Its no secret that worms catch bass, which when you think about it, makes no sense at all. Worms don’t live in lakes or rivers, and yet every species of bass can’t seem to get enough of the artificial worms we throw their way. Rather than ponder the “why” behind this gift from the fishing gods, tackle companies have fully embraced the bass’ affinity for worms and have created worms in a variety of colors, shapes and sizes, and one in particular, the “Wild Thang 8.5” from V&M Baits/Bayou Outdoors, has design characteristics that separate it from the pack.
The Wild Thang 8.5’s design characteristics allow it to appeal to variety of bass senses. At 8.5 inches long, this bait is a quite a meal, and depicts a solid profile in the water column, all the while remaining slim enough to penetrate tight cover. The front section is segmented as is typical of an annelid imitation, measuring three (3) inches and length and possessing a flat bottom side for ease of rigging – pretty standard stuff for modern worms.
The tail section, however, is where the Wild Thang starts to get REAL interesting and unique. Curving at around the five-inch mark, the tail of the Wild Thang has a flat side along the inside of the curve, creating a dorsal and ventral ridge along the length of the tail. This ridge then tapers along the outside edge of the curve, which then forms a “fin” along the outside of the tail. The result: LOTS of vibration and movement, so much so that the bait represents a threat under the water and that ‘”I must kill!!!!” strike from the bass. The tip of the tail forms a short spear tip style point, which rises under the water and reacts to subtle current changes, allowing the Wild Thang to be fished slowly on the bottom and attract bass wanting a slow presentation as well. Clearly, the designers at V&M Baits had versatility in mind when designing the Wild Thang.
With pork fat cooked in, the plastics at Bayou Outdoors have infused salt and scent to keep bass holding the bait and on the line until hook set.
Recommended terminal tackle for the Wild Thang are Mustad Grip Pin Edge 6/0 or 7/0 hooks, although we used it with a 4/0 Gamakatsu EWG Superline Hooks with a Reins Tungsten ½ ounce sinker when testing with great results. The tail movement produced by this worm was unreal, so much so that we decided to try it as a swim jig trailer. Whether cooked through the water column or dragged slowly along the bottom, the Wild Thang had constant movement, and always looked “alive”.
With so many choices in the plastic worm market, using a bait with a multitude of design characteristics to appeal to the bass’ senses will result in more and bigger fish, and you will have a hard time finding a more technologically evolved design than the Wild Thang 8.5 from V&M Baits and Bayou Outdoors. Good fishing, Chris Murphy.
Not All Worms are Created Equal
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