Texas rigged worm is where most of our bass fishing started but seems like it gets forgotten with all these new techniques and baits.Like most of you I got tackle bags filled with all different types of baits and lures but if I need fish in the boat I'll break out old reliable.
Honestly Its the one thing I can always count on. I used to swear by dead-sticking a Carolina rig on the dog days, but this year I had a Texas rig tied on instead. Pumpkin seed 8" power worm, pumpkin seed rib snake or watermelon red rib snake. They produced all year with very few exceptions.
It just works,to me it's what bass fishing is really about,don't get me wrong it's fun catching them on other baits but just something special about a Texas rigged worm.
On 9/30/2018 at 4:08 AM, Topwaterdude said:Texas rigged worm is where most of our bass fishing started but seems like it gets forgotten with all these new techniques and baits.
not with some of us ????
My #1 for at least 25yrs now.If I had to choose only 1 bait, that's it.
What's funny is usually start fishing the worm towards the end of the trip,than realize I should have started off with it????
The reasons it works well have been written about, and discussed in books,magazines and videos for many years. The reason I like the Texas rig is I can quickly change weight, hook size, or worm quickly, to fit any conditions. I fish other rigs too, but the Texas rig comes through cover better for me than shakey head, split shot rigs or any other. It's the backbone rig of this sport. I would urge any novice bass fisherman to learn this.Its caught more fish for me than any other lures I've ever used
The plastic worm is the only lure made that a BASS CANNOT REMEMBER!
That is, a bass will continue to strike a worm even after repeated catches, whereas a bass will "turn off" to other lures, spinner baits and crank baits etc. after wearing them out on them.
Not true with the plastic worm, however. Although we all know bass will prefer a different bait at different times (i.e. "the pattern") you can always go back to the worm to catch them.
I guess y’all can label me Ole School since I refuse to give up on the #1 most productive lure and technique ever invented.
I've been bass fishing for close to 30 years and i've caught more bass on a Texas rigged worm than all other lures combined
On 9/30/2018 at 9:05 AM, Catt said:The plastic worm is the only lure made that a BASS CANNOT REMEMBER!
That is, a bass will continue to strike a worm even after repeated catches, whereas a bass will "turn off" to other lures, spinner baits and crank baits etc. after wearing them out on them.
Not true with the plastic worm, however. Although we all know bass will prefer a different bait at different times (i.e. "the pattern") you can always go back to the worm to catch them.
I guess y’all can label me Ole School since I refuse to give up on the #1 most productive lure and technique ever invented.
Nothing wrong with Ole school it works,I see new school everyday I have a teenager I prefer old school lol
If memory serves me, the very first bass caught in the very first B.A.S.S. tournament was caught on a worm, Bill Dance, June, 1967. (Please correct me if this is wrong.) I remember it well because I caught my first bass on a Crème worm in May of that same year.
@Topwaterdude
#1 most productive lure
Doug Hannon's Answer:
Plastic Worm (Texas rigged)
It's long, thin shape resembles the profile of a wide variety of forage in the world of the bass, including earthworms, snakes, eels, and baitfish.
Its action is almost entirely dependent on the contours of the bottom; and the rod movements of the fisherman, making it very random. It moves with little noise; the noise that it does make comes mostly from the random clicking of the sinker as it hits bottom. Bright colors and larger size can be used to increase its attracting qualities.
Because of its basic resemblance to a wide array of living forage, this lure presents very few negative cues, and is hard for big bass to learn not to hit.
On 9/30/2018 at 11:16 AM, Catt said:@Topwaterdude
#1 most productive lure
Doug Hannon's Answer:
Plastic Worm (Texas rigged)
It's long, thin shape resembles the profile of a wide variety of forage in the world of the bass, including earthworms, snakes, eels, and baitfish.
Its action is almost entirely dependent on the contours of the bottom; and the rod movements of the fisherman, making it very random. It moves with little noise; the noise that it does make comes mostly from the random clicking of the sinker as it hits bottom. Bright colors and larger size can be used to increase its attracting qualities.
Because of its basic resemblance to a wide array of living forage, this lure presents very few negative cues, and is hard for big bass to learn not to hit.
The Professor!!Great fishermen,BIG BASS Guy!RIP
If I have a short afternoon trip, I always take a plastic worm t rigged or a fly rod with a popper. Usually the worm. Love that feel.
Most of the time, I don't know why I even bother with taking my tackle. If I have a Green Pumpkin Texas rig and a Frog, I'm good.
On 9/30/2018 at 10:53 PM, Jaderose said:Most of the time, I don't know why I even bother with taking my tackle. If I have a Green Pumpkin Texas rig and a Frog, I'm good.
