You're right, this bait is highly underutilized. It's one of my go-to baits, a real fish catcher in many conditions. I like to dip the tail in Spike-it chartreuse for a little extra visibility. I've caught fish in grass, around wood, and as you mention, fish it like a topwater. I really suggest trying it.
I have never tried them until this year. Like, as in 3 days ago. Lol. I really appreciate what you can do with this worm. As I was using it for the first time, the one I had, I made a tiny modification to it because I didn't like the way it was looking in the water. Within 10 minutes , a few cast later, I caught a spotted bass, my first on it. I actually was doing a combo retrieve and caught that one. Anyway, I'm a fan of it now. Definitely will be a staple in my arsenal. Thanks, Matt, for the great video and tips.
When fishing as a Co Angler many years ago, i was introduced to the speed worm by my boater. Now i have a dedicated rod on my front deck for the speed worm. I simply texas rig it and either flip it into cover or just slowly swim it back. I recommend the zoom small speed worms to all anglers. The boater told me it was a plastic spinner bait. I have caught bass just cranking it like crank bait or spinnerbait.
Appreciate your content Matt, I’ve learned a lot from ya. Down here in South Fla a swimming worm is a staple like you said, I love my Berkley baits, and Zoom Ultra Vibes but came across the Z-Man Turbo FattyZ, really a nice swimming worm with a Mustad grip pin hook is a great setup for bass, even have had nice size Peacock bass hit ‘em! Thanks for sharing your priceless knowledge Matt! Tight lines to ya! 🎣
Excellent info ! I appreciate the fact that you not only talk about the bait but demonstrate the various retrieves. Very useful and instructive. Glad I subscribed.
Zooms speed vibe worms have always been a great bait here in NJ when the bass alot of times don't hit a buzz bait they have clobbered this method I put a little 16th Oz bullet weight in front swim just under the surface in stumps laydowns
Really enjoy the quality content you provide. When I saw the title to this video I went "NOOOO".... I WANT to save everyone some time. This tech DOES NOT WORK there is NOTHING to see here move ALONG. Since you have let the cat out of the bag you might as well spill the beans too... 1. Use a bobber stop between your line knot and your weight. (It helps get good sinker separation) 2. You can make your own swim worms by cutting slot into paddle tail worm (I prefer the old Producto paddle tail worms from the early 90's) 3. Dont limit yourself to slip sinkers. You can "Free Rig" the swimming worm to fish vertical cover like flooded timber and bridge pilings. One last thing - bigger is better!
I started really getting into swimming worms, or just swimming a worm in general, a few years ago. I had some of those Yum Swim'n Dingers and was half swimming them - half hopping them on the bottom - through the edges of lily pad fields or around isolated pads clumps and I was catching some really nice fish doing that. I'll kinda let it sink to to bottom, hop it a few times, then swim it for a few cranks, and let it go back to the bottom again and start all over.
Hey Matt Great video Your detailed explanation contained a ton of useful little nuances…. I’ve been catching them lately on my local pond by fishing a unweighted bubblegum colored worm on the top and holding rod tip high and basically dragging it over the weeds and they crush it!!!!
I never thought about throwing it on a wobblehead, I definitelt need to try that . I've thought about throwing them on a bladed weedless underspin as a change up to the paddle tail swimbait. Good video as usual.
I can't tell you how many small mouth I would catch every summer sitting on a rock on the Cosumes River. I grew up on a farm in Northern California and our property was on the Cosumnes River, I used a few different types of swimming worms and squiggle tails almost exclusively if I wasn't using live bait. It was a pretty diverse stretch of river gold dredgers created a bunch of deep holes in the 80's where you could catch some decent sized fish but for the most part it was small mouth bass, bluegill, catfish, carp, and every once and a while trout if it was cold enough. I love that river and that bait!
Nailed it with this one, as usual! My favorites are the Gambler Burner worm and the Zoom mag speed worm. Use it a number of ways, as you described. Catch most of my fish on it!
