I know a lot of anglers that don't consider a ribbon tail a go to bait for summer, but I'm here to tell you that, like a jig, you should consider having one rigged on your deck. Big long ones to short 4in. ones are a good producer of fish, especially in the summer. Yes, creature baits, craws and beavers will produce, but that worm is just something those girls can't resist. They'll dart out from the weeds to open water to inhale one.  I call them the Zara Spook of the bottom for that ability to draw fish to them.

Big, long worms have been producing better than average fish during the summer since they were first introduced. Although the first oversized worm I threw was a Mann's Jelly Worm, I all but abandoned them when the ribbon tails hit the market. Like their big brothers, small ones produce and not just smaller fish. Texas Rig, Carolina Rig, split shot,  or as a dressing for a bare jig, you may want to give them another look. 

Thanks for sharing. I haven't fished a big worm a lot, but I have been having some good success with a regular sized ribbontail. I do have a few packs of larger ones, I'll have to break them out.

During this time of year, the ribbon-tail becomes my primary pitching bait. A 10” Culprit, usually. 

I like a ribbontail really good. I start throwing a big one around April here. It’s good for months before it hits July and all of a sudden people start thinking they need to start throwing big worms. This summer, I’m noticing they like a straight tail profile a little better where I am. 
 

Mag 2 and ol monster are my favorites. 

I got my PB on a red/shad Culprit Fat Max

Don’t have to tell me twice!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike

I pretty much only throw big worms from about April until about August.  I'm talking roughly 60% of the casts I make in hot months are with a big worm.

 

Aside from a frog and a jig - probably my other favorite way to fish and big worms have caught both my 11 lbers.

10 hours ago, papajoe222 said:

Although the first oversized worm I threw was a Mann's Jelly Worm, I all but abandoned them when the ribbon tails hit the market.

 

Interesting. To me Mann made one of the best ribbon tail worms ever made called the mannipulator over 40 years ago. I still have 20 bags of them. I should pull them out and give them a try- again.

 

20 worms per bag. Don't see that any more.

 

What set this model apart from all others was the triple swirl tail. No one had a triple! Plenty of singles and doubles, but as far as I know, only the mannipulator had that triple tail action.

 

It has not been made in decades, but bags can still be found for sale online costing over $20 per bag. At that rate my old stash is now worth $400! Almost as good as gold.

I love  a large ribbon tail. I rarely fish a 7”. Always a 10 inch or magnum 10 inch. It is a warmer months bait for me. But the action is amazing. They get bites dragging,hopping or slow rolling. Anymore though I basically only throw. Trick worm, ribbon tail or ultravibe worm. I think next year I’m gonna step up to the magnum trick worm and magnum ultravibe. 

I used up my supply of long ribbon tail worms fishing in brush piles. I have so many soft plastics that I decided to quit buying more unless I absolutely need something. I still have a new pack of 12 inch black grape jelly worms. 

 

 I  gave a young cousin a grocery bags full of soft plastics.

I don't think I've ever caught a fish on a curly tail worm... I just never, ever fish them. My original impression was that "big worms" are for deeper water fishing, which is something I don't really do. 

 

I want to explore the use of big worms for shallow fishing. Jar says it's his:

13 hours ago, Jar11591 said:

primary pitching bait

 

Are you using a pegged weight in heavy cover? Or an unpegged weight in open cover? 

What about you other guys? How do you use a worm in shallow water? 

22 minutes ago, JackstrawIII said:

How do you use a worm in shallow water? 

The same as a shorter worm. You can  get by with a lighter weight for a slower fall.

37 minutes ago, JackstrawIII said:

I don't think I've ever caught a fish on a curly tail worm... I just never, ever fish them. My original impression was that "big worms" are for deeper water fishing, which is something I don't really do. 

 

I want to explore the use of big worms for shallow fishing. Jar says it's his:

 

Are you using a pegged weight in heavy cover? Or an unpegged weight in open cover? 

What about you other guys? How do you use a worm in shallow water? 

Pegged in heavy cover. Unpegged in sparse and open cover. Fish it just like ya would any other worm. 

45 minutes ago, JackstrawIII said:

Are you using a pegged weight in heavy cover? Or an unpegged weight in open cover? 

If I’m fishing really snaggy wood, I may peg the bullet but I typically leave it unpegged. 

I’m newer to bass fishing hardcore, but grew up in the 90’s and laughingly, that’s how fish a lot. Casting jigs with trailers are my go to and Texas-rigged powerworms when I’m in thick grass/weeds. Worms, like jigs, get bit on the drop quite often as I’m sure weed lying bass react vs respond. Atleast that’s been my greenhorn experience 

 

13 hours ago, JackstrawIII said:

I don't think I've ever caught a fish on a curly tail worm... I just never, ever fish them. My original impression was that "big worms" are for deeper water fishing, which is something I don't really do. 

 

I want to explore the use of big worms for shallow fishing. Jar says it's his:

 

Are you using a pegged weight in heavy cover? Or an unpegged weight in open cover? 

What about you other guys? How do you use a worm in shallow water? 

if you fish around grass. which in upstate NY im sire you do, dont be afraid to throw a 10 inch worm n the grass. its thick down there show them something that gets their attention and is worth moving to get. I fish a 10 inch worm every time i fish in summer.

A texas rigged 10” Berkley Power worm is a staple for me in the summer.  Usually worked along the edge of weed beds in 8-12ft. of water, it does draw them out. 😎

23 hours ago, Pat Brown said:

big worms have caught both my 11 lbers.

So is this a big fish bait only then? We don't get fish that big here and we'd be positively thrilled with a fish even half that size....

 

I was thinking a big worm like that would be killer on a Neko! 

A “must have” bait when we go to Florida. 

38 minutes ago, RRocket said:

So is this a big fish bait only then? We don't get fish that big here and we'd be positively thrilled with a fish even half that size....

 

I was thinking a big worm like that would be killer on a Neko! 

 

Nothing is a big fish bait only!

 

If you're lucky you got a bait that bass like.

 

Bass seem to have a hard time saying no to a big worm and as a result, big girls eat it too!

Mister Twister Hang 10 Ribbon Tail

Good Fishing

The Big Bite Baits Kriet Tail Worm is my favorite big worm. Not only is it a big tail, but it’s a thick bodied worm, just a bulky bait overall. I don’t like “big”, worms that are very 10” but only as thick as a pencil, that’s not a big bait at all to me. The old standby Power worm is a solid second option too.

 

For anything over 10” the Rage Anaconda or the Zoom ‘OL Monster for a tighter wiggle are both excellent. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike

Been telling myself to throw a 10" worm all summer, haven't yet.

 

I have a package somewhere but my tackle organization, lacks organization.

10" Black Berkley Powerbait worms are usually tied on for me from post spawn until the grass starts to die back heavily in the Fall. They're my go-to bait to slow down and pick apart deeper vegetation and shallow weed flats in the warmer months. Basically anytime a jig starts to collect too much salad. 

How does a big worm (10") do in dirty water?

 

For some reason I have a feeling it could work pretty good as it moves a "decent" amount of water.

 

We have had a ton of rain lately with more coming. Lakes are pretty dirty.