No, I don't rub my worm!

However, I do scruff up my crankbaits like Pat @Pat Brown does.

Fish 'em shiny or fish 'em rough, do what you have confidence in!

My dark brown Gitzits do get the scuff trearment. Then I take a chartreuse marker and run it down the entire length of the tube giving it a two tone effect.I believe it gets more bites but it just might be in my head .

Not the best picture . The bottom is scuffed up then a green streak is added by the Spike-It marker.

No, I like newer baits without scuffs. Ever swung on something and you weren't sure if it was a bite or not? If you have a new bait that didn't have scuffs before the cast and it does after the cast, then you know if was a bite.

1 hour ago, Pat Brown said:

Never felt the need to intentionally dull soft plastics but I have definitely taken some 220 grit to a jerk bait or crankbait to make it more matte and less shiny.

There have been instances where a matte jerkbait catches fish on every cast but a shiny one doesn’t get a single bite for me - I figure they just see a lot of shiny baits. Sometimes a bait that’s very not shiny is the ticket when the action and profile meet their expectations.

Don’t see why it wouldn’t apply to soft plastics also - by all means give it a try! Just never really felt the need - places I’m typically throwing a plastic bait - they’re not really seeing it great probably anyway.

Funny you say that Pat. I just got some new lipless cranks I took some sand paper to because I didn’t like the shine lol

1 hour ago, scaleface said:

My dark brown Gitzits do get the scuff trearment. Then I take a chartreuse marker and run it down the entire length of the tube giving it a two tone effect.I believe it gets more bites but it just might be in my head .

Not the best picture . The bottom is scuffed up with a green streak made by the Spike-It marker.

Dane, It's not in your head. This has been a tube that has produced a billion bass for me.

Only time I do is if it’s is REALLY stiff. Tubes I like to scuff.

On 2/10/2026 at 2:14 PM, casts_by_fly said:

Maybe split a tail on a trick worm with scissors to have two little tails.

One of my favorite modifications.

If it's a salted bait, I will scuff it to bring the salt to the surface, but I fish a lot of baits without salt as I prefer plastics that float.

I scuff / stretch my neds. I started doing it after I realized my older beat up neds seem to catch more fish.

I've scuffed up my salt impregnated worms thinking bringing more salt to the surface might make the bass hold on to them a fraction longer, but so far I can't say I've noticed any difference.

Not a scuffer but I do add scent!!!

I haven't scuffed my plastics, but have sternly scolded them on occasion

I do with certain colors of salty worms, mostly brown (which is called green pumpkin haha). It makes it more pale. I was showing my Buddy the difference once and caught one on the first cast, he started stomping on his 😂

I do but lightly. However now that I know Randy does it too I may have to stop 🤣

I do not, however I do boil the tails on my power worms, not a rolling boil but almost boiling, for 30 seconds or less. Makes the tail slither a lot better. Plastics will lose their sheen as you fish with them and will become more matte looking