LOL, I do good with the senko sized Rage tail worms...had a good day and caught a few when others didn't...I was in a yak and the boaters weren't happy I was so patient and deliberate with my "effort" to help them with their technique and color presentations. Put a pinch of neko weight and a VMC harness on your bait; like a super sexy slow dive submarine with good tail action.
Great video as usual and perfect timing because I was just looking at these worms. Do you have a preference on the tail facing up or down or to the side when rigged?
Fished with them when I was down south for the first time, but when I've tried them in SE Wisconsin, I can't seem to keep the hammerhandle pike off of them.
Great Tips Matt! When you were talking about pulling the worm, you were pulling it almost like a Carolina rig? I've caught a lot of bass on a weightless swimming worm on a weed line.
Matt. Would this setup wortk if instead of a [texas rig] bullet wieght use a nail weight? I’m just thinking out loud, but wouldn’t both [wieght] sink at the same ratios?
I like a 2 color stick worm as a top water soft jerk wow it was fun to fish small jaws just swallow this during low light conditions within a foot of the surface ,
Matt, Thanks for those great tips on the swimming worm!!!👊🏻 Never thought of using them like that so thanks again for sharing those different ways. I have a club tournament next week and will try a few of those new tips!!🐟🐟🐟 Stay Safe & God Bless!!!!
It’s probably because I’m a typical Florida fisherman but I love swimming worms. I fish them in the open, in the grass, and in the pads. Paddle tail swim baits, ribbon tail worms, and swimming worms such as the speed worm are used religiously.
Every try Bitter's speed-worm style plastic? "Bitter's Vibe" they are called. Shop is in Longwood; not sure how widespread their distribution is. What makes them different is that the paddle is disproportionately large compared to the body, so you get some extra flap and thump in a relatively small profile. Huge array of colors, and you can order them through the company online. I like Mardi Gras a lot. Maybe look around at some of your local shops for them. Good luck!
@@goalieman206 I'm pretty sure their distribution is fairly small. When I saw you were in Florida I thought to mention them. I also need to try that Berkley Speed Boss with the double tail. Waiting for TW to get their inventory back in order. Good luck! Edit: The Bitter's Candybug is a color I am playing with as a substitute for Junebug. Looks really good, but mediocre results so far. Good luck!
Do you peg the weight on swimming worms? I’ve got a lot of grass around my local ponds and lakes and I’m always looking for baits to get in and out of that grass better.
Great breakdown Matt; thanks! It is indeed a staple down here in Florida, and I have had a lot of success with it. Topwater bite has been really good on it this year, but it's slowed down a little of late. Do you think there is a difference in which side of the worm you rig the EWG in? I favor rigging it on the "open" side of the paddle; seems to help the bait track better. I have never thrown it on a wobble head; that might be something to try in a pond with a fairly clean bottom. Rocky bottoms are few and far between down here. Thanks!
that sweeps pretty gnarly.anything I learn from you I source on my show-gotta give credit where its due,man..Tell the social media guy at Berkley I appreciate his engagement on Twitter!!(brother I been strugglin with wobbles & shakey heads;can't put a pattern toigethere to save me life!!)
You cast that Pole like you've been doing it since you were born. How about a video on how to cast a Bait caster like you're using? I could really use some advice, it would be very much appreciated. I have one of those and have no idea how to cast it. I use it to troll and that's it.
I thought he had done a basic baitcasting video in the past, but of course I can't find it. He does share some great tips for setting up a baitcaster in this video, though. ua-cam.com/video/4URCr9dxN4U/v-deo.html . There is a learning curve with baitcasters, but they are very valuable tools. Good luck!
Matt, you keep giving away all my secrets. About the only one you didn't give out is a split shot 12-18" from the worm, pop and glide across rock & sand. Oops, me and my mouth. Oh well!!! 😊
How do you rig if I may ask? I typically use light weight - 1/16 or 1/8 - and an EWG. Sometimes I peg, sometimes not. Simple colors: Green pumpkin-ish with some glitter; Junebug or junebug red in tannic water. Occasionally watermelon red if the water is very clear. Good luck!
