6 minutes ago, Pat Brown said:

 

 

I agree.

 

I am specifically referring to offset round bend/worm hook - I don't use any EWG style hooks with worms personally.

 

3/0 is my choice for the regular size but 2/0 would work fine - it's a pretty small bait compared to the Magnum size.

Im Gonna have  to try some round bends. For some reason I always go to ewg  

14 minutes ago, JHoss said:

A 2/0 or 3/0 EWG is perfect for standard size speed worms. If you're going to an offset round bend, then a 4/0 or 5/0 is perfect. IMO too many people use oversized EWG's when a 2/0 works for 90% of baits. When you go to a 4/0 or bigger EWG, you increase the height so much that the hook has to rotate in an average fish's mouth for it to get closed. That results in poor or missed hookups. My rule of thumb is to use the smallest hook that still has enough gap for the plastic to move down and create clearance for the hook point to latch in. 

That’s exactly how I’ve always done it basically. 

29 minutes ago, Joedodge said:

Im Gonna have  to try some round bends. For some reason I always go to ewg  

I tend to go EWG as well just for the versatility. If I think there's a high likelihood the speed worm will stay on all day, I'll use a round bend, though. Same logic with weights. If I'm likely to rotate plastics on that rod, I'll peg a tungsten flipping weight. But if I'm expecting to speed worm all day, I use a screw in worm weight. 

1 hour ago, JHoss said:

A 2/0 or 3/0 EWG is perfect for standard size speed worms. If you're going to an offset round bend, then a 4/0 or 5/0 is perfect. IMO too many people use oversized EWG's when a 2/0 works for 90% of baits. When you go to a 4/0 or bigger EWG, you increase the height so much that the hook has to rotate in an average fish's mouth for it to get closed. That results in poor or missed hookups. My rule of thumb is to use the smallest hook that still has enough gap for the plastic to move down and create clearance for the hook point to 

 

I don’t even own 2/0 hooks and wouldn’t even consider using one or a 3/0 for that matter for a Speed Worm. 
 

I respectfully disagree about having poor or missed hookups with 4/0 or bigger  ewg. 
Thats all I use and have a pretty good track record. 
 

How you guys get a solid set and not lose a fish during a strong retrieve through any type of grass where the Speed Worm shines, using such a tiny hook is beyond me. 
 

To each his own. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike

 

 

36 minutes ago, Mike L said:

I don’t even own 2/0 hooks and wouldn’t even consider using one or a 3/0 for that matter for a Speed Worm. 
 

I respectfully disagree about having poor or missed hookups with 4/0 or bigger  ewg. 
Thats all I use and have a pretty good track record. 
 

How you guys get a solid set and not lose a fish during a strong retrieve through any type of grass where the Speed Worm shines, using such a tiny hook is beyond me. 
 

To each his own. 

I used to be the same way- everything was thrown on a 3/0 or 4/0. Then I heard Frank Scalish talking about this topic once and how he does much better on a smaller hook, so I gave it a try and it has proven true for me. I see that you're in FL, though, so perhaps that explains a lot of it. It's rare for me to encounter fish over 6 lbs and our vegetation isn't nearly as thick, so maybe there is a greater need for a bigger/stouter hook down there. I'm curious what your craw/creature bait of choice is? I find most of my favorites get overpowered by 4/0 hooks and it affects the action. 

23 minutes ago, JHoss said:

I used to be the same way- everything was thrown on a 3/0 or 4/0. Then I heard Frank Scalish talking about this topic once and how he does much better on a smaller hook, so I gave it a try and it has proven true for me. I see that you're in FL, though, so perhaps that explains a lot of it. It's rare for me to encounter fish over 6 lbs and our vegetation isn't nearly as thick, so maybe there is a greater need for a bigger/stouter hook down there. I'm curious what your craw/creature bait of choice is? I find most of my favorites get overpowered by 4/0 hooks and it affects the action. 

First choice for flipping/pitching/punching is a Rage Bug. 
I’ve used those since they were just a prototype and was given a bag to try. 
 

2nd is a Rage Craw.  
They have proven themselves more than once. 
 

