By Steve Chaconas

Most anglers say the best lure for tough conditions is a stickworm. Bait maker Gary Yamamoto, seeking a worm with an enticing horizontal fall, designed the simple bait. He loosely traced a Bic pen and created the Yamamoto Senko stickworm. Little did he know this relatively innocuous worm would become one of the most used soft plastic fishing lures. It’s been copied, almost exactly, as Yamamoto opted not to obtain a patent. In his judgment, a patent would be difficult and expensive to defend. He also would have to reveal the most critical element in his creation, the specific plastic formula. Loaded with salt and heavy enough to fall into strike zones, the soft Senko has a lot of action on the fall. The shape and concept have gained acceptance by anglers and tackle shop shelf space.

Bass Fishing Hall of Fame pro angler Mike “Ike” Iaconelli says he’s frequently asked for his go-to bait for the toughest conditions. The 30-year pro says tough conditions include muddy water, high water, high pressure, fishing pressure, and extreme temperatures. These conditions vary by type of fishery but, when everything else fails, he says soft stickworms are almost a guarantee to catch fish.  Unable to say that about any other lure, Ike says this lure also offers versatility as it predictably catches bass.

But stickworms weren’t readily accepted at first. No legs? No tail? No sale! Anglers questioned what this bait replicated as it didn’t resemble anything in the food chain. Ike says it looks like a Sharpie. But simplicity and subtle action make this his one choice for tough conditions, through various situations. The other reason Ike picks this bait is they can be thrown on spinning or casting gear and rigged many ways with a limited amount of tackle.

The Bass Cat/Yamaha pro narrows his top 5 ways to rig stickworms for tough conditions. Keeping it simple, there are three sizes and a few colors that get results, depending on conditions. For size, the 4-inch size excels in ultra-tough conditions like crystal clear water. When he wants more finesse or when forage is small, this is his go-to size. But his number one all around choice is the 5 inch. Just a little longer and fatter, this size mimics most forage types. However, when forage and bass are larger, he opts for 6-inch versions.

His brand of choice has the action and, more importantly for Ike, the Berkley General stickworm has the famous Power Bait scent and fish hold on longer. Choosing colors is simplified to 3 basic groups. For stained water or dark conditions, black or black with blue flake is what he ties on early morning, late day, or at night. When water is clear or with bright skies natural colors like green pumpkin and watermelon produce. For in-between conditions he uses, junebug, redbug, candy apple, or laminated baits with light and dark colors.

There are endless ways to rig stickworms, but Ike has 5 favorites, depending on cover or where fish are in the water column. The first is the weightless wacky rig with an Octopus hook in the middle of the stickworm. This allows baits to fall ultra-slowly with the two arms pulsating. He targets shallower water, 0-10 feet. Ike says fish can’t help themselves watching this bait inch-worming to the bottom.

Next a Texas rig, either weightless or with a weight, to fish cover or even to punch mats with a heavier pegged weight. For 5-inch baits, he uses either a 3/0 or 4/0 offset worm style hook. Weightless there’s an unpredictable gliding fall that repeats when popping off the bottom. This rig is streamlined and comes through cover, including grass.

The least talked about stickworm rigging is a weedless shaky head. It falls with an unpredictable glide. When hitting the bottom, it sits nose down and tail up. Shaking the rod tip allows tails to quiver and grab attention. This rig can be fished a foot down to 30 feet.

Another rig that goes deep is the Neko with 1/32 up to 1/16-ounce weights in the worm bottom.  An O-ring in the middle to bottom of the bait allows placement of the same octopus hook he uses for wacky rigging. Falling erratically, once on the bottom, the weight allows the top to stand up and makes a sound while stirring up the bottom. Hook up percentage is very high.

Cutting the worm, a bit shorter, even down to 3 inches, the jig head or Ned style fishing works with the clearest water or finicky fish. With an unpredictable fall this rig scoots horizontally along the bottom. Ike uses a 90 degree line tie to keep the bait straight.

Using these techniques in various sizes or colors fine-tuned for the conditions, Ike says if you’re only using one lure for your toughest day of fishing any time of the year at any depth, a stickworm with a small amount of tackle, will do it all.

Potomac River Bassing in October

Still some topwater fishing. Poppers on 15-pound test Gamma Torque braid when water is clear and calm, especially after water has warmed later in the day.

Finding grass remnants with bladed jigs, shallow crankbaits and when water is stained, with white skirt and gold bladed spinnerbaits especially with cloudy skies and chop on the water. Contact grass remnants and hard cover like wood and docks. Tie these to 12-pound test Gamma Edge fluorocarbon line and make long casts to cover water. Vary speeds based on water temperatures, faster when warmer, 65-70. Slower closer to 55 degrees.

Target grass and wood cover, including docks, with jigs and soft plastic Texas rigged Mizmo tubes in green pumpkin patterns and 3/16-ounce weights on 3/0 hooks. If water is stained, try darker colors like black with red flake.

About the Author: Capt. Steve Chaconas is a Potomac bass fishing guide & freelance writer. Potomac river reports: nationalbass.com. YouTube channel NationalBassGuide.