Good stuff Matt! Any thoughts on using large swimming worms for smallmouth? I really love the look/action of a 7” ribbon tailed worm but haven’t come across a situation to use them for smallies up in Canada. Might try and experiment around weedlines in rivers, but it seems there’s usually a better option. Curious what you think!
you can definitly catch them on it, but i prefer to go smaller than larger with swimming worms. a 4" powerworm or small size speed worm can be great. but i fish them more like a ned rig than a larger swimming worm through grass
@@MattStefanFishing thanks for the reply Matt. Yeah that’s usually what I do, was wondering if you did any weird big worm smallmouth stuff lol. Thanks again!
i have some Yamamoto boot tail worms that i never use but now i want to give them another try anyone used these? i think they're called swim Senkos. suggestions welcome...
Ok alright I will admit I'm guilty of not using a swimming worm enough. In fact yesterday a fishing buddy of mine came by my house to borrow some for a jackpot tournament. 😁
You're right, this bait is highly underutilized. It's one of my go-to baits, a real fish catcher in many conditions. I like to dip the tail in Spike-it chartreuse for a little extra visibility. I've caught fish in grass, around wood, and as you mention, fish it like a topwater. I really suggest trying it.
its super versatile!
I have never tried them until this year. Like, as in 3 days ago. Lol. I really appreciate what you can do with this worm. As I was using it for the first time, the one I had, I made a tiny modification to it because I didn't like the way it was looking in the water. Within 10 minutes , a few cast later, I caught a spotted bass, my first on it. I actually was doing a combo retrieve and caught that one. Anyway, I'm a fan of it now. Definitely will be a staple in my arsenal. Thanks, Matt, for the great video and tips.
When fishing as a Co Angler many years ago, i was introduced to the speed worm by my boater. Now i have a dedicated rod on my front deck for the speed worm. I simply texas rig it and either flip it into cover or just slowly swim it back. I recommend the zoom small speed worms to all anglers. The boater told me it was a plastic spinner bait. I have caught bass just cranking it like crank bait or spinnerbait.
its a great bait!
I use the swimming worm a ton! It definitely catches them and gets big bites! Good stuff Matt!
Yes it does!
Appreciate your content Matt, I’ve learned a lot from ya. Down here in South Fla a swimming worm is a staple like you said, I love my Berkley baits, and Zoom Ultra Vibes but came across the Z-Man Turbo FattyZ, really a nice swimming worm with a Mustad grip pin hook is a great setup for bass, even have had nice size Peacock bass hit ‘em! Thanks for sharing your priceless knowledge Matt! Tight lines to ya! 🎣
peacock fishing would be a blast!
Excellent info ! I appreciate the fact that you not only talk about the bait but demonstrate the various retrieves. Very useful and instructive. Glad I subscribed.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Excellent tips, never thought of using them as a top water or on the back of a wobble head. I will try that
give it a try!
Zooms speed vibe worms have always been a great bait here in NJ when the bass alot of times don't hit a buzz bait they have clobbered this method I put a little 16th Oz bullet weight in front swim just under the surface in stumps laydowns
Sounds great!
Really enjoy the quality content you provide. When I saw the title to this video I went "NOOOO".... I WANT to save everyone some time. This tech DOES NOT WORK there is NOTHING to see here move ALONG.
Since you have let the cat out of the bag you might as well spill the beans too...
1. Use a bobber stop between your line knot and your weight. (It helps get good sinker separation)
2. You can make your own swim worms by cutting slot into paddle tail worm (I prefer the old Producto paddle tail worms from the early 90's)
3. Dont limit yourself to slip sinkers. You can "Free Rig" the swimming worm to fish vertical cover like flooded timber and bridge pilings.
One last thing - bigger is better!
all great tips thanks!
I started really getting into swimming worms, or just swimming a worm in general, a few years ago. I had some of those Yum Swim'n Dingers and was half swimming them - half hopping them on the bottom - through the edges of lily pad fields or around isolated pads clumps and I was catching some really nice fish doing that. I'll kinda let it sink to to bottom, hop it a few times, then swim it for a few cranks, and let it go back to the bottom again and start all over.
its a great bait!
