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Finesse baits and or trick worms are all the rage because it has been proven that they can be dynamite for catching black bass - especially when they are sluggish. One of the more popular finesse baits for bass is the Wacky Worm Rig; or the Weedless Wacky Worm.

 

There are a lot of variations on this style of bassing, and basically any style will work at different times. You can purchase the newly manufactured Wacky Style Worm right off the shelf or you can create your own rig, which would be my choice. I prefer the ‘trick worms’ or ‘finesse worms’ over the brand name Wacky Worm made by manufactures like Zoom, Kicker Fish, Strike King, Berkley, Kinami Baits, etc.
 
My choice is to use the #2 weedless Ultra Point Hook made by Mustad. This hook has a 1/32 oz. weight attached just before the belly of the hook. The way the weight is set makes them a real advantage over those with the weight close to the eye of the hook, (like those of Eagle Claw and Gamakatsu) helping to produce a better action on the fall. Any weedless hook can be used if you can’t get the Mustads, just add a very small amount of the putty type weight material.

 

 

Insert the point of the weedless hook through the worm: just passed the center closer to the head, there is an egg sac - you’ll see it because the diameter is a little larger than the rest of the worm. Run it all the way through. This should leave the worm dangling just a little off-center. The weedless hooks have the two little metal strips that make it weedless. Make sure these are free of the worm. They may take a little moving or bending to make them provide equal coverage. Check them from time to time.

 

TIP: If you prefer not to use the wired weedless hooks, you can run the hook through the worm, turn it around and tack the point on its underbelly. This will work just fine and keep you from have to mess with keeping the wires in the proper place.

 

 

Pitch or cast the worm into your selected spot. Let the worm sink and sit for awhile, maybe 15 seconds or more. If no response, jiggle it - pump it. You can do this until you’ve worked it back into the boat or bank. A slow retrieve, with long pauses is suggested. As it is retrieved the ends will close and then release during the pause. It can be fished in hydrilla, moss, pads, lay-downs, standing timber, rocks or brush.

 

As with any bait, match the color to the water clarity (darker baits in stained water, lighter in clear) and weather conditions (darker baits on cloudy days, lighter on clear).

 

I like to use what I call ‘controlled slack’. That means that the line is not completely taut, but only has minimal slack in it. I like this because it keeps the bass from feeling a pull when it strikes the bait. By the time you see the line twitch, or feel the pull, it’s usually too late for the bass. Just set the hook and the fight is on.

 

Finesse baits will certainly improve your performance on the water for those slower or colder days when the bass are sluggish. This method takes some patience, but after you see how productive it is, you’ll likely fall in love with it. There are times when the fish won’t bite anything else, but they will absolutely crush a Weedless Wacky Worm.