms you won't be let down. As far as finesse worms go these are the best I've ever had. realistic, soft, and they FLOAT...
FunkJishing reply :
i live near a big outlet store that sells a bunch of old/discontinued fishing lures and products. i get those worms for a buck a pack! i should head back out there soon to stock up... shoot winter or not.
Hanover_Yakker reply :
PowerTeam Lures are neutrally buoyant (I use the Sick Sticks, Finicky Ticklers in 5" and 7" personally but other products in their lineup work as well )and should be considered as well.
RSM789 reply :
On 6/4/2013 at 7:17 AM, aavery2 said:Nonsense huh? Here is a picture of 4 different Roboworms, both 4 1/2" and 6" and not one of them float. Not even a little bit, they sink to the bottom like a rock without the slightest indication that they will ever float. I suggest you pull some out of the bag and try them yourself before you make posts like this.
I was going to respond to Tom in a similar, but less snarky way, however you beat me to it.
My experience with Roboworms is that you are both right. As odd as this sounds, they will float until they start to sink. I have had Roboworms thrown off the hook while fighting fish & most of them will float on the surface. However, once I try to snag it with the tip of my rod or something else & part of them become submerged, down they go. Kind of like those bugs that can skate on the surface of the water, but once they get submerged, they drown.
Lesson learned, always get close enough to a floating Roboworm to pick it up by hand...
aavery2 reply :
On 11/7/2014 at 3:48 AM, RSM789 said:I was going to respond to Tom in a similar, but less snarky way, however you beat me to it.
My experience with Roboworms is that you are both right. As odd as this sounds, they will float until they start to sink. I have had Roboworms thrown off the hook while fighting fish & most of them will float on the surface. However, once I try to snag it with the tip of my rod or something else & part of them become submerged, down they go. Kind of like those bugs that can skate on the surface of the water, but once they get submerged, they drown.
Lesson learned, always get close enough to a floating Roboworm to pick it up by hand...
I don't know if they had a bad run of baits or what the situation was, but these never acted like they were even trying to float, put them in water straight to the bottom where they stayed. I have seen where the Roboworms will sink because of their salt layer and then start to float once some of the salt dissolves, but these were not having none of it.
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