The 3 Best Swimming Worms for Bass Fishing
Swimming a worm is by far one of the most underrated summertime bass fishing techniques. Anytime you have lots of shallow grass, you should have a swim worm rigged up and ready to go!
But what is the best swimming worm? With a bunch of them on the market, I like to keep it simple and go with the baits that have been tried and true for years and have proven to catch the most bass.
1. Zoom Ultra Vibe Speed Worm
When it comes to time tested results, nothing comes close to the Zoom UV Speed Worm. This bait has been catching bass for decades.
It is by far the best selling swimming worm and is one of the original swimming worm baits ever introduced.
The stick worm profile with the signature Ultra Vibe Tail that kicks and swims even at very slow retrieve speeds make the Speed Worm incredibly productive and versatile.
Like all Zoom baits, each UV Speed Worm is made with soft, life-like plastic that is salt-impregnated for extra bite-holding power.
And with by far the best bang for your buck pricing on the market, the Zoom Ultra Vibe Speed Worm is without a doubt are top recommendation!
- Paddle tail worm
- Bulky segmented body with Ultra Vibe tail
- Salt-impregnated
- Deadly for pressured bass looking for an easy meal
- $5.79
- Quantity per pack: 15
2. Strike King Cut-R Worm
Strike King’s most versatile worm ever, the Strike King Rage Cut-R Worm can be flipped, pitched, Texas-rigged, Carolina-rigged, swam weightless or on a weighted hook.
Featuring Strike King’s Rage Tail customized hi-grade plastic formulation, the Rage flange on the tail delivers the fastest tail flicker rate on the market.
The unique profile and action of the Rage Tail sets this worm apart from all the others on the market and shows that bass something a little different.
If your lakes and ponds get heavily fished by swimming worms, the Cut R worm is a fantastic choice for those pressured bass that have already seen a Speed Worm lots of times.
- Hi-grade plastic construction
- Versatile, can be fished using many techniques
- Exclusive tail design
- $7.49
- Quantity per pack: 6-7 (depending on the size)
3. Berkley Powerbait Speed Boss Worm
Featuring a thick and durable body, the Speed Boss Worm is designed to handle rougher grass applications with ease while providing more action than some other grass-style worms.
The hard-hitting tail kicks and churns effortlessly as it slithers its way through the grassy cover big bass love to lurk in.
The Berkley Powerbait Speed Boss Worm boasts Berkley’s signature Powerbait scent technology that keeps bass holding on longer and gives anglers more time to set the hook.
Constructed with input from Bassmaster Classic Champion, Skeet Reese, the dense head is built for the Florida Rig or Weightless EWG Rigging techniques.
An great option for navigating your lake’s dense submerged jungles, the Berkley Powerbait Speed Boss Worm combines a worm body with a Pit Boss style tail for a match made in hawg heaven.
- Dual Tail Action
- 3 Sizes Available
- Berkley Max Scent Infused
- $4.99-6.99
- Quantity per Pack: 6-12 (depending on size)
Best Swimming Worm Colors
Because a swimming worm is generally a clear water technique, (because it is best used around grass, and most grass will die off in muddy water), I prefer to stick to very natural, clear water colors.
My go-to color is simply a green pumpkin. This is probably the color I will use about 75% of the time.
But the other 25% of the time, I love to fish a Red Bug. Everyone knows a Red Bug worm gets bit like crazy during the hot summer months, so incorporating that color into a moving style worm can produce tons and tons of bass on certain days.
But you don’t need to get super complicated, just stick to you basic clear water, natural colors.
How to Rig a Swimming Worm
The rigging is incredibly simple and will be nothing new. All you do is Texas rig the worm like you would any other worm or creature bait.
The only difference is that you will use a bit lighter bullet weight than a standard Texas rig. I use a 1/8 oz bullet weight about 90% of the time.
Occasionally, I will go up to a 3/16 oz weight if there is a. bit of wind, but generally, 1/8 oz is the way to go.
And then the hook choice is really up to you. I personally like a 3-4/0 offset worm hook. Bit you you prefer an EWG or straight shank style hook, those work just fine as well.
And then lastly, you will want to use a peg or bobber stop to keep your bullet weight pegged up against your worm at all times.
This just keeps the worm and weight connected as one and makes swimming and casting it around much easier and more fluent.
Reeling this In
To summarize, swimming a worm is a simple yet effective technique that can produce some amazing results, especially when fishing around grass in the summer.
Whether you go with a classic like the Zoom Ultra Vibe Speed Worm, a versatile option like the Strike King Cut-R Worm, or a durable choice like the Berkley Powerbait Speed Boss Worm, you’ll be well-equipped to catch bass.
Remember to stick with natural colors, use a light bullet weight, and Texas rig your worm for the best results. Don’t overlook this underrated technique—it might just become your new favorite way to catch bass!