This is fantastic info Matt. Thank you. Happy 4th!
Happy 4th!
Thanks again for another great fishing lesson. I've got a few swimming worms and was wondering the right way to throw them.
You bet
Thanks Matt. When your done with the speed worm cut about 4 1/2 inches up from the tail off and it makes a great chatterbait trailer.
Thanks for the info!
Matt what is your favorite color for muddy water? Really enjoy ur channel
black n blue
Thanks Matt
Hey Matt
Great video
Your detailed explanation contained a ton of useful little nuances….
I’ve been catching them lately on my local pond by fishing a unweighted bubblegum colored worm on the top and holding rod tip high and basically dragging it over the weeds and they crush it!!!!
Great to hear!
I never thought about throwing it on a wobblehead, I definitelt need to try that . I've thought about throwing them on a bladed weedless underspin as a change up to the paddle tail swimbait. Good video as usual.
Go for it!
Thanks for the tips, I ordered a few packs of Berkley's Speed Boss from Tackle Warehouse.
Hope you like it!
I can't tell you how many small mouth I would catch every summer sitting on a rock on the Cosumes River. I grew up on a farm in Northern California and our property was on the Cosumnes River, I used a few different types of swimming worms and squiggle tails almost exclusively if I wasn't using live bait. It was a pretty diverse stretch of river gold dredgers created a bunch of deep holes in the 80's where you could catch some decent sized fish but for the most part it was small mouth bass, bluegill, catfish, carp, and every once and a while trout if it was cold enough. I love that river and that bait!
that sounds like a blast to fish! My favorite kind of fishing is small rivers
Great information Matt. I appreciate your insight on the different ways of fishing these baits. Now I know and can't wait to try em.
nice!
Yes! Swim senko is my go to bait now. Swim it and let it drop down.
awesome!
I have never tried a speed worm before. No grass here. Still might have to try one. Thanks, Matt
Try it. Green pumpkin. Texas rig it and slow crank it. I usually feel the strike and pause a moment before i set the hook.
I fish it in clear lakes with no grass.
Give it a try!
Im in the underused camp on these baits, they look very good in the water and I am for sure going to give them a try!
give them a try!
I have had pretty good luck with the Rage Magnum Cut-R worm, and will add a couple of these techniques to my arsenal! Thanks 🎣
Good stuff!
You come up with so many ideas...thanks for showing us. Good luck next tournament too. Ok by.
least I can do for you guys all helping support the channel!
Great tips, I like the swimming worm and speed worming.
Glad you like them!
I am taking this one to the water this weekend. Worth a try as a different look/profile, especially the wobble head option.
good luck!
Ahhh! Headed out to the California Delta in 30 mins! I have that worm and I’m gonna try it in the grass.
Have fun!
Nailed it with this one, as usual! My favorites are the Gambler Burner worm and the Zoom mag speed worm. Use it a number of ways, as you described. Catch most of my fish on it!
great baits!
Another great video Matt! what size of hook for 7" size worm? Im new to bass fishing and have learned a ton from your channel! thanks!
i like a 5/0 offset worm hook like this one www.tacklewarehouse.com/Berkley_Fusion19_Hooks_Offset_Worm/descpage-SFOW.html?from=MSFG
Great as usual! I pour 5" senkos, cut the tails off poured swimbaits and put them together over a candle. Works great for inefficient cheapskates :)
Sounds great!
LOL, I do good with the senko sized Rage tail worms...had a good day and caught a few when others didn't...I was in a yak and the boaters weren't happy I was so patient and deliberate with my "effort" to help them with their technique and color presentations. Put a pinch of neko weight and a VMC harness on your bait; like a super sexy slow dive submarine with good tail action.
awesome!
Awesome advice man. Almost at 30k subs!
Almost
Speedworm across the mats then kill it! Great follow up after they miss the frog! Great video
works so good!
Great job. Thanks for the demonstration
Thanks for watching!
