Learn to catch more bass by changing it up with your presentation or lure choice.
Just this week I was on a great jerkbait bite on Monday, but by Wednesday it had fizzled out. We are in late November and the temps are getting into the 20s at night. Sometimes this can make the bass act a little funny.
After throwing the jerkbait for a while, I realized that something different needed to happen, I tried a Ned rig, but broke off quickly because I was fishing over some pretty nasty cover. This is when I reached for the Texas rig, but did it a little differently…
The Rig I Changed To
I rigged it on a ⅛ ounce tungsten worm weight and an Owner Cover Shot hook that was designed for dropshotting. This is where I changed it up, I put on a Strike King Half Shell dropshot bait. It can roll and twist a bit if you rig it off at all, but this is not the first occasion that this little rig has shined.
Why it works? I believe that sometimes little changes can make all the difference to pressured or negative bass. They see this bait on a dropshot, but probably never on a light Texas rig.
Sometimes you simply catch more bass by changing it up a bit.
This is the same reason I feel that the Free rig or the Tokyo rig can produce a few more bites than the Texas rig at times. They just present the bait a little differently.
With the light weight and the weedless presentation, I was able to creep this little Half Shell through the brush piles and do it without getting hung up.
I simply dragged it through the pile a few inches at a time and then paused and waited for the “tic” of a bite.
This rig comes through cover that a dropshot or a Ned won’t and changes the way it fished just enough to get wary bass to commit.
Final Thoughts about Changing it Up for More Bass
The moral of the story here is that changing things up just a little bit can get you more bites when the fishing gets tough.
This was a day towards the end of a cold front and the pressure was rising. This typically pulls the fish into the thick cover and you can take advantage by getting in there after them in a really finesse way.
Swimming a worm for bass can be a great way to entice stubborn bass to bite and still cover water effectively.
Watch this video where I catch a few on the “speed worm” fishing in thick cover over duckweed.
Speed worm fishing for bass
In this video, it was a very visual bite. I had to pay close attention to the blow-ups and then leave slack in my line to let the bass get the worm. In this case, I was swimming a Rage Worm and the bass were all under the duckweed and not in open water.
This is not the only way to swim a worm and a lot of times fishing it in sparse cover or open water close to grass is a great way to catch bass.
The Swimming Worm Setup
The setup can vary, as I discussed in my video, but this is the general setup.
I typically use a 6″ Zoom Speed Worm or a 6″ Strike King Rage Tail Worm. I will list the components below. I rig this on a 3/0 – 5/0 EWG hook and typically peg the weight with a bobber stopper if I do use weight.
A lot of the time I fish this rig weightless, but if I do add weight I will fish anywhere from a 1/16 ounce worm weight to a 1/4, but rarely do I go that heavy. If I were to pick one weight it would probably be an 1/8 ounce.
In the video above I mentioned swimming little curly tail worms for really pressured or finicky bass, but in this video I used baitcasting gear with a 7:2 gear ratio reel and 15 pound-test fluorocarbon line on a 7″2″ medium-heavy casting rod. Anything around that will get you started with this technique.
Backstory to my experience swimming a worm
I remember when I came upon this technique by accident as a teenager up in Idaho. We had a lake by our house that was a lot like the one that I was fishing in the video above. I had a lot of grass and duckweed.
One day I was fishing a Texas rigged curly tail worm, but just kept getting bogged down in the junk fishing it the traditional way and so I decided to take off the weight and swim it back above the weeds. It was game on and I had one of the best days of fishing in my life up to that point in time.
Since that day, swimming a worm for bass has expanded and I have honed the skill and adapted to other worms and conditions, but I still love this technique for finicky bass.
Stay posted for other posts on this topic as I have a lot more to offer here and more setups and ideas that have branched off of this tactic.
I hope this helps you in your fishing adventures. Feel free to reach out to me on social media or comment below if you have any questions or to share your story about swimming a worm for bass.
I’ve been asked a handful of times how to fish the little Yamatanuki, including how to rig it and what hook to use.
What Hook to Use?
I rig the 2.5″ Yamatanuki with a 2/0 EWG hook and the 3.5″ with a 5/0 EWG.
Where They Shine
When I am fishing with the Yamatanuki I am typically casting at targets. Shade lines, weed lines, boulders, laydowns, and so forth. As you can see in the video above, I am aiming at targets.
How to Work Them
Once I make my cast I let the bait sink and then give it pops, or twitches, and let it fall again. Kind of like a fleeing crawfish or baitfish. This typically is where I get bit as it triggers a reaction strike. The smallmouth bass and green sunfish were eating them up in this creek.
