As bass anglers we all are looking for ways we can catch more fish, many of us go the route and try to cover more water faster hoping to pick up as many bass as we can as quick as we can. We fish with fast moving lures such as spinnerbaits, topwater lures, and crankbaits, often fishing them fast and covering as much water as we possibly can. Most anglers think they can only achieve this style of fishing with hard baits- but what many anglers do not know is that you can fish just as fast with a simple paddle tail worm.
The advantages
"They're way less popular than other worm styles, so it's a new look and feel to fish. The thump and action get the attention of bass in thick cover where they might miss more subtle presentations. They're versatile baits that can be fished as a worm or swim them through cover like a spinnerbait/swimbait hybrid," said Bass guide and Professional FLW angler, Tom Redington.
[...] I'll experiment with one very sharp snap to explode the worm 3 to 6 feet off the bottom or try two shorter snaps in a row, each popping the bait about 2' up, so a total of 4' off the bottom after the 2 snaps. Again, let the worm fall on slack line so the tail can work freely on the way down. When ripping it off the bottom you will normally feel your line pop or jump when a bass hits it and immediately reel up and said Redington. Tackle Redington fishes his paddle tail worms on a 7'4” Dobyns Extreme DX744 worm rod and fishes it on 50-65 lb. braided line. [...]
[...] Redington attributes the flapping and thumping tail of paddle worms to acting like a strobe light and that it seems to get their attention. action of the tail excels at attracting bass, so stained or muddy water are usually best, but they also work well in clear water with lots of cover, especially weeds. In clear water, fish can see baits easier so the wild tail can sometimes be too much, although the smaller size on a shaky head or drop shot often works great in clearer water. [...]
[...] Pahygiannis began free-lance writing in 2012 when he had his first article published in Crappie World Magazine. His articles have appeared in Bass Angler Magazine, Bassin', Crappie World, and on sites such as Pro Bass networks, Advanced Angler, and Bass Resource. [...]
[...] “I'm not sure how a bass perceives the pressure waves through the water that the paddle tails put out, but based on how they eat it, it is apparently to their liking. If you use a sensitive rod with fluorocarbon or braided line, you will feel the vibrations from the bait coming up the line and can see it shaking your rod tip. Regardless of how the bass senses the worm through its lateral line and hearing, the extra sensation of the worm is a definite plus to anglers because the thump of the worm is so noticeable. [...]
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