Maybe I should be posting this in the bass forum, but I'm comfortable here, and I like you guys

Here's my problem:

I really want to start concentrating on plastics but when it comes to fishing plastic worms I'm totally clueless! I have only caught one bass on a plastic and it was at my local pond and I'm convinced it was total luck. I went out today for about an hour and a half at my pond at didn't even get a bite. My question is... What should I be looking or feeling for in a "bite". Also when you raise the worm off the bottom are you reeling quickly to get the line tight again? I know this is a total rookie question, but I grew up fishing ponds with roadrunners inline spinners and grubs.... Never really learned worms. Also, any other pointers you guys could give me would be great!

I'm all ears
Thanks guys

It might be easier at first if you use enough weight to really feel the worm, craw, etc as it makes contact with the bottom and structure you are crawling and hopping it along. If you kind of maintain a bit of tension, following the lure as it falls or pauses on the bottom, you will often feel the thump as the fish inhales it. I don't get in a big hurry to reel in the slack so much as reel at a pace as I lower my rod to maintain that tension. Get into the habit of watching your line. If you can't tell for sure it was a fish thump the bait the line will almost always take off as the fish runs with it. Often the fish will grab it and come at you and you will just see slack develop in the line. When in doubt, reel up the slack and cross their eyes! It can be tough to develop the knack for it, especially on a windy day, but stick with it and it will come quickly. Best I can describe it the thump will feel "electric" or "alive". Quick tap tap taps are often perch, but can also be bass. Hope that helps!

Anything helps! Thanks

That probably wasn't real clear. I don't really let it fall on a slack line. I pretty much am always maintaining some tension and contact with the lure as much as possible. That way I can feel the thump or tap. Easier to do with more weight. Varying the weight allows me to control the rate at which it falls, along with line size, and how fast I lift and lower my rod. The lighter the lure the slower it falls as I maintain the tension. The smaller the diameter of the line, generally the faster it will sink. Clear as mud, right?

As my dad taught me... when in doubt, set the hook.

As I taught my bro in law, when you feel a thump or your line starts moving when you aren't moving it... set the hook.

I have used plastics off n on for years and wouldn't say I am a pro, but you definitely develop a feel for it that comes with time. Off the top of my head I can only really remember 2-3 bites when a bass nailed it... the bite is usually subtle for me (or I have a bad memory).

I grew up only fishing worms until I joined here! The only thing that's difficult is worm fishing in a yak. You really need to be still to make a quality worthy retrieve. I'm mainly just using a t-rig with worm of choice. Reeling very slowly. If I feel a rock I pop it over like you would a jig then carry on. Like they said watch you line because many times they bite on the fall or will slowly take the bait sideways. My biggest bass this year has been on a grande bass blue fleck. And there is never a time to not consider fishing a worm they always work

I finally tried it this summer after seeing the guys worm fish on kayak outings. Man I realized I had missed the boat previously the first time I caught a bass on a worm. It is so fun! From years of crappie fishing I knew I loved finesse fishing, but I didn't realize worms can be the ultimate finesse fishing. There is nothing better than casting out a weightless finesse worm tx rigged or wacky rigged senko and watching that line. I use white braid with a long leader to help my tired eyes. I have a pretty soft hookset but then again I'm fishing braid with a fluoro leader and chasing pond dinks.

I grew up fishing t-rigged worms. I thought that was the norm. I'm trying to open up to new styles and techniques but I keep coming back to worms cause that's what always produces for me. And 9 times out of 10 I caught hung and end up losing any other type of rig..

But Lusca nailed it.

And perkins too. When in doubt, set the hook. I always feel stupid when there's nothing there though. I have to look around and make sure nobody was watching my dramatic hook set the led to nothing.

I'd get some black/blue, watermelon, and pumpkinseed with a chartreuse tail senkos, and some watermelon super flukes. If they wint bite these, Im going to the house. The senkos will need less weight, but if I'm already rigged up, I'm not changing weight.

Most of the time, I'll chunk it out towards the bank, let it hit the bottom then lift it up off the bottom give it two or three reels and keep that pattern. I only change the speed, like reel alittle faster and let it sit longer or just slower all together. Usually, when I've fished all day and haven't caught anything, I'll slow it waaaay down and usually end up with a little dink.

Probably one out of every 50 or so I catch, I won't feel bite. Normally it seems to be a real fast thump thump, or they just slam it. The big ones are the ones that'll trick you by just ticking it, or swimming towards you.

Can't beat an old school 7 inch worm t rigged. I feel like with the 7 inch you get a lot of bites. Big fish will eat them too though. Always experiment with retrieves, but I'd say most of the time I'm making 3 small hops then reeling slack. I think Lusca nails it when he talks about weight. Changing up the size of your bullet weight can make all the difference. What size you use depends on how deep you're fishing. If you can't feel the bottom, then you need more, but having too much weight can spook fish I think and it definitely can limit the action of the worm. Most days, with light wind I'm using either 3/16 or 1/4, but windier days and/or a little deeper water I'm going with 5/16 and 3/8. One of the biggest bass I ever caught came out of 25 feet and I had 3/4 weight on that day. Just experiment. I'm a fan of the berkley power worm. I like to always have some in shades of green/watermelon for clear water/sunny days and also black grape/blue fleck for stained water and lower light.

This next few months is a great time to develop confidence in new lures/presentations. Keep throwing it and experimenting, it catches fish.

Find a copy of Bill Dance's book on the Art of Worm Fishing, published in '73. An excellent primer.....

Just remember hook sets are free. I personally do nit believe in keep tension at all times with the worm. There is nothing wrong with a lil slack at times, with that said you really need watch your line. If you are gut hooking fish you are leaving to much slack. There is no right or wrong way to fish a worm try different ways and let the fish tell dictate how to work it. I use gutchecks method of 3 bounces then pause most of the time.

There are a lot of options and opinions on worm fishing.
In general I use only enough weight to feel the bottom, this depends on size and type of worm, depth of water, how much wind or current and if I'm holding still or moving. I prefer to not be moving.
If you see you line twitch, feel anything that feels different or even if it's just the hair on the back of you neck, Set The Hook. It's to late if you find youself wondering was that a bite. I've caught many nice fish when nothing obvious happened, sometimes they will nearly jerk the rod out of your hand but sometimes it's just a feeling I get.
Practice, Practice, Practice.............

We live in an age of technology and scented baits and scents to put on baits have come a long way. Get some garlic bang or the better salt/garlic/anice impregnated baits and they will hold on to it just a bit longer. The longer they hold it the easier it will be for you to learn the bite.

Most of the rest has been covered other than having a good hook that is the right size for the bait.

Clay, here's a great informative video on worm fishing 101. Even though his heads cut off. I'm no pro but I've had the most luck fishing worms very slow TX rigged. Hope this helps. If you're coming out to the GTG I'll be happy to share some tips with you.
Oh...and always watch your line.

http://youtu.be/GRj3nIFfC04