Going out tomorrow and I'll definitely going to give this a try. Thanks for the tips
you bet!
Great method & great video thank you for sharing 👍
thanks for watching!
Great video as usual and perfect timing because I was just looking at these worms. Do you have a preference on the tail facing up or down or to the side when rigged?
thanks!
Great video sir! Thanks
Glad you liked it!
Nice tips, thanks !
You bet!
Awesome bait during the spring!
Yes it is!!
What size swimming worm use about 6" under the water. Like a top water lure.?
Fished with them when I was down south for the first time, but when I've tried them in SE Wisconsin, I can't seem to keep the hammerhandle pike off of them.
pike love everything!
Great Tips Matt! When you were talking about pulling the worm, you were pulling it almost like a Carolina rig? I've caught a lot of bass on a weightless swimming worm on a weed line.
awesome!
Matt. Would this setup wortk if instead of a [texas rig] bullet wieght use a nail weight? I’m just thinking out loud, but wouldn’t both [wieght] sink at the same ratios?
you wont get as much glide if you use the nail weight but it would still work
I like a 2 color stick worm as a top water soft jerk wow it was fun to fish small jaws just swallow this during low light conditions within a foot of the surface ,
thanks for sharing
Matt, Thanks for those great tips on the swimming worm!!!👊🏻 Never thought of using them like that so thanks again for sharing those different ways. I have a club tournament next week and will try a few of those new tips!!🐟🐟🐟 Stay Safe & God Bless!!!!
Happy to help!
It’s probably because I’m a typical Florida fisherman but I love swimming worms. I fish them in the open, in the grass, and in the pads. Paddle tail swim baits, ribbon tail worms, and swimming worms such as the speed worm are used religiously.
Every try Bitter's speed-worm style plastic? "Bitter's Vibe" they are called. Shop is in Longwood; not sure how widespread their distribution is. What makes them different is that the paddle is disproportionately large compared to the body, so you get some extra flap and thump in a relatively small profile. Huge array of colors, and you can order them through the company online. I like Mardi Gras a lot. Maybe look around at some of your local shops for them. Good luck!
@@oldeschoolbob1022 never heard of them. I’ll give them a look as I love trying new tackle. Thanks!
@@goalieman206 I'm pretty sure their distribution is fairly small. When I saw you were in Florida I thought to mention them. I also need to try that Berkley Speed Boss with the double tail. Waiting for TW to get their inventory back in order. Good luck! Edit: The Bitter's Candybug is a color I am playing with as a substitute for Junebug. Looks really good, but mediocre results so far. Good luck!
they work everywhere! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks
No problem
Hey Matt quick question for you, so I just started using this technique and noticed when on my retrieve the bait likes to roll. Thanks
Nothing wrong with the bait rolling
@@MattStefanFishing so that's normal by it rolling? I thought it is to run straight like a swimbait
Do you peg the weight on swimming worms? I’ve got a lot of grass around my local ponds and lakes and I’m always looking for baits to get in and out of that grass better.
i prefer unpegged!
came to this video a bit late but would you fish a swim worm on your ozark rig?
yes sir!
Great breakdown Matt; thanks! It is indeed a staple down here in Florida, and I have had a lot of success with it. Topwater bite has been really good on it this year, but it's slowed down a little of late. Do you think there is a difference in which side of the worm you rig the EWG in? I favor rigging it on the "open" side of the paddle; seems to help the bait track better. I have never thrown it on a wobble head; that might be something to try in a pond with a fairly clean bottom. Rocky bottoms are few and far between down here. Thanks!
I rig it the same way...but after it gets ripped up will also switch it to the other side.
that sweeps pretty gnarly.anything I learn from you I source on my show-gotta give credit where its due,man..Tell the social media guy at Berkley I appreciate his engagement on Twitter!!(brother I been strugglin with wobbles & shakey heads;can't put a pattern toigethere to save me life!!)
thanks man much appreciated! You've had some good tips lately as well!
Hey Matt, which NMB rod do you use for this technique?
