Everything you need to know about the Ripple Worm!
The Ripple Worm is a versatile bait that can be fished a lot of different ways.
In this Bait Spotlight, we're going to cover the best ways you can rig and use the Ripple Worm, so keep reading to learn everything you need to know about how you can use it to put more fish in the net this season!
First of all, what is it? Is it suppose to be a worm? Is it supposed to be a minnow? The answer is: Both, and neither! It just has one of those profiles that sort of looks like a bunch of different stuff.
It's a sinking bait made with a medium-soft blend of plastic to withstand aggressive (and sometimes toothy) fish, but still has a supple feel with action that can be imparted with even the slightest movement of the rod tip. It's flat bottom allows it to catch water and get it's bulbous tail moving in a way that fish can't resist!
At 3.8 inches long the Ripple Worm is a beefy snack for any Walleye, Smallmouth or Largemouth Bass. But it's not just for the big three, monster Crappie will eat it too! Sometimes, however, you just need a smaller bait. You can easily trim down a Ripple Worm from the nose as much or little as you need to find the perfect size any panfish is looking for.
Dropshot
The dropshot is by far the most popular way to rig a Ripple Worm for the ultimate finesse presentation, and for good reason. With only a small, light wire hook in the nose, the Ripple Worm's body is free to ebb and flow with any movement in the water or of the rod tip. With some experimentation, you can fine tune the leader length to your weight so that it's sitting on the bottom while your Ripple Worm is dancing just above weeds and other cover. It is by far the most effective way to show off it's undulating action in virtually any water depth
Vertical Jigging
Another sure fire way to get a Ripple Worm bit is to simply thread it onto your favorite jighead and drop it over the side of your boat. You can let it sink all the way to the bottom and jig it up and down, pounding it into mud, dirt and sand to create a commotion that will draw fish in to investigate. Or, close your bail early and jig it half way up the water column. The flat bottom will help it catch water to stay horizontal when bouncing it around and the bulbous tail will impart a spiraling motion when letting it fall on slack line. Vertical jigging a Ripple Worm lets you target any part of the water column, whether you're in 40 feet of water, or 8.
Snap Jigging
When the fish are active, snap jigging is a tried and true method of getting them to commit. Don't be afraid to get aggressive when utilizing a Ripple Worm like this. Best paired with a jighead and medium-light action spinning rod, pitch your ripple worm out 30-40 feet away and let it sink. Once you know it's sitting on the bottom, give it a little bit of slack line then quickly snap your rod up, letting the rod load then straighten out. Reel in a couple of turns while keeping your rod tip up and let the Ripple Worm drift back down to the bottom. You'll know it's reached the floor again when the line goes from straight to slack with a noticeable thud and sag in the line. Repeat the process until you either need to reel in and pitch it to another area, or you have a fish on the line. You're relying on the fish's instincts to entice a reaction bite with this technique. They will often pick it up after it has coasted back to the bottom and your line is slack, so you might not feel the bite right away, but you'll know you've got one when you go to snap your rod and it loads up without straightening at the end.
Honorable Mentions
Football Jighead
I've had success on some slower days texas rigging a Ripple Worm on an EWG football jighead and simply dragging it along the bottom, letting the weight plow through the sand and mud stirring up a trail of dust and silt. I'll occasopnally giving it a little one-two hop. Taking this slower approach has saved me from a skunk more than once!
Weightless Texas-Rig
When you're fishing around a lot of shallow weeds, sometimes the exposed hook of a dropshot or jigead just doesn't cut it. Threading a Ripple Worm on a 2/0 or 3/0 EWG hook Texas style lets it glide through and over weeds where big bass are hiding from prey and the sun. The keel weight of just the hook is enough to keep it orientated with the flat side down, letting it coast through the water without sinking too fast, keeping your Ripple Worm in the strike zone for longer.