When I need to slow down the action I use a Sweet Beaver 

When I need a larger profile especially trying to fire up a slow finicky bite, first choice is the standard sized Brush Hog 

 

 

 

 

Mike

Ultravibe Speed Worm 3/0 straight shank round bend 

 

Magnum Ultravibe Speed Worm 4/0 offset round bend 

 

Don't peg nuthin 😉

On 5/13/2025 at 6:55 PM, Pat Brown said:

Don't sleep on the Magnum size - it's one my favorite baits of all time  - just tied my 11 lb 5 oz PB largemouth on this very bait last week!

 

It catches small fish too but it really seems to get big bites!  Use a 5/0 offset worm hook and you hardly miss any fish that bite and you can really horse them out of wood (or vegetation! 😉)

 

this image must be sponsored by that monkey...  makes me want to scurry to the bait shop.  hahaha..

 

i do have some giant hooks i thought i would never use

You can swim them too!

 

 

13 minutes ago, Darth-Baiter said:

this image must be sponsored by that monkey...  makes me want to scurry to the bait shop.  hahaha..

 

i do have some giant hooks i thought i would never use

 

 

When I really commit to the Magnum it just wows me almost every time.

 

They aren't always on it but when they are it's a big fish bait 1000%

 

Gotta figure it's +/- functionally interchangeable with a 7" soft swimbait of extremely fancy and expensive hand poured nature - at least to a largemouth bass.

 

And a lot more versatile and weedless and I reckon 'subtler' and more 'natural and random' somehow?

 

I dunno I fish em a lot now!

Vertically at isolated weed/reed clumps

 

When they just won’t commit to a frog

 

Swim on top dropping in any hole you find

 

Cut the tail with a razor for a different sound and a more spitting action on top

 

Cut the tail off when on a stick bait bite when you run short (Magnum only)

 

Theres a few more modifications and presentations I do but you get the point. 

 

It’s one of the very few baits that I won’t need to put down on any given outing 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike

 

As good as the ol' speedworm is I think the obvious is being ignored here, it was only when the rigging method was changed that the bites came, presentation was the key. It’s a rare day on the water that I don’t present a carolina rig or a close cousin mojo or petey.

5 hours ago, Mike L said:

Cut the tail off when on a stick bait bite when you run short (Magnum only)

 

Try the Magnum Trick Worm 😉

Good suggestion 

I so rarely throw a stick bait I wouldn’t want to buy something specifically. 
 

I just keep a few beat up Speed Worms and use those if I had too. 
 

 

 

 

Mike

40 minutes ago, Catt said:

 

Try the Magnum Trick Worm 😉

That’s one that’s actually on my list to try!!! I love trick worms. But they just don’t have the mass to them I’d like. So the magnum seems perfect to light Texas rig 

On 5/14/2025 at 1:26 AM, wdp said:

Love both the regular & magnum sized Zoom uv speed worms. Very versatile baits. Don’t sleep on using these weightless buzzed on surface as a topwater. It’s like a more subtle version of a horny toad & with that slimmer profile, sometimes it’s the ticket. 

One time I made a bad cast to a Dock with a Texas rig craw, started reeling back then boom a 4 pounder hammered it while it was going across the surface. I never thought of using a craw or worm that way, but it’s something unique.

7 hours ago, Mike L said:

First choice for flipping/pitching/punching is a Rage Bug. 
I’ve used those since they were just a prototype and was given a bag to try. 
 

2nd is a Rage Craw.  
They have proven themselves more than once. 
 

When I need to slow down the action I use a Sweet Beaver 

When I need a larger profile especially trying to fire up a slow finicky bite, first choice is the standard sized Brush Hog 

 

 

 

 

Mike

That’s interesting. It seems we’re in the same area and I don’t have much luck with the rage craw. Beavers like the D bomb and the sweet beaver work much better for me. What colors do you usually use?

 

Back on topic: Anyone use straight shank worm hooks for speed worms?

6 hours ago, Glenn said:

You can swim them too!

 

 

Wait… isn’t that what we’re talking about with the UV speed worm? I just assume if you’re fishing a speed worm you’re swimming it!

