This “wrong” winter lure just saved my trip

Hey, Keith here.

Plastic worms are not a bait most anglers reach for in the winter. 

When the water is cold and bites are hard to come by, the instinct is to add weight, slow things down, and keep contact with the bottom.

Worms usually get saved for spring and summer, when bass are more active and willing to chase.

But every once in a while, winter fishing rewards you for doing the opposite.

This past weekend I had one of the most enjoyable fishing trips I've had in a while, and it came after one small adjustment to a Power Worm I usually throw in warmer weather.

Today, I’m going to show you exactly how I did it.

BEST LINKS

What I looked at this week

• 4 reasons to fish a weightless right now (Wired2Fish)

• Watson’s Approach to a Weightless Worm (Major League Fishing)

• The simple winter trick that catches bass ALL day (BassGeek)

• Mastering the weightless wacky worm (BassResource)

• Wacky rig fishing: Worms, hooks, O-rings, and more (Anglers)

Deals of the week

• Bass Pro Shops marked down a pack of XPS Superlock Hooks from $2.49 to $1.47.

• Walmart has a 20-pack pack of 6.5-inch Zoom Trick Worms on sale for $5.87, regularly priced for $7.

• Cabela’s has a pair of World Wide Sportsman Grip Current Fishing Shoes regularly priced for $79.99 reduced to $39.77.

DEEP DIVE 

Why weightless worms still work for winter bass

I have to admit, I usually think of using weightless worms in the spring and summer, but winter bass still eat them when the presentation makes sense.

The biggest advantage of a weightless worm is the fall rate. 

Without added weight, the worm sinks slowly and stays horizontal. This helps it hang out in the strike zone longer, especially around docks, pilings, and sun-warmed banks.

The weightless worm also shines for bank anglers because you spend less time dragging into grass and dead vegetation and more time actually fishing.

That lesson hit home for me this past weekend. 

After a cold front passed through, I made a short morning trip to the lake without much confidence. Now generally, I don’t like to fish bluebird days after a cold front, but I had the morning free, so it was about eight a.m. when I got to the lake. 

I focused on the west side where the sun was hitting the water first and started fishing the outside pilings of a dock.

I threw a white and chartreuse spinnerbait a few times but came up empty.

Then I reached for my other rod, which had a Texas-rigged seven-inch Power Worm tied on.

I soon realized that that wasn’t going to cut it because it was picking up dead decayed vegetation on the the bottom (this typically happens mid-winter when the dead grass in on the bottom) 

Out of frustration, I cut the line and slid the weight off. 

This time, I cast slightly past the last piling and just watched the line as the worm sank. Without the weight, the fall was slow, so I let it reach the bottom before starting a slow retrieve.

On the next cast, I noticed a small tick in the line while the worm was sinking. I hesitated for a moment, then saw the line move to the left.

That was enough.

I set the hook and brought a solid two-pound bass to the bank.

I tossed that fish back and made the exact same cast again. Another tick. Another fish.

Talk about fun! I was using my new Trika ultra-light combo Ti 2000 reel with Trika 6X Rod. 

Every fish felt like a giant! 

From there, it turned into a pattern. I worked that weightless worm along the western side of the lake, hitting docks, pilings, and sunny stretches of bank.

By the time I wrapped up, I had landed 13 bass from the shoreline, with the biggest going about two and a half pounds.

Every one of them came on a weightless worm, using a presentation I rarely lean on in the winter.

Removing the weight completely changed how that bait behaved in cold water. The slower fall kept it in front of fish longer, and the bites told me everything I needed to know.

How to rig a weightless worm in winter

There is nothing complicated about rigging a weightless worm, but a few details matter more in cold water.

Weightless Texas rig:

1. Use a long, plastic worm, preferably longer than six inches.

2. Rig the worm Texas style, but leave the weight off completely.

3. Skin-hook the point just enough to stay weedless without burying it.

4. Make long casts and let the worm fall on semi-slack line.

5. Watch for ticks or sideways movement rather than waiting to feel the bite.

Wacky Rig

1. Hook the worm through the middle to maximize action on the fall.

2. Use an O-ring to use the worm longer without it ripping.

3. Avoid vegetation and grass; a wacky rig does not pull through as easily as a Texas Rig.

4. Keep a bow in the line and lift the rod tip up when moving the worm. 

5. Never use a straight, tightline retrieve.

Rod, line, and technique

Spinning gear helps with casting distance and line control, giving you the finesse needed to present a worm naturally in cold water.

A medium-light rod with a sensitive tip lets you feel even the most subtle of taps, while a smooth drag system prevents break-offs when a sluggish fish finally commits.

Lighter line, typically 4- to 6-pound test, allows the worm to fall with less resistance and appear more lifelike.

Six-pound Triline is affordable and works great. I have also used colored crappie line to help with line visibility. 

The key is patience and rhythm.

Let the bait sink slowly, keeping a slight bow in the line so you can detect subtle takes.

Pause longer than feels normal, then lift gently to check for weight before reeling in.

Most winter bites happen while the worm is falling, not moving, so resist the urge to overwork the presentation.