floatingwormstory

Springtime Is Floating Worm Time !

One of my most favorite ways to fish is with a floating worm. And with rising water and rising temperatures, a floating worm is one of the best ways to catch fish. I like a floater during the pre-spawn, spawn and even during the dreaded post spawn.

My favorite place and time to fish the floating worm is at Harris Lake in late April, early May. Harris Lake ranks high on the list because of the sure size of fish it will catch. When I think floating worm, I think big fish. One of the biggest limits I have ever weighed in a tournament came on a floating worm. It was in early April, on Harris lake, and the fish were staging around the grass to spawn. I managed to boat over 27 lbs that day on a floating worm. But give me water in or around the water witch at Harris in spring, a pink floater, and in the famous words of Roland Martin....."SON"!

Some prefer to fish a floating worm on a spinning reel, I am not one of those. I prefer a Sàbalos baitcasting reel on a MH action W&M Skeet's Signature Worm rod. And I'm using 10 lb Vicious Fluorocarbon, and sometimes up to 14 lb, depending on the water color. I like Fluorocarbon because it sinks. I like water color that is just slightly stained, not real clear. I think it makes the fish less spooky and shallower. I let the worm hook size and style play a major roll in how fast or slow to fish the floater. If I want the worm to sink alittle faster, or be able to work the worm faster without having it float on top, I use a 5/0 Lazer TroKar TK100 worm hook. If I want it to sink slower, or walk slow, I downsize to a 3/0 TK100 hook. Even though it is called a floating worm, one does not want it to really float, but rather remain under the surface.

The sprout worm hook is important because you use the bend to set the worm tip length. This is important because if you leave a small tip (amount left where hook exists worm) you will get the worm to walk side to side less. The more length or gap from hook exit to tip, the more the worm will walk the dog type action. If the worm does not work side to side, like a spook, then it is rigged wrong.

As far as color of my floater, I like bright colors like pink or yellow; reason, I need to see the worm working. It makes for a heart pounding way to fish, very visual, like topwater. But you need to see the strike because you do not want to set the hook immediately. A good rule of thumb is to count to 5 before setting hook. I think most fish just take the worm by the tail, then suck it in later. Another key is working the floater around cover slow, why being able to walk it like a spook is important. At Kerr, target pockets with buck brush or gum trees. The bass at Kerr love to suspend in and around these, and a floater is deadly. I have even had days at Kerr where I have gone into a pocket, saw fish actually sunning in the back of a pocket, cast the floater beyond it, work it by and get the fish to hammer it.

At Harris, I like to work the floater around the grass edges and grass holes. Getting a big sow to come up and take the worm is heart attack material ! Another thing that I have been doing is using a Senko type worm like a floater. Its proven deadly when there is a need to let the worm fall after a couple jerks. I like the senko type when I need to skip the worm, the added weight and bulk allows me to get the worm back in where the big girls live. Like under a big willow tree at Kerr. Plus is lets me up size my line to 14 lb Vicious, not losing any action from it. The senko type is also great for rigging wacky style, with the worm hooked exposed in the middle. When you jerk the senko worm wacky style, it just wiggles and sways as it falls, deadly!

If you have not tried a floating worm or even a senko type worm, I recommend giving it a try. Be prepared for some heart stopping visual action and some really big fish. When the dogwoods are in bloom, I grab my W&M Skeets worm rod, a bag of pink floaters, and head for Kerr Lake or Harris!

Good Fish'n!

Tackle Box

Reel: W&M Sàbalos Casting

Rod: W&M Skeets Signature Worm

Line: Vicious Fluorocarbon 10 lb

Worm: ZOOM Floater

Hook: 5/0 - 3/0 Lazer TroKar TK100

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