34 minutes ago, woolleyfooley said:

That’s interesting. It seems we’re in the same area and I don’t have much luck with the rage craw. Beavers like the D bomb and the sweet beaver work much better for me. What colors do you usually use?

 

Back on topic: Anyone use straight shank worm hooks for speed worms?

Wait… isn’t that what we’re talking about with the UV speed worm? I just assume if you’re fishing a speed worm you’re swimming it!

I’d be interested to hear about the straight shank hook. I’ve been looking at them!! lol I haven’t caught a fish swimming it steady yet. 

I like to go back and forth between an ultravibe and a mag2...or a mag ultravibe and an ol' monster. 4/0 ewg for the regular size worms and 5/0 for the mag worms. I get the complaint about hookup ratio w/ smaller EWG hooks and tend to like a gamakatsu hybrid more for smaller applications like a 2/0 but have not noticed any significant difference in hookup ratio w/ the larger ewg sizes (eg. 4/0 and above). In terms of which one to throw if it's a little more clear I like the mag2 or old monster...on the other hand if the water is stained or if it's cloudy or windy then the ultravibe seems to do a little better. Both amazing products and my 2 favorite colors are redbug or junebug red...I suppose sometimes I'll throw a green something or other but it's usually one of these 2 colors 90% of the time.

3 hours ago, woolleyfooley said:

That’s interesting. It seems we’re in the same area and I don’t have much luck with the rage craw. Beavers like the D bomb and the sweet beaver work much better for me. What colors do you usually use?

 

Back on topic: Anyone use straight shank worm hooks for speed worms?

Wait… isn’t that what we’re talking about with the UV speed worm? I just assume if you’re fishing a speed worm you’re swimming it!

June Bug the vast majority of the time. 
I’ll dip the tail in chartreuse up to just above the cut for the most tannic water. 

 

Yes, the original intent was to be used as a swim worm as it falls into that category, but it’s so versatile don’t just lock into one way. Especially my favorite, the Magnum 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike
 

 

14 hours ago, woolleyfooley said:

 

Back on topic: Anyone use straight shank worm hooks for speed worms?

 

14 hours ago, Joedodge said:

I’d be interested to hear about the straight shank hook.

 

Been throwing straight shank round bend hooks since 70s, it ain't broke why y'all trying to fix it?

 

I perfer traditional old school without the bait keeper, it tears up to much plastic. I want a hook that's between a punch hook & a finesse hook in diameter. And give me a needle point 

funny enough, what catt just described is almost exactly how I was fishing it Wednesday.  My hook had a keeper, but otherwise that was it.  Didn't catch anything on it (or anything on the bigger side of plastics) but it won't be the last time I throw it.  In 2 weeks when the bluegill spawn really kicks off it's going to be killer.  And I still have a bag or two of the original water gremlin needle nose weights which slide through grass like nobody's business and are perfect for swimming a worm like this.  I wish someone still made them.

 

 

6 minutes ago, casts_by_fly said:

funny enough, what catt just described is almost exactly how I was fishing it Wednesday.  My hook had a keeper, but otherwise that was it.  Didn't catch anything on it (or anything on the bigger side of plastics) but it won't be the last time I throw it.  In 2 weeks when the bluegill spawn really kicks off it's going to be killer.  And I still have a bag or two of the original water gremlin needle nose weights which slide through grass like nobody's business and are perfect for swimming a worm like this.  I wish someone still made them.

 

 

Casts by Fly,

     I use to use these and was very sorry to see that they quit making them.  I used them fishing a T-rig along rip-rap.  They would get hung in the rocks a lot less. I imagine they would be great for swimming a speed worm through grass and cover too.

 

FM

In so I don't forget this. 

8 hours ago, Catt said:

 

 

Been throwing straight shank round bend hooks since 70s, it ain't broke why y'all trying to fix it?

 

I perfer traditional old school without the bait keeper, it tears up to much plastic. I want a hook that's between a punch hook & a finesse hook in diameter. And give me a needle point 

So what hook do you use?

I have a fair amount of Mustad's Denny Brauer Straight Shank Round Bend Flippin Hooks.

 

Other than those Gamakatsu Black Round Bend Worm Hook