Any Ideas?

I was in FL last week (sorry no fishing reports) but I did spend some time in a few tackle shops. My hope was to find some of the Mann’s Swimmin worms like Ike used when he won the Classic on the Delta. Apparently the worm never made it into production or didn’t sell. Everyone I talked to said they never seen it. Mann’s website does have a Buzz’en Shad that I plan to order, but not that worm.
The bottom line is I’m looking for a finesse version of the Horny Toad. Something I can buzz on top or slow down and drop in holes etc. In addition, I’m looking for something that will slither through the angle-moss with a minimum number of hang-ups. I did bring home some Gambler Flippin Shad, which is basically a fluke with a paddle tail. I also have some old paddle tail worms that put off a good thump when you retrieve them but it’s not quite what I’m looking for. I’ll bet some of the old-timers on the site can name the worms.
Has anyone seen a heavy-bodied worm that one can cast with bait-casting tackle, with a tail like a HornyToad’s legs?
I know a fluke, a weightless lizard and a variety of other trick-worms work but I’m looking for the bait that can cover lots of water, produce a lot of pressure waves (noise) but be dropped into cover like a Senko. Any suggestions?

John:

The Flappin Shad will definitely do what you are looking for. I hated them as regular jerkbaits, but this is what they actually excelled at. You have to find the right speed to get them to flap right on top, but they work well.

Zoom ultra vibe speed worm??? Looks like a senco in the front and has a horny toad tail.

Gary Yamamoto used a senko with a paddle tail to finish in the top 5 at Kentucky Lake this past week. The bait is a prototype, but is reportedly going into production soon?

I saw that paddletail Senko in a Retailer magazine a few weeks ago. The swim jig guys should enjoy that product!

John,

I think Zoom has something called a Speed worm, or something
like that, which is close to what you describe. I have some
somewhere, in my “worm dump”. As described, it is a 5″
Senko style worm, with a fair sized paddle tail. I bought
them with the intention of just pinching off the paddle
tail, and fishing them as a Senko. Since then the
Senko knock-offs have flooded the market, and I don’t
need a cheap second source for Senkos. The colors I
have are for clear water fishing, and I probably will
use them from pitching into coontail flats. I don’t
know if Zoom still makes them, but it may be worth a
visit to the Zoom website.

Big Bass Bane

Hello, the third plastic from the right is a Producto worm. I’ve used Productos since the late 70s. They’re an excellent product!

Google producto lures and order them. Also, I’ believe I’ve seen the other plastics on their webpage as well.

Thanks,

OTW

I believe the Trixy Shad (Reaction Innovations) is a Fluke with a Horny Toad type tail. My buddy Mark catches some nice ones on Little Mexico on that lure in Red Shad.

Thanks guys, multipal heads work better than one. That Zoom worm sounds like the ticket but their website is under construction right now. I’ll look at the Trixy Shad watch Yamamoto to see if they market the swim tail Senko.

The old worms are the Ding-A-Ling, a Jakes and the small one is a Culpret. Those old worms have saved my more than once. If you remember Peter T used a ding-a-ling style worm to win at the Harris chain. The fish don’t quit biting them, we just stop fishing them.

John

I founda bunch of those swim n worms from Mann’s last spring, i only bought one bag. I know i got a few at BPS because Ike just gave talk about them so i grabbed a bag. but cabela’s in pdc had them as soon ago as last summer/fall i believe.

Zoom makes 2- the speed worm and the u-tail speed worm which is eesentially the same with a v cut out of the tail to increase vibration. I was amazed at the thump of the regular one the first time i threw it- lots of vibration and small profile makes it a poor mans finesse chatterbait of sorts. They are plentiful, i have seen them everywhere including most online sites.

Gander in LaCrosse has the Zoom ultra vibe worms.

Cannot for the life of me remember who makes it but I believe it is called a Zipper Worm. Almost like a huge leach-shaped thing with a paddle tail/ribbon tail hybrid.

Here is a picture of the new Senko worm,
http://www.insideline.net/prototype.htm

Ok, don’t get me wrong because the finnesse worm or small paddle tail worm is somethign I’ve been playing around with more since last year as well.

However, let’s think about this. Senko – Designed and marketed as the do nothing bait. That was it’s power, the subtle action and “do nothing” way to fish it. Paddle Tail / Reaction baits (horny toad, etc) – Designed for reaction strikes and moving water (making noise).

So now we’re combining the 2 opposite ends of the spectrum? Swimming Paddle Tail Senko is gonna catch a LOT of fisherman, but how much better will it catch fish than other baits?

Fluker

Looks to me to be much more of a variation on a swimbait than a variation on a Senko. One thing it will be is a slimmmer profile swimbait.

I hope they plan on making it out of a stronger plastic than they normaly use…I can see that big paddle tail ripping off with ease. At a probable $6.00+ a bag could be a little irritating.

you can buy all the manns swim worms you want at http://www.landbigfish.com click on worms and scroll to page 5. you can also get them at http://www.bassfan.com click on tackle and tips then store. good fishin.