Wiggle Warts

[rps]

My opinion: Buy the ones with the clip and that say original series.

The ones with the galvinized hooks are usually the Mag warts.

[CaptainJoe]

Guys,

I just stopped by the local Wal-mart up here in Columbia and they had storm Wiggle warts in crawdad color for $2 each. Since I am moving back to Ozark in 2 months and have a place down DD, I purchased all of them (6) for use on TRL.

Questions

1. Is this a good deal? ( I figured it was, but I haven't purchased a wart in ten+ years).

2. How/ when/where (lower lake? rocks?) do I fish them?

3. Do you replaced the orginal hooks?

I have been fishing for a long time on Table Rock (15+ years) and sometimes fish cranksbaits (shadraps), but I have no clue about the wiggle wart other than hearing they work.

Keep in mind most of my fishing for the last 7 years has been during the summer (night fishing) or during X-mas (stickbait/spoon) so I might be missing the prime time to fish them.

Lastly, I have one in my tackle box from years ago and it looks a little differnt did they change them?

Thanks and I look forward to hearing from you!

To reply to your questions, here are my responses that have worked for me:

1. You got a great deal, more than half the regular price.

2. I use them anywhere there is relatively clear water, e.g., flats, gravel banks, chunk rock, 45 degree banks etc. I will create an out-of-tune bait (make it run right or left). I will use it on a bluff bank and bounce it off of the bluff on the retrieve. I really like the 30-45 degree chunk rock bank where I can put the boat in about 15' deep and parallel the bank. I throw the bait in about 1-2' of water and begin the retrieves (stop and go slow - cold water; stop and go fast - warming water; slow slow slow roll - very cold water). I use them primarily from December through April. The best time is Winter....the colder the better. I fished a tournament on Bull Shoals on Feb 28 and it was cold. We had snow, sleet, and freezing rain. We had almost one inch of snow on the boat. We caught fish on the wart. During Xmas is a GREAT time to fish a Wart.

3. I do not replace the hooks. The new hooks on the MadFlash and Big Bass Wiggle Wart series are even better. The colors on both are fantastic. I really like the new Big Bass series. The bait gets down to 6' and suspends, which is showing the fish a wart that acts a little different.

Storm has changed over the years and your question was answered nicely by RPS.

Hope this helps!!!!

[Gone Fishing]

I'm with CaptainJoe on the old warts. In fact I would probably pay close to half the shipping if you sent them to me. Sure wouldn't want them old rusty hooks and faded baits to cobble up your tackle box.

[ozarkgunner]

I'm with CaptainJoe on the old warts. In fact I would probably pay close to half the shipping if you sent them to me. Sure wouldn't want them old rusty hooks and faded baits to cobble up your tackle box.

LMAO! I think I can replace the hooks on the old baits. However, I have a pile of old lures including several warts I took out of my dads boat when it caught fire years ago, most of them have jig/ spinnerbait skirts "melted" onto them. I salvaged most of what I could, but want to use but several of them still need to be restored. Any thoughts on restoring old baits? I spent almost $40 on hooks in the last month fixing old spooks, rebels, smithwicks, rapals, bombers, and anything else that had a body and paint that was still in 90% or better condition. The stuff I saved was great, but it almost made me cry when I looked at the pile of what I was trashing. I pitched at least $300 worth of old, warn out, rusty, or worthless baits (mostly old rusty spinnerbaits). The biggest issue is the old hooks that simply rusted. I "saved" 6 zara spooks simply by replacing the old hooks with red bleeding bait hooks. I even saved a spook that was in the old fashion yellow with red eyes pattern. Too bad I loose a spook once every 3 or 4 years! At this rate I will we in good shape for the next 25 years!

Tight lines.

PS. The old warts I have were lucky in thier orginal boxes!

[ozarkgunner]

LMAO! I think I can replace the hooks on the old baits. However, I have a pile of old lures including several warts I took out of my dads boat when it caught fire years ago, most of them have jig/ spinnerbait skirts "melted" onto them. I salvaged most of what I could, but want to use but several of them still need to be restored. Any thoughts on restoring old baits? I spent almost $40 on hooks in the last month fixing old spooks, rebels, smithwicks, rapals, bombers, and anything else that had a body and paint that was still in 90% or better condition. The stuff I saved was great, but it almost made me cry when I looked at the pile of what I was trashing. I pitched a tleast $300 worth of old, warn out, rusty, or worthless baits (mostly old rusty spinnerbaits. The biggest issue is the old hooks that simple rusted. I "saved" 6 zara spooks simply by replacing the old hooks with red bleeding bait hooks. I even saved a spook that was in the old fashion yellow with red eyes pattern. Too bad I loose a spook once every 3 or 4 years! At this rate I will we in good shape for the next 25 years!

Tight lines.

PS. The old warts I have were lucky in thier orginal boxes!

Ps. If anyone can tell me how to upload camera phone pictures I will upload some neat before and after pictures.