When do you start throwing your larger worms on your body of water? 

Year around.

Tom

you can use them year  round but for me they shine in the dog days. july and august when its hot and the weeds are thick.

Bass surprise me all the time with how hungry they seem to get. In the summer, it seems like no lure you can throw is big enough

All year...I throw nothing longer than 10”

 

 

 

Mike

I fish big straight tail worms all year, 8-10 inchers that are big around as my pinky. Most are labeled as "Mag Finesse" worms, but they're meatier than most 10" curly tail worms by a long shot. 

 

Year round for me too.

When the water is wet ?

2 hours ago, Catt said:

When the water is wet ?

Hehe. But is water really wet? ??

Sounds like I'm in the minority hear and should maybe rethink this as I've never tossed a big  worm until after post-spawn, big being 10in.+

20 minutes ago, papajoe222 said:

Sounds like I'm in the minority hear and should maybe rethink this as I've never tossed a big  worm until after post-spawn, big being 10in.+

Maybe I may need to rethink as well.

Don't start throwing 10" Zooms until well into 70+ water temps and in the fall. 

@papajoe222 & @Bird 

 

If ya gonna pick a certain time of year to throw "big" baits pre-spawn would be it.

Here in Florida, April and May can be dry months.  When this happens the Everglades flats go dry forcing all the fish into the canals.  It's nothing to catch 100 bass a day during this time.  Most of the fish you catch will be small.  This is the time to pull out the big worms.  I have used worms up to 13" in length that looked like they were cut out of a truck tire.  I once won a tournament on the St. John's River using J.W. Hawg-Hunter giant worms.  I've been looking for one for my collection and haven't been able to find even a photo.  I don't think anyone makes a worm that big anymore, they should.

I've had the best luck on the big worms when it's hot in the summer. I use 10" size the most.  You can increase your chances on bigger fish with the big worms, but not always. Last season I caught several 8" to 10" bass on a 10" worm. But they're definitely worth a try.

Like some others posted I need to rethink this as well. I usually don't start throwing 10" worms until the water temp is in the mid to upper 70s. A 7.5" worm is about as big as I normally use until then. 

12" Blackberry Jelly Worm.

Thanks for the reminder on the big worms! I was adjusting to a bunch of baits on a new river i was fishing Sunday morning with no luck and this thread popped in my mind. We only had an hour to fish before having to leave and I picked up the old trusty Zoom 12" Ol monster. I missed one, then knocked the skunk off with a dink, then caught a 4 a couple minutes later.

Not to overtake the thread but what size hook do you use with your 10+ inch worms?

Depends on the diameter of the worm body where the hook is located. The old rule at least 2X the worm diameter vs hook gap applies. Usually a 4/0 or 5/0 hook. I like Owner CPS light and 5301. 

I fish big worm 9”-13” straight tails s l o w l y with 1/4 to 1/2 bullet weights depending on depth and wind.

Trying to define “worm” water vs jig water comes down to angles and cover. Gentle sloping areas with wood like brush with soil transition like clay to gravel is my 1st choice.

Most of the time I just go with my gut or fish both.

Tom

Throwing the 14.25" Bruiser Baits Da Big Nasty tonight on a 9/0 3/8 oz Shaky Head and Texas rigged. The water temps over 75 and air is mid 90's. IT'S TIME!

 

Sounds like it's time!

What...is...that?

On 5/17/2021 at 1:06 PM, WRB said:

Year around.

Tom

this....

12 hours ago, dj1975232 said:

What...is...that?

Zip-zilla zipper worm sent to me by a forum member. Might have to break em out this weekend. 

https://fishingcompleteinc.com/collections/zipper-worm-company/products/zip-zilla

It's silly big, but I fish in texas so there's stuff around here that can eat it. The next size down is probably more practical unless you really know you are in monster-land.