I know right!!!It's out of hand ,I remember when we were kids we would walk around to all the canals with a bag of culprit worm and a rod that was it and we did some damage
If a person is trying to learn where bass hang out , the texas rig worm is the best teacher .
Here's an article from 10 years ago some of you might have read it already but it's a good read for us worm nerds????
https://m.bassmaster.com/gear/worm
On 10/1/2018 at 1:00 AM, Topwaterdude said:Here's an article from 10 years ago some of you might have read it already but it's a good read for us worm nerds????
https://m.bassmaster.com/gear/worm
Very good read.
I actually have 4 rods that are Texas rigged.
1) Texas rigged weightless buzzing speed worms 50#braid.
2) Texas rigged 1/8 oz weighted worm when I want slower fall on the edge of grass or pads 50#braid.
3) Texas rigged jigged 1/4 oz with craw to work off bottom or pitch in holes 50#braid.
4) Texas rigged weightless senko on 15#fluoracarbon.
***Here in Florida Texas rigged is essential***
I can't remember the last time I threw a texas rigged worm. I throw texas rigged craws a lot with terrible results.
On 10/1/2018 at 8:02 AM, Somd Fx4 said:I can't remember the last time I threw a texas rigged worm. I throw texas rigged craws a lot with terrible results.
If I didn't throw a Texas rigged worm and craw I wouldn't catch any bass.
If I aint thrown a Texas Rig I feel like I aint thoroughly covered the area!
A friend & I were throwing Rat-L-Traps in marsh canals from the bank. We had landed about 25 bass when he said he had to leave in about 30 minutes. I said let me grab my worm rod, I walked over to where the canal made a 90% turn. First cast my worm landed on the opposite bank, flipped the worm into the water, felt the tap, seen the line vibrate, dropped the rod, reeled the slack, & set the hook!
11 lbs 3 oz ????
I throw a Texas rigged craw almost every time I fish, alongside a jig-n-craw, but haven’t thrown a worm in years, I still buy them (bait monkey problems) but never thread one on anymore even though it’s the first rig I ever learned and how I caught my first bass. You all have inspired me to run out to the truck and rig a rage thumper on my spare rod, it’s only a medium power lightning rod but I tied on a pretty light wire hook, that should be fine right? I also chose a lead sinker over tungsten to make it more “old school” (wish I could find my jelly worms!).
Im only 25 but I love hearing about you older guys good ol’ Days and how you all used to/continue to catch em. my dad wasn’t much of a fisherman before I got into it so I missed out on a lot of the classic stuff but I still get like pseudo-nostalgia from hearing about it!
Btw Catt that’s a hog, I think bigger than my states record lol.
depends on where you are...time & place...can assure you here in the great state of Mississippi out on the farm ponds and state fishing lakes and other remote areas the t-rigged plastic worm is alive and well...
good fishing...
On 10/1/2018 at 10:24 AM, greentrout said:depends on where you are...time & place...can assure you here in the great state of Mississippi out on the farm ponds and state fishing lakes and other remote areas the t-rigged plastic worm is alive and well...
good fishing...
Same here in Florida it's mandatory ????
I'll always carry, and fish with t- rig plastic worms.I use other baits too, and other soft plastics. But the plastic worm is my go to confidence bass catcher most of the year. It will never go out of style. It works
I also love learning about the history of this sport. So for me, it's like this: the next time you land a bass on ANY soft plastic bait, give a quick nod of thanks to Mr. Nick Creme and his wife Cosma Creme, along with a thinking fisherman from Texas, who thought to turn his hook around, embed it in the worm, creating the Texas Rig. Possibly the single, biggest lure innovation of the century. Yep. The century
from northern Minnesota natural lakes, Iowa farm ponds, and Missouri and Kansas reservoirs, the Texas rigged worm has caught me more quality bass than all other baits combined.
You can often catch more fish on other baits when bass are active, but day in and day out, the Texas rig is hard to beat.
I once caught a 6 fish 15 inch limit on six cast , so it makes me chuckle when people say texas rig fishing is too slow .
On 10/2/2018 at 3:39 AM, scaleface said:I once caught a 6 fish 15 inch limit on six cast , so it makes me chuckle when people say texas rig fishing is too slow .
Scaleface, there you go!!!
A few years back, I only thrown Texas rig (weighted) only a handful of time, Dropshot alway get first priority. This year thing turn around if I don't throw Fluke then Texas rig would be my 2nd choice.
Probably 80percent of the fish I got this year was on a fluke weightless the rest were mostly rage menace, Ned rigs, stickbaits and miscellaneous crankbaits.
I been throwing the split shot rig from the early 70’s. Creme 6” black worms.
but using a weighted head, a worm rattle, a culprit 10” or 12” black Shad worm surely can change your success. Sorry for being old school.