I like the NMB 874
How are you rigging your speed boss (tail flat or vertical)???
flat
Copy thanks 👍
What size hook do you use?
Thanks
I like the 5/0 offsewt worm hook for the magnum sizes and a 3/0 or 4/0 for smaller baits
You cast that Pole like you've been doing it since you were born. How about a video on how to cast a Bait caster like you're using? I could really use some advice, it would be very much appreciated. I have one of those and have no idea how to cast it. I use it to troll and that's it.
I thought he had done a basic baitcasting video in the past, but of course I can't find it. He does share some great tips for setting up a baitcaster in this video, though. ua-cam.com/video/4URCr9dxN4U/v-deo.html . There is a learning curve with baitcasters, but they are very valuable tools. Good luck!
@@oldeschoolbob1022 Thanks!
Thats a good idea! and definitely check out the video @oldeschool Bob shared!
Matt, you keep giving away all my secrets. About the only one you didn't give out is a split shot 12-18" from the worm, pop and glide across rock & sand. Oops, me and my mouth. Oh well!!! 😊
Haha! thats a great piece of info you shared with us! Thank you!
would it also be a good technique to use bank fishing a small river? normally that's where I fish.
I do it all the time; that worm is super versatile. Good luck!
Yes. Its weedless.
absolutely!
There’s a company here in florida that’s makes a speed worm with floating plastic. You can fish it like a frog ..
very cool!
What's name of company ? interested
@@roberthickman CPF lures
ALWAYS have one tied on (but I’m in Florida)
How do you rig if I may ask? I typically use light weight - 1/16 or 1/8 - and an EWG. Sometimes I peg, sometimes not. Simple colors: Green pumpkin-ish with some glitter; Junebug or junebug red in tannic water. Occasionally watermelon red if the water is very clear. Good luck!
@@oldeschoolbob1022 light weight or even weightless. Some variation of green usually.
@@rustyreidfishing3334 Thanks! I absolutely love the things.
Ya Gambler made it a staple...I'm with ya When I first used it I could not believe how boring....slow rolling a worm.
I have one tied on everywhere around the country
I always have one tied on.
awesome!
Good stuff Matt! Any thoughts on using large swimming worms for smallmouth? I really love the look/action of a 7” ribbon tailed worm but haven’t come across a situation to use them for smallies up in Canada. Might try and experiment around weedlines in rivers, but it seems there’s usually a better option. Curious what you think!
you can definitly catch them on it, but i prefer to go smaller than larger with swimming worms. a 4" powerworm or small size speed worm can be great. but i fish them more like a ned rig than a larger swimming worm through grass
@@MattStefanFishing thanks for the reply Matt. Yeah that’s usually what I do, was wondering if you did any weird big worm smallmouth stuff lol. Thanks again!
Underrated
Thanks
A swimming worm saved the day Saturday in my tournament.
glad to hear!
Great video ++
Thank you 👍
i have some Yamamoto boot tail worms that i never use but now i want to give them another try
anyone used these? i think they're called swim Senkos. suggestions welcome...
Yep they work
Matt your affiliate links aren't working for me my Dude. Ya might want to check the url.
I just tried them and they seem to work just fine. here is the one that takes you direct to TW www.tacklewarehouse.com/?from=MSFG
🐟🐟🐟 always thinking Nice 👍
You got that right!
I never used them. I see Hank has caught all the fish behind the house.
Hank is on fire right now!
👍👍👍
thanks for watching!
Yeah , I twitch , like 3-6" , reel in slack . Pause , do another twitch . Grabbed a 9 1/2 pounder on a worm and zebco 33 with 10# trilene .
thats a biggin"!
✨✝️😇✨
thanks for watching!
No, can't see it.
thanks for watching
Ok alright I will admit I'm guilty of not using a swimming worm enough. In fact yesterday a fishing buddy of mine came by my house to borrow some for a jackpot tournament. 😁
give it a good try!
OUTSTANDING INFO!!!! 🫵🏻👍🏻🫡
Glad it was helpful!
👍👍👍👍👍
thanks for watching!
👍👍
thanks for watching!