With the heat of summer here it's about that time to drag some big 10" worms around and try to pull up a hawg. What's your rod/reel/line combo for throwing big worms on T rig or C rig like the zoom ole monster and others? I'm working on my current combo, particularly on what line I like. Right now I'm using a Shimano Curado I 7:2:1 on a Johnny Morris elite 7'6 MH. I've been trying several different types of line trying to figure out what I like best. Everything from 14-17lb FC to 20-30lb braid straight or with a leader. What are you guys throwing them on?

If it is a big worm with a bullet weight, I like my G. Loomis 844C IMX with a Daiwa Zillion. 

NFC 709 HM with a curado I 7.2:1 and braid with a fluoro leader

Custom build on a 7'6" MH Rainshadow Revelation and a Curado HG. I like 16 lb. Sunline Sniper for mine. I throw all my deep bottom contact baits on either 14 or 16 lb. Sniper.

Loomis MBR844 GLX / Curado 200HG and right now I am using 14# Sniper FC with a 5/0 Gamakatsu EWG and a 3/8oz Tungsten bullet weight.

7' 6" MH/F Pinnacle DCH5/Pinnacle Optimus LTE/15 or 20lb Seaguar. 

7' MH Abu Veritas, a Bass Pro Shops Pro Qualifier 6.3:1 reel, and 17 pound mono.

7'0" Megabass Orochi XX Tour Versatile, Shimano Metanium. 17# Sea-Guar Fluorocarbon line. I can't remember if it is InvisX or Red Label, TBH I can't really tell them apart.

Megabass F5-75 X7 with my new metanium xg

My c-rig rod is a shimano crucial 7'6, mh/f and I recently put a 7.1 pro qualifier on it. 15#yz hybrid.

I will throw a c-rig first. ..always. ... if that's not the ticket and I know I'm in the right spot, I will then t-rig a big worm on that same rod. Its perfect for both techniques IMO.

DX745

OGZillion /w upgaded spool/handle

20# sniper

7'3" MH *** with a curado I and 18 pound shooter

Abu Vendetta, 7' MH with an Abu Record 50, 20lb. Big Game.

 

Tom

7'3" HXF Kistler Helium 3 

 

OG 7.1 Zillion  16lb Sniper

7' MH/F Fenwick Techna AV

Curado E7

16# Sniper

Mike

Dobyns DX 744

Chronarch CI4 150hg

16# FC Sniper

I use either a 1/4 oz tungsten weight or a 3/8 oz

Dobyns Champion 734

Old Daiwa Zillion 7.1

15lb Seaguar Flouro

St Croix Avid 7' MH Fast with a Tatula 7.3 and Invizix 12#...TX rigged

I'm going to use my x7 extreme mission with a td ito or metanium xg. I never used a big worm but I'm going to give it a try this year.

It really depends on the size of the hook wire, the line strength and how you rig the big worms.

Soft plastic 10" worms with ribbon tails weigh less than straight tails, less plastic. Average straight tail is 3/8 oz, ribbon tail a little over a 1/4 oz. 4/0 to 5/0 heavy wire hook + bullet weight (1/4 oz) + 10" is around 3/4 oz.

Use the same rod and line you use for 3/4 to 1 oz jigs.

When a bass engulfs a mouth full is soft plastic you have more time to get a hook set than with a jig most of the time. Feel a strike, lower the rod tip down, take up most of the slack line then snap or whip set the hook to drive the point through the plastic and into the mouth tissue. Your line needs to be able to withstand the hook set, the rod strong enough to drive the hook into the basses mouth.

Reel speed isn't a big factor, you work a worm with the rod, then take up slack with the reel, use whatever you are comfortable with, 5 power or heavy jig rod works great. At night I use 15 lb Big Game, don't need FC at night. Day time Sniper 14#, hooks; Owner 5103 or Gamastsu 484, size 4/0.

Tom

Tom, thanks for giving the weights of the different worms.  When visiting Florida I use a 10" unweighted ribbintail a lot.  Usually with a #3 or #4 EWG or a #3 hook with guard like the Mustad soft bait hooks.  I always felt they fell short of 3/8 oz.  I have used a #5 EWG, but it seems like a lot of hook for the bait.  Catches fish, tho.    I like the weed guard hooks because they tear up the worm less.

 

I have the same rod and reel Mike L uses, although not currently together.  I've always used my combos for pretty much anything.  It is about time I started finding out which rod works best for what technique.  It would help the uncertainty as to which combos to take that day.

MH/F and H/MF with 30-50lb braid.

I use a 7' 3 MH Veracity with a Revo Rocket and 15 lb flouro with 5/0 hook.

I use a mbr 844c GLX for big worms, jigs and small swimbaits

7'6" MH/F Duckett White Ice, 7:1 Daiwa Zillion spooled with 15# Izorline XXX copolymer.