Swimming Worms are becoming more popular with some of the newer types of swim worms to emerge on the market. These worms work great on a variety of rigs, but the weighted swimbait hook, shaky head jig or Florida rig are probably the best ways to rig these worms. You can fish around all types of shallow cover, along the drop-offs in deeper water or just in open water for suspended bass.
Popular Fishing Techniques
Swim Them
A slow and steady retrieve will allow a good swimming worm to do most of the work for you. Most of the time, all you have to do is get this bait in the right place and wind it in with a slow and steady retrieve to get your bites.
Jerk & Fall Retrieve
The jerk & fall retrieve works great with swimming worms. Just make sure you are using a heavy enough weight so the paddle tail will have the correct action while swimming down through the water column.
Popular Fishing Rigs
Jighead (Longer Shank)
Most of the time, you will be just fine with a simple longer shank jighead. Since most anglers retrieve these swimbaits above or near cover, you don’t need to go to a weedless presentation. The hook sets are also better by having the hook exposed out the top of the swimming worm.
Swimbait Hook
Swimbait hooks are the preferred way to rig most swimbaits and swimming worms for most anglers. Swimbait hooks work great to give these worms a realistic swimming action.
Underspins
Underspins are great for swimming baits and swimming worms look great on an underspin. Make sure you go heavy enough with the weight so the worm has a good swimming action.
Umbrella Rig
Umbrella rigs are another way to fish swimming worms. When targeting schooling bass in open water, an umbrella rig with 3 to 5 swimming worms can be very effective.
