Big Worm Fishing

[Whit Warriors]

Fished Ruark area Tuesday night, July 3rd. Got on a really good top water bite about an hours before dark. Caught 15 bass on a pop'r, only one keeper, but tons of fun! Switched over to the BIG WORM and continued to hook'em. Zoom Blackberry and Chompers Black& Blue Fleck worked best. Caught a few on Zoom Blueberry and Berkly Tequila Sunrise, until we ran out. We worked main lake points close to deep water. The bass were very active until 11 - 11:30 then it got tough. We only caught 1/2 dozen from 11:30 to 1:30 then headed home, The moon was full and bright. Stockton is quite low and deep water is close to the banks in several spots. Water temp low 80's and slightly stained. Fisrt night fishing trip of the year and it was a good one. Caught 30 + or - a few and had 7 keepers. Best five went around 16 pounds. No really big fish but the fish we caught were fat and healthy. Spoke to a gentlemen pulling out at the ramp and he said his first fish of the night was a 20"er on a single spin-spinnerbait. I threw a single spin a little, but no luck. Caught all of our bass on the worm and pop'r. The late evening and early night bite is really good on Stockton. PLan on going back soon!

Happy fishing!

Whit

[Quillback]

That's a great trip! I like fishing the Ol' Monster myself this time of year. Black/blue flake and black/red flake, Zoom makes some great worms!

[Nwtf gobbler]

Whit, you can probably help me out. I have been throwing the big worms for a couple weeks now, mainly during the day, and have been getting a lot of the tails bit off. Is this perch/ crappie? And

Do I need to go deeper or what?

[amboyduke]

Me and my buddy fished same area 6:30 to 1:30 and had good success with a trick worm on a shakeyhead up until dark. Had a few blowups on topwater but never hooked up, catching them so good on shakeyhead was hard to throw anything else. After dark action slowed a little but still caught them on a jig and texas rig powerworm, a few on single spin. Had 11 keepers total and over 50 fish. Main lake points in 10-15' of water. No big fish but lots of action and the fish were fighting hard and jumping 3' out of the water. Great fun!

[Whit Warriors]

NWTF Gobbler - On the big worm - you got to let them eat it. Its hard not to set the hook immediately. I find when I do - all I reel in is 1/2 a worm or a tailess worm. Maybe smaller bass, not really sure, We had several reel backs with 1/2 the worm that night. More than usual.

Where you successful this spring turkey season? I took my first bird on Stockton opening day. Two years in a row opening day lake bird. Its fun hunting and Stockton is full of bass and birds!! LOL

[Nwtf gobbler]

Thanks Whit, i normally let them run with it a little bit before I set the hook and I have gone through a TON of worms the last few tines out. I am definitely thinking something small.

I did get both of my birds in the spring. It was a little tough finding enough days to go because we took 4 days around the 2nd weekend to take some of our chapter's youth hunters to Kentucky to hunt.

I am definitely ready to get the blacklights out and do some night fishing.

[kwall]

put on a small trailer hook and find out , my guess a blue gill or dink walleye

[Walcrabass]

Hello Night Fishermen,

Here is something to think about from an old guy. Big worms are great and I love fishing them. The problem is that sometimes they just aren't aggressive enough to really inhale them. Thus the nights when you have to "wait" to set the hook. The Black and Blue Flake or Black and red flake are awesome colors. There are things you can do to improve your fishing on these nights when you are reeling in 1/2 of a worm.

1. If you insist on staying with the big worm try adding some Craw scent......REAL CRAW SCENT!!! It will make a difference in how quick they put the whole thing in their mouth and how long they hang on.

2. Try fishing with a small weight or no weight at all. It takes a long time to get to the bottom but they can inhale it with less effort. If your big worm has salt in it then sinking will be no problem.

3. If you simply want to catch more fish and bigger fish then fish with a high quality Jig with good enough hooks to get the job done. There is absolutely nothing ever invented that will catch Bass year round more consistently than a Jig. Because it is shorter than a big worm then when they pick it up they have the business end of things in their mouth. Very few times this time of year will they pick it up by the skirt. Add Craw scent to it and you have the bait of your dreams. I personally like the biggest jig they will pick up so I can have good contact with it. I use Black Neon with Black Neon Trailers. I have fished them side by side with worms and other color Jigs and this is just what I have found to work better in our waters.

My last trip to Stockton was a night that the fish just weren't biting. They guy who fished with me used big Black and Blue worms and Black and Blue Jigs. He fished in the front of the boat and ran the boat. I used Black Neon Jigs and trailers and used REAL Craw scent. Our efforts for the night brought in 13 Bass and a few keepers. Every fish was caught by me.

Like I said.....just something to think about from an old guy.

[Quillback]

When you say REAL craw scent, what brand are you using?

[Walcrabass]

Craw Scent made from REAL CRAWDADS. It doesn't matter who makes it as long as it is the real MCCoy.

Same goes for the FISH scents. There are a lot of cover up scents on the market and they do work. I just think that the real taste is better.