Getting More Out Of Stick Worms

If you're not fishing "stick worms," you're missing out on some incredible bass-fishing action.

"Stick worm" is the generic term for the Senko, a bait designed by Gary Yamamoto and copied by just about every soft-plastic manufacturer. Who can blame them? The unique bait is the hottest soft-plastic creation we've seen in recent years, and it's proven itself to be a great lure under a variety of fishing conditions. It's one that I have tied on most of the time because bass will bite it when they're not in an aggressive mood.

The lure looks like a fat plastic worm that tapers gradually to relatively blunt ends. There are no appendages, whippy tails or characteristics that anglers often expect from a soft-plastic bait that catches fish.

It's the subtlety of this lure that drives bass wild. When fished weightless, which is how most anglers use it, the tail quivers while the lure sinks slowly. That's the key and why stick worms such as the Senko, Strike King's Zero and a few others work best. If the bait doesn't shimmy on the fall, you probably need to try something else. Many of today's imitators are too stiff or too lightweight to deliver an alluring action.

The easiest and most common method to fish stick worms is with an offset hook Texas-rigged in the nose. Because the worm does all the work, you don't need a lot of skill or coordination to fish it. Simply cast it out — preferably close to cover — and let the bait sink. If no strikes occur after it hits bottom, twitch it a couple of times and let it fall again. If nothing happens after that, wind it in and cast to another target.

Because the worm is so thick, it can be cast on baitcasting gear or spinning tackle. However, I would recommend using fluorocarbon line because it sinks faster than monofilament of the same size. The lighter the line, the faster the bait sinks — so anything heavier than 17-pound line is going to stifle the lure's action. If the water is clear and the cover is sparse, 10-pound test might be better, but 14-pound XPS fluorocarbon is my all-round favorite for this presentation.

The sink rate is a critical consideration. There are days when the bass may want the bait falling faster or slower, so you have to adjust accordingly. While line size can help, don't overlook hook size. The heavier the hook, the faster the bait will fall.

When I'm fishing around docks or if the bass seem spooky in shallow water, I'll rig my stick worm wacky-style. The wacky rig has the hook placed in the center of the worm, allowing the two ends to dangle beneath it. As the bait falls, both ends will shimmy.

When you're rigging wacky-style, a circle hook, which is made for live-bait fishing, can be a good option. Its hooking/landing ratio is nearly 100 percent, but it's not good for powerful hooksets. With the circle hook, you can skip the bait into tight quarters. If a bass strikes, simply start winding.

While weightless is the preferred method for fishing stick worms, you can weight them with slip-sinkers. I've had success flipping stick worms around docks or in holes of vegetation. I know other anglers who use stick worms for Carolina-rigging or drop-shotting.

When Texas-rigging, I use a 4/0 Mustad Ultra Point hook with a 1/8- or 1/4-ounce sinker. One of the reasons I like the Zero is because it's made of durable, but soft Cyber-Flexxx material that's salt impregnated. It also has the same sink rate as the Senko. When the Texas-rigged Zero hits the bottom, it stands on its nose and the tail quivers.

The stick worm is most effective in clear or stained water, which is why watermelon or green-pumpkin colors work well. Honestly, these baits are so deadly, the fish don't seem to care.