The cool thing about the Yamatanuki is that they are super heavy and even though they are weightless they cast really well. This improves casting accuracy and distance. Also, because they are weightless they get hung up much less than a weighted bait.
It is almost like these baits were made for creek fishing for smallmouth bass.
Warning About the 2.5″ Yamatanuki
Although they are fairly new to the US market, I have had a lot of success with the Yamatanuki. One word of caution is that they get bit and are super soft. This means that you will need a lot of baits if you get on a good bite.
Like the Senko, they are not very durable and rip super easy. I lost a pack on this trip somewhere in the river and ran out of baits before the end of the trip. Make sure that you bring more than one pack.
Final Thoughts on the Yamatanuki
When I saw this bait I wasn’t sold on the concept, but was quickly converted when I started catching fish. I have fished both the 2.5 and the 3.5 and both have proven their effectiveness and have a place in my tackle lineup.
Go out and get some and see what you think. Don’t fish them like a Senko, but more like a really light jig. They are really weedless and give fish something a little different.
Bass fishing is one of the most popular recreational sports in the world, with countless people participating each year. There are many reasons why bass fishing is so popular, including:
It’s a fun and challenging sport. Bass are known for their aggressive strikes and powerful fights, which makes them exciting to catch. Bass fishing is also a challenging sport, as anglers must learn how to find and catch bass in a variety of conditions.
It’s a great way to enjoy the outdoors. Bass fishing can be done in a variety of settings, including lakes, rivers, and streams. This makes it a great way to get some fresh air and exercise, and to enjoy the beauty of nature.
It’s a relatively inexpensive sport. Bass fishing does not require a lot of expensive gear. Anglers can get started with a basic rod and reel, some lures, and a tackle box.
It’s a social sport. Bass fishing can be enjoyed alone or with friends and family. There are also many bass fishing clubs and tournaments that anglers can participate in.
Additional Reasons Why Bass Fishing is Popular
In addition to these general reasons, there are also some more specific reasons why bass fishing is so popular. For example, bass are a very popular game fish in the United States, where they are found in abundance in many different bodies of water. Bass are also relatively easy to catch, which makes them a good choice for anglers of all skill levels.
Bass fishing is also popular because it is a very versatile sport. Bass can be caught using a variety of different techniques, including baitcasting, spinning, and fly fishing. This makes it a sport that can be enjoyed by anglers of all experience levels.
Another reason why bass fishing is so popular is because it is a very competitive sport. There are many bass fishing tournaments held throughout the year, from local events to major professional circuits. This competitive aspect of bass fishing appeals to many anglers.
Finally, bass fishing is simply a lot of fun. There is nothing quite like the thrill of feeling a bass strike your lure and the excitement of fighting it to the boat. Bass fishing is a great way to relax, de-stress, and enjoy the outdoors.
Here are some additional thoughts on why bass fishing is so popular:
Bass are a beautiful fish. There is something about the sleek lines and powerful build of a bass that makes it an attractive fish to catch.
Bass are a good source of food. Bass are a white fish, which means that they are low in fat and calories and high in protein. Bass can be cooked in a variety of ways, and they are a delicious and healthy meal.
Bass fishing is a great way to learn about nature. Bass anglers must learn about the different types of bass, their habitats, and their feeding habits. This can be a fun and educational experience.
Bass fishing is a great way to teach kids about the outdoors. Bass fishing is a relatively easy sport to learn, and it is a great way to get kids involved in nature.
Overall, there are many reasons why bass fishing is so popular. It is a fun, challenging, and rewarding sport that can be enjoyed by people of all ages and skill levels. Bass fishing is also a great way to connect with nature and to learn about the environment.
Tips for getting started with bass fishing
If you are interested in getting started with bass fishing, here are a few tips:
Start with the basics. You don’t need a lot of expensive gear to get started with bass fishing. A basic rod and reel, some lures, and a tackle box will be enough to get you going.
Find a good spot to fish. Bass can be found in a variety of different bodies of water, but they are most commonly found in lakes and rivers. When choosing a spot to fish, look for areas with vegetation, structure, and deep water.
Learn how to cast. Casting is an essential skill for bass fishing. There are many different casting techniques, but the most basic technique is the overhead cast.
Use the right lure. There are many different types of bass lures available, so it is important to choose the right one for the conditions you are fishing in. If you are not sure what type of lure to use, ask a local angler or tackle shop employee for help.
Be patient. Bass fishing can be challenging, and it takes time and practice to become a good bass angler. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t catch a fish right away. Just keep practicing and learning, and you will eventually start to catch more fish.
Bass fishing is a great sport for people of all ages and skill levels. It is a fun, challenging, and rewarding way to enjoy the outdoors. If you are interested in getting started with bass fishing, the tips above should help you get started.
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