BERKLEY POWERBAIT MAXSCENT LIL ’ GENERAL
BERKLEY POWERBAIT MAXSCENT HIT WORM
BIG BITE BAITS SCENTSATION CLIFF HANGER WORM
BERKLEY POWERBAIT MAXSCENT THE GENERAL
“ Scent and flavor additives enhance a bait ’ s ability to attract and the fish ’ s desire to hold on .”
“ In recent years , worms have evolved ,” Burghoff explains . “ Traditionally , we fished worms slowly , on or near the bottom , with a Texas rig or a shaky head setup . But nowadays I use worms to cover a tremendous amount of water .”
He ’ s not alone . Today ’ s anglers are counting on these quivering creatures to do more than shake and crawl . For a growing number , they have become search tools . A worm that swims with thumping or pulsating action can find fish much faster than one that sneaks through an isolated patch of cover .
One such tool is the Turbo FattyZ , a worm that Burghoff recently designed for Z-Man . It ’ s a thick-bodied bait , made with a heavy concentration of salt to enable long casts and modest depth reach with a 1 / 4- or 3 / 8-ounce bullet weight and steady retrieve . Its curved , paddle-like tail delivers a thumping swimming motion at a range of retrieve speeds from slow to surprisingly rapid . The worm ’ s bulk and density extend its versatility .
“ I use it as a tool to break down water quickly ,” he says .
He alternates between fishing it with conspicuous surface commotion and with a more subtle sub-surface swim , depending on conditions .
“ On big , grassy flats , I like to keep the trolling motor on high , make long casts and reel it in ,” Burghoff adds . “ Even if I just get fish to wake on it , that clues me in to the fact that there are fish in the area . It ’ s such a productive technique when I ’ m trying to break down large grass flats from Lake Okeechobee to the Mississippi River .”
Burghoff calls it “ an all-year bait ” but finds it particularly effective early and late in the season .
“ The speed-type buzzing worm was an eye-opener for me ,” echoes Rose , trumpeting the anticipated arrival this season of the Strike King Rage Twin Tail Menace Worm , which has flanges on the tails that enhance its vibration . “ I first saw its effectiveness in Florida , especially around vegetation .”
As with most developments in the category , the roots of swimming worms were sunk well before they blossomed into trend . Zoom ’ s 6-inch Ultra Vibe Speed Worm put a tail engine to wormin ’. A 7-inch Magnum UV Speed Worm followed .
Presentation tip : Swim worm technique focuses on speed and depth .
“ On lakes with emergent vegetation such as reeds , lily pads , Kissimmee grass and the like , I fish close to the surface , or with submerged vegetation , right above the grass ,” Burghoff says . “ You can drop it into a hole , but mainly you ’ re just reeling it in .”
Straight Tail : Scented , Salty and Supple
A straight tail worm may be the most reliable bass-catching tool ever fashioned . Mastering its use is often a budding angler ’ s first proud accomplishment and a pro ’ s last prayer in time of need .
“ My ‘ go-to ’ is a straight tail worm ,” professes Justin Lucas , who got his bass fishing education on tough California waters before moving to Alabama . “ I feel very comfortable picking up a drop-shot or a wacky rig with a soft plastic worm . I have confidence that I can get bit on that no matter what .”
DECEMBER-JANUARY 2023 | MAJORLEAGUEFISHING . COM 57