Paddle Tail Worms can be used with a variety of different rigs for targeting largemouth bass. There are many different paddle tail worms on the market that come in a variety of sizes. You can fish them shallow, deep, in open water, around shallow water cover and any other area that you may find a largemouth bass. Paddle tail worms should definitely be in your tackle box if you like to fish with soft plastics for largemouth bass.
What Sizes are Best for Largemouth Bass Fishing?
There aren’t a ton of paddle tail worms on the market, however, there are some good ones in the 5 to 6 inch range. These would be a great size to target largemouth bass. Upsize a little more if you want to target bigger largemouth bass.
How to Rig Paddle Tail Worms
You can use just about any of your favorite rigging techniques for paddle tail worms. Swimbait hooks give these baits a unique gliding action with a jerkbait retrieve. You can also use your favorite types of jigheads, a drop shot rig, Carolina rig and more.
Best Techniques
Hop Them Along the Bottom
Paddle tail worms look good when hopped along the bottom as well. Use your favorite soft plastic bait rig and slowly work these worms along the bottom. Many of the paddle tail worms look good on a shaky head jig as their tails will lift up off the bottom because of the style of the jig.
Fish Them Slowly Through the Water Column
Use a simple lift and pause retrieve with some occasional erratic jerks to tempt bass that are suspended in the water column. Most of your bites will come on the slow fall on the pause of your retrieve.
Jerkbait Retrieve
Paddle tail worms work great on a jerkbait retrieve. Use a swimbait hook, Texas rig or shaky head jig and work the bait with an erratic jerk and pause retrieve. Most of your bites will come on the pause.
