SHAKE IT WITH B LAT
MLF pro Brian Latimer teamed up with Z-Man to design the SMH Wormz and SMH Jighead . This winning shaky head combo utilizes Z-Man ’ s tough but supple ElaZtech material and a rounded underside on the jighead for reduced hookset resistance .
Z-MAN SMH SHAKING MY HEAD JIGHEAD
COLOR : BLACK - 1 / 4 OZ .
Z-MAN SMH SHAKING MY HEAD WORMZ
COLOR : PLUM
“ Simple is better ,” says two-time MLF winner Brian Latimer . “ A 4- to 6- inch straight tail has been by far the most productive bait I ’ ve used day in and day out for the past 30 years . A worm will always be a top-10 producer . It will always be a winner .”
Yet even the simplest of worm designs continues to evolve .
“ Two things are driving worm development today : scent and the blend of plastics ,” says Michael Neal , who garnered back-to-back Angler of the Year titles the past two seasons on the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit .
Finesse and slow-drop techniques favor soft , supple plastic formulations . Neal notes that buoyant plastics have become go-to tools used in conjunction with Forward-Facing Sonar ( FFS ).
“ A lot of shaky head jigs were designed for baits that stand upright , yet a lot of the plastics used just lay flat ,” he adds .
The blend of a plastic factors into worm action and mouth feel , as well . Anglers have long been as mesmerized as the bass by the writhing , living action of soft hand-poured worms that California garage shop operations made famous . Mainstream manufacturers have come closer to mimicking those same qualities in their production facilities .
But supple plastics tend to tear easily , leading some manufacturers to fashion worms with thicker front bodies that add durability to sections where bait keeper , Neko weight or hook tears can shred baits before a fish can do damage .
Scent and flavor additives enhance a bait ’ s ability to attract and the fish ’ s desire to hold on .
WORTHY WORMS
Filler Worm , Strike King – More than meets the eye , this versatile finesse worm with wide-set nose features a super-soft plastic for supple action over a salt-heavy bottom layer . Open Pour Technology ( OPT ) makes for a balanced worm that falls horizontally through the water column and quivers with the slightest movement . Available in 16 colors .
Scentsation Skinny Stick ( 5-inch ), Big Bite Baits – Neal ’ s slender “ do-all worm ” leaves a scent trail , too . Serve it on a shaky head , Neko Rig or drop-shot . Made to rival hand-pours in suppleness .
Mag FattyZ ( 7.25-inch ), Z-Man – A pumped-up version of the 5-inch FattyZ , the “ Mag ” has proven extremely popular with kayak pros , factoring into recent wins and high placements . Effective on a Texas Rig or Carolina Rig or magnum shaky head .
Zero , Strike King – Rose ’ s choice for wacky worming and any other stick-style worm applications , this salt-infused worm offers a winning combination of softness and durability .
Factor salt into the discussion as well . This tried-and-true ingredient serves not only as a flavor additive but also adds density , which plays into worm action and casting distance .
Pure Fishing has fueled the “ scent ” trend with its Berkley PowerBait MaxScent products , which add the drawing power of proven scents to the taste benefits of its PowerBait plastics . A gentle rib texture aids with scent release . The General ( along with a Lil ’ General Ned Rig version ) and the Flat Worm from the Berkley PowerBait line have been particularly popular products . Subtle design elements – a thick upper body tapering to a paddle tail – add action to the Hit Worm and Hit Worm Magnum .
Two finesse techniques are front of mind in straight tail worm development : the shaky head and the Neko Rig .
Rose calls a straight tail worm on a shaky head jig “ a survival kit for the bass fisherman .” A shaky head couples stealth with snag-resistance .
Latimer recently designed the SMH (“ Shaking My Head ”) WormZ for Z-Man along with a freshly fashioned SMH Jighead . The worm , made with Z- Man ’ s patented ElaZtech material , is supple yet highly elastic and durable ( many swear that it becomes more attractive to bass the more they beat it up ). Latimer opted for a rounded underside and shank-positioned bait keeper on the SMH Jighead to eliminate hookset resistance met with other jig designs .
The Neko Rig has blossomed in recent years . This wacky rig variant is enjoying widespread usage among pro and amateur angler alike . Its ‘ weightahead ’ configuration with hook point
58 MAJORLEAGUEFISHING . COM | DECEMBER-JANUARY 2023