How to Put a Plastic Worm on a Hook Effectively

Ask any seasoned bass fisher or angler what’s the best bait for bass fish, and they will tell you that it’s soft plastics.

Stick baits like plastic worms may not look like they are the best bait, but what they do offer is subtle action.

This is what works best in the case of bass, as they strike hard on these baits.

You can also use them from winter through summer.

That said, you should know how to put a plastic worm on a hook the right way before getting started.

There’s not a single method of doing so; you have several options to go about, each of them offering its unique benefits.

Once you know which one is ideal for your rod’s action, line, and the water you fish on, you’ll have a great day.

How to Put a Plastic Worm on a Hook: Four Methods

There are four ways you can rig a plastic worm, and they are:

1. Texas Rig

The Texas rig is quite common for rigging soft plastic worms.

This type of rig is ideal for fishing near the cover as the hook is buried into the worm.

You can throw it in weeds and grass, where bass like to live.

Things You Need

For the Texas rig, you will need your plastic worm, bullet weight, and an offset hook.

A heavy action rod works great with the Texas rig since it will allow the hook to set through the worm into the mouth of the fish.

The bullet weight can be a quarter-inch to three-eighths of an inch.

You can use whichever you may have, but for deepwater, three-quarters is a better option.

Steps to Follow

1. Start with the bullet weight and thread it on the line.
2. Now thread the offset hook.
3. Tie a uni knot, and you’re ready to put the worm.
4. Take the hook end and slide into the first part of the worm.
5. Once you have about a quarter-inch in, push the hook out of the worm, all the way up to the hook shake.
6. Once the worm is at the hook shake, rotate the hook so that the knot is inside the worm.
7. Now slide the worm up a little bit and slide the hook into the meat of the worm.

For this rig, remember always to make sure the worm is straight once you’re done rigging it.

2. Shaky Head Rig

The shaky head rig is another excellent option for putting your plastic worm on a hook.

Its main advantage is it presents the bait with quite some finesse.

It is great for creating a standup action at the bottom.

Football shaky head goes best with the plastic worm since it sits on the bottom and makes the worm stand straight up.

Things You Need

What you need for this rig are the shaky head you prefer and a stick-style bait.

With a shaky head, you should go for a thinner worm to keep it low profile.

However, if you have a bigger shaky head, go for a worm that’s big enough for it.

Steps to Follow

1. Tie the shaky head.
2. Take the hook of the shaky head and go through the nose of the worm.
3. Push it all the way up till the hook keeper.
4. Rotate the hook at a full 180 degrees, making sure the head is sitting in the offset shank.
5. Now push the hook point into the meat of the worm.
6. Adjust the worm a bit so that it’s straight.

When you throw this bait, it will stand straight up and be visible to the bass.

3. Wacky Rig

This rig is most likely to catch the bass than any other type.

Soft plastic worms turn out great on wacky-rigs and have a very different action in comparison with other rig styles.

The best part is, it’s simple and easy, so even a rookie can do this.

Things You Need

You just need a hook for this rig, and you can even use other plastics, not just the worm.

You can use a hook with a weed guard if you’re fishing around the cover.

In open waters, you do not need the weed guard.

Either way, the wacky rig is easy to throw.

Steps to Follow

1. Thread the hook with the line.
2. Use any knot you like.
3. Take a second to find the exact middle of the worm to ensure balance.
4. Now pass the hook through the center of the worm.

When this rig goes in the water, it has a very natural action, like a worm falling to the bed of the sea or lake.

It can also exhibit swimming action when you move the rod.

With the hook in the middle, both the ends of the worm shake, so any bass will want to grab it. 

4. Nose Hooked Dropshot Rig

This method is more complicated than the other three, but it’s very effective, especially in clear water.

Anywhere you have finicky bass, this might just be your best shot.

Things You Need

All you need for this type of rig is a drop shot weight, a finesse style weight, and a plastic worm

That said, it works best with spinning gear.

Also, you should use a smaller worm with a lightweight line like a braided line, for the best results.

Steps to Follow

1. Take the line and tie it on the finesse hook.
2. Make sure to leave a long tag end.
3. You can use a Palomar knot, leaving eight to 12 inches of the tag end line.
4. Take the end of the line and pass it through the eye of the hook from the hook point side.
5. Take the tag end and attach the dropshot to it by pinching it on to the line.
6. Now take the hook and put it directly through the nose of the worm.

When you drop this in the water, it will have great standup action.

Keep in mind that dropshots are designed to break away if you get stuck in the cover.

Thus, when fishing with this, only use light twitches and let the worm sink in.

You don’t want to drag it at the bottom of the water.

Why Use Plastic Worms for Bass?

Anglers who have been fishing for bass for a while would know how crazy bass go for plastic worms.

These fish types strike at anything that resembles a slimy worm.

Interestingly, they get attracted to stick baits, even though bass does not enjoy eating worms in particular.

They don’t exactly bite them but suck them in.

There has not been a lot of research as to why bass attacks plastic worm bits, but we do know that this bait does work well with them, for whatever reason.

The key is to ensure the worm bait shows worm-like actions.

It just so happens that sometimes they pick up the plastic worm and leave it before the angler has the chance to hook.

Hence, whenever you’re using plastic worms, make sure there is tension in the line.

It may be hard to feel the bass catching the worm with little tension in the line.

Lastly, light and translucent colors of plastic worms work best for bass in clear water.

In vegetation, you can use worms with straight tails.

Conclusion

Now that you know how to put a plastic worm on a hook like a pro, you can fish bass any time of the year. 

These stick baits will work great in virtually all types of water and any season, but when fishing bass, spring may be the best time.

When fishing for bass, your fishing rod selection also depends on your bait technique.

So if you’re using plastic bait, a fast action rod is better since this will give you a whole lot better action, and ultimately help you catch bass.