Largemouth Bass - Tips & Tricks

My all time go to lure for bass is a 6-8" plastic worm, rigged texas style (worm weight directly above worm). Especially when fishing is slow or in the dog days of summer, this lure almost always produces for me. The key is very SLOW with small twitches and stops from time to time. Mostly just reeling up your slack, then pulling the worm along by lifting the rod tip .... all the while ready to set the hook ! Hook sets are KEY with worm fishing. One thing I have done recently to improve hook sets is using GULP brand worms. The fish hold the scented worms longer, giving you better odds of getting a hook up. In the last year or so, I have become partial to "wacky" worms. This technique seems to finesse tight lipped fish into biting. I use a "bleeding bait" red offset shank worm hook with no weight. You hook the "wacky" worm so it is sideways to the hook with the ends flopping around. I prefer yamamoto brand, but they tend to get destroyed very quickly and you go through them quick at $6-7 a bag. When you hook the fish, always play them out before trying to land them. Keep your rod tip up and opposite of the direction the fish is running in. If the fish starts to come up to jump, keep your rod tip DOWN to keep the fish from throwing the hook. Good luck !!!!