So I went to the store got s bunch of different plastic worms, I was wondering what type of rig to use for plastic worms that would work best this time of year fishing a slow moving river (Wallkil) where I have caught bass this season on Jigs and spoons.  Is it still too early for Plastic worms?

 

Any advice would be appreciated!

 

Thanks.

 

 

A good old straight tailed worm, like the Zoom finesse, or trick worm, work year round on a shaky head. I find that worms with ribbon tails, and any kind of "action" start working much better the closer we get to summer, all through summer, and into the warmer periods of the fall. But the straight tailed worms still work then too, esp. when the bite is tuff.

A weightless senko Texas rigged is killer all the time. That shimmy and shake makes me want to bite it!

Any worm or lizard any time anywhere's Texas's rigged or Carolina rigged will work.

 

Adjust movement speed and length of leader on Crig to depth of water and temp of water.

I have a trig worm tied on 24/7/365

 

Caught about 11 today on a wacky trick worm on my local river today though

Spring time is wacky rig time for me. 

 

Thanks for the help, applied some of this to my trip.

 

Well today's trip was interesting on the Wallkil.  Tried several types of plastic worm rigs..nothing worked.. even tried different brands.. tried several different spots.  Worms are out.  Folks fishing near me even tried live bait.. nothing.

 

Jigs did not work... (surprising).

 

What did work.. Phoebe spoons.. and Floating crank bait minnow lures.  However.. I only landed 1 small bass (a pound) on the crank bait.  Almost landed ones on the spoon but they are now throwing the hook. (last week I manged to land a 2+ pound on a phoebe).

 

My theory:  Its spawning season, these fish are smarter then the average fish since its a heavily fished river, and they are just making runs at stuff to defend territory.

 

I plan to go on my next trip this Friday, going to visit 3 specific spots and cut worms out all together, I wasted 2 hours of my trip trying to make plastic worms work lol.

 

 

 

 

Just so you know, the plastic worm is the ultimate bass catching lure ever made.  Now, it may not be that great where you fish, but day in day out, across the whole country, nothing produces better than the plastic worm (soft plastics).  

Welcome to BR site. It's helps members to know where you are located and species of bass you are trying to catch. 

You mentioned Wallkill so looked that up and deterime you are fishing a Smallmouth River in NY that connects to the Hudson River. Now we can focus on smallmouth bass in a small river, something I personally have little experience with.

Tom

 

Its the most challenging fishing I have ever experienced.  Which is why I likely won't move to other places for a few more seasons.

 

If I was back fishing Lake Carmel I would have had a much better season so far LOL.... 

 

Challenges are good though.

 

With regard to smallies in streams, an excellent all-purpose lure is a

Kalin 5" Grub on a Gamakatsu 3/16 oz Round Jighead (3/0 hook).

 

A crank-&-glide retrieve is basic, but in the current of a stream,

also let the jig roll naturally in the current along the bottom.

 

Roger

Split shot or drop shot version works spring, summer and fall on the river for me. I don't fish huge worms. 5" & 4" for the most part. Finesse fishing on a 6'8"/6'10" ML or M set up. 

I like to use a Zoom Trick worm rigged weightless.

 

I have some Zoom worms left.. I used a weightless setup last year and was getting some bites.. even caught one smallmouth.  Last season I started late.

 

If the weather is good I am planning a 9 hour trip on Friday, if I catch anything I will post pics on what I used and the fish.

Rubber worm fishing is very productive way to fish. I find my biggest problem is having to slow myself down a lot after Crankbait and spinner bait fishing. Yes you automatically will fish it slower but just when you think your fishing it slow enough you should probably be fishing a bit slower still. 

 

I'm gonna make it a point this season to have days where I fish it exclusively. Or have all plastics days. Worms, grubs and tubes for the day.