Spawn Swimming Worm Patterns & Techniques

One of the most efficient ways to navigate and explore your water’s dense underwater vegetation, the Swimming Worm slides and slithers through cover with incredible efficiency that few other presentations can achieve. Available in many shapes, sizes and tail configurations, it is a versatile, four-wheel drive technique that is perfect for locating bass during the Spawn and beyond. With so many options to choose from, such as curly tails, slim paddle tails, and straight tails, it would be a mistake to leave the dock without a Swimming Worm rigged up and ready to go.

An ideal rod for fishing a Swimming Worm has to have enough backbone to set the hook through a chunk of plastic and yank a big grumpy fish out of heavy cover, yet still be limber enough to cast a relatively lightweight Swimming Worm. Generally, you'll want a Medium Heavy to Heavy rod in the 7’ - 7’6” range, depending on the size of your bait and the cover you are fishing around. You'll also want a Fast to Extra Fast tip to help with long, accurate casting.

This technique is often at its most effective when you are covering water quickly and making long casts. A 150- to 200-size casting reel will hold plenty of heavier fluorocarbon or braid to accommodate longer casts, and a gear ratio in the 7:1 range is quick enough to keep up when the trolling motor is kicked on high. Most importantly, make sure you hit the water with a reel that boasts a powerful and smooth drag to better horse in big fish that have anchored themselves in heavy vegetation.

A Swimming Worm slithering and thumping through thick vegetation is a great way to find a bite during the Spawn. As such, 40-50lb braid is a great weapon for ripping through grass and weeds without fear of breaking off. If cover is relatively sparse, or water clarity demands it, a switch to 15-20lb fluorocarbon offers a stealthier approach and can lead to more bites.

You will want to start with your favorite heavy-wire EWG hook. The larger gap will grant better hooking potential, while the stout gauge wire will resist bending or breaking when using heavy action rods and heavy lines. A straight shank hook is also a viable option, but take extra care to ensure your selection comes equipped with an effective keeper system to hold your swimming worm secure as you pull it through thick vegetation. Top your presentation off with a pegged tungsten weight between 1/32oz and 1/8oz, or you can even go up to a 1/4oz if you want to get your worm down a little bit more. The lighter weights help you work shallow water more effectively, as well as, giving fish more time to bite your bait on the fall.

Try to select a Swimming Worm that offers bulky or dense plastic to add some distance on your casts, while also holding up better as you snake it through dense cover. You don’t need to limit yourself to traditional worms with this technique. Slender-bodied swimbaits are a fantastic option as well. This type of presentation is an excellent alternative to a Swim Jig or other open-hook baits that tend to get hung up in vegetation more frequently. If you find yourself fishing near bluegills or their beds, try using an option with a little chartreuse on the tail.

Many of the simple and natural colors will be most effective for this technique. Some Green Pumpkin or Watermelon variations should always be on hand, but if the water is particularly dingy or dark, a swap to Black or Purple can be the difference between getting bit or getting skunked.

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