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BASS
COMING OFF THE BEDS
WOO'S
CORNER
WORMIN' WITH
MY ZOOM BAITS
Plastic
season is finally here and hopefully the cold weather
is gone. The water is warming up nicely and the bass
are cruising the shallows. This is my favorite time
to fish because I know the plastic baits will prevail
and they are my favorite. If you check the back of the
Bassmaster's magazine where they publish the pictures
of the big bass, you will see that more than 80% of
those big fish are caught on plastic baits. You can
bet, most of the time it will be a Zoom bait.
If
you don't fish worms, you need to learn because it will
improve your fishing all around no matter what lures
you fish. Not only will you gain confidence from learning,
but it will teach you feel and patience, which are two
important traits in fishing. Learning to fish a worm
will get you those extra fish you need when other techniques
die on you.
Worms
come in all different sizes and colors but I tend to
stick with shorter (6 inch or less) and the basic colors
like green pumpkin and watermelon seed. Sometimes I
will go to redbug, Junebug, redshad and blue moccasion
and these are all you need anywhere you go fishing.
The main reason I stick with smaller plastics such as
the Zoom Finesse worm or baby brushhog is simple, you
get more bites on smaller baits. But there are some
lakes and certain times of the year when big worms like
the 10 inch ole Monster works well especially around
the spawn and in hot summertime.
As
a rule I fish most plastics on spinning rods, I use
the Woo Daves' Extreme 6'6" to 6'8"M/H, 10
lbs. Bass Pro Shops' Excel 10 lbs. green monofilament
line, 1/8th oz pegged and painted slip sinker, 1/0 or
2/0 Mustad straight shank Denny Brauer flippin' hook.
I am a firm believer in scented baits and I spray Jack's
Juice Crawfish on all my baits. The company has a great
product that will penetrate plastic, something 95% of
the scents on the market won't do. Spray one time and
you're good to go!
As
a rule I'm looking for a shallow target to cast to such
as a stump, log, dock piling, shady spot, etc., which
will hold a bass. Remember that bass are structure orientated
and that's where you want the worm. Wear polarized sunglasses,
like Fisherman Eyewear, so you can see underwater targets
to cast to. When I cast to a specific target I let the
worm fall straight down on slack line to the bottom.
Here is where you want to develop a feel for the worm
almost as if you are weighing it each time you raise
it. Develop a repetitive feeling over and over, what
does it weigh, in other words how much pressure does
it take to raise it off the bottom each time.
When it gets heavier than it should be or you feel a
peck or anything doesn't feel right, it's time to set
the hook. Remember you're not going fishing to get a
sun burn, you're going fishing to jerk. Hook setting
is free and it's fun, so jerk anytime it does feel right
and you will find yourself catching a lot of fish.
When
the bass bites don't get in a big hurry, make sure things
are right and always try to set the hook on a slack
line. This will give you more power on the hook set
and drive the hook through the worm and into the fishes
mouth. Always set the hook hard. Order the "Worming
with Woo" DVD from the Bass Pro Shops, study it
over and over.
Jack
Swanson has developed a neat little product called the
Line
Keeper. It's a little spring device you keep in
your pocket and anytime you need to secure you lure
to your rod just clip it on and you're ready to go.
It is great for Carolina rigging, once you reel in and
get ready to move, just secure your leader with the
keeper and when you get to the next spot everything
is in order and you are ready to fish, Works great with
securing your drop shot leaders also. Jack Swanson,
Line Keeper, 4939 E. Chestnut Drive, Claremore, OK 74017
Good
luck on your next fishing trip & may God Bless,
and enjoy your Nitro.
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