Fishing Tackle | Soft Baits | Worms
Paddle Tail Worms are very popular soft plastic worms. Largemouth bass and smallmouth bass are usually the targeted species for most anglers, but you can catch other fish on paddle tail worms as well such as walleye, northern pike, salmon, trout and even muskie.
Tackle Recommendations
Rod, Reel & Line
Paddle Tail Worms are popular soft plastic worms that come in a variety of sizes. Most anglers use paddle tail worms for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass, but they work for other fish too. Depending on the fish you’re targeting and whether you’re fishing around cover will dictate if you’re fishing with lighter tackle, heavy tackle and everything in between. You can easily be using light line on spinning gear or heavy line with a baitcaster. Let the situation dictate the type of tackle you will be using.
Best Rigs
Drop Shot Rig
A drop shot rig can be very effective with a paddle tail worm, especially the more finesse sized ones. Hop it along and then pause it for the best results.
Jighead
A simple jighead can work well with paddle tail worms, especially the more finesse sized ones.
Shaky Head Jig
The shaky head jig helps keep the bait up off the bottom as you hop it along. This helps generate more strikes. Hop it along and pause it for the best results.
Swimbait Hooks
The swimbait hook gives the bait more of a gliding action as the bait falls to the bottom. It also helps keep the bait up off the bottom when you are just hopping it along the bottom. It’s a good way to rig these baits.
Florida Rig / Texas Rig
The Texas rig is one of the more popular ways to rig soft plastics and it works well for paddle tail worms too.
Weightless Texas Rig
The weightless rig can be very effective depending on the size of the worm. As long as you can cast it as far as you need to, it can be productive. Fish it more like a jerkbait with a twitch, twitch, pause retrieve and you will have some success.
Best Fishing Techniques
Hopping Them Along the Bottom
Hop these baits along the bottom and mix in some pauses and you will get some bites.
Vertical Jigging
Some of these worms work great when anglers vertical jig with them. This is more of a walleye technique, but it works with smallies too.
Largemouth Bass
Smallmouth Bass
Spotted Bass
Walleye
Northern Pike
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