Behold the Maximus

NOTE: Due to popular demand and inquiry, I'm bumping this post up and publishing it today instead of tomorrow.

Tired of getting your clock cleaned at the week night tourneys? Want to throw something just a "little" different than what everybody else is throwing at your next state level tourney, with a slightly different presentation than what your bass are used to seeing? This is the bait I've been playing with the past two weeks.

At the bottom is a standard 3/16-oz shakey head with a 6.0" straight tail worm. Above is the 10.5" Maximus straight-tailed floating worm rigged on a 5/8-oz X-Lock custom shakey head. The bait has a 6/0 needle point hook similar to what is used on a toad bait. A tiny screw spring is used to attach the head of the bait securely. Both the worm and the jig head are marketed by a company called Xcite Baits out of Texas, but don't be fooled. The bait definitely works here in Indiana.

I've played around with a few different setups but right now have pretty much dialed in to a 6'9"-7'0" MH rod and somewhere around 15#-17# pound line as the best all around outfit for me. I went with lighter line at first but have broken a couple good fish off because of it. It's one of those cases where you really need a little "mass in the ass" to counteract the size fish that bites this bait combined with the weight of the bait itself. Don't be surprised if you start hearing whispers on the tourney trails of lots more wins coming on this rig this summer. "Big Indiana Bass" is giving you the heads-up first.

Comments

[bmck25]

You must be quite the hard ass. Nice pedistal seat!

[Big Indiana Bass]

That's my friends boat that I was just "borrowing" to fish that lake that day. I bumped against it once and that was all it took to stay standing and away from it the rest of the afternoon :) Us skinny guys have about "zero" cushion in that department.

[RS]

OK, so I was close... was guessing the Zoom Magnum Trick Worm.

RS

[Big Indiana Bass]

You were close Rod, and that worm would probably work fine also, especially on the smaller head when it comes out soon. I don't think it has quite the bulk of the Maximus. Given the shape and nature of the jighead, a floating worm is probably the best overall bait to combine for this particular presentation.

BTW, e-mail me if you have any interest in carrying this in your shop and I'll give you the details. They're looking here in Indiana...

[richard ziert]

I remember a Saturday Night Live spoof on "Spinks" (what's his first name?) the under articulate Olympic Boxer turned pro, who said to Howard Kossel "I like eggs Howa - I like eggs". Well, like Mr. Spinks, I like big worms (Howa)! I wrote to you privately about another BIGGUN that’ll make ya smile. For curiosity sake alone, don't pass it buy.

I’m getting old and don’t remember whether I told you about this but , we can make any Artificial plastic bait float or partially so, depending on how far you want to go with the following tip.

To Float an Artificial Worm: Take a piece of one of those thin red cocktail or coffee stirs, and insert it into the worm in various places. The coffee stir is self sealing, leaving an air pocket in the bait. Put a piece in the tail and only the tail comes off the bottom. Place more than one piece along the worm and eventually the whole bait floats. With enough patience, you can make any kind, any size plastic bait suspend, sink, or rise at any rate of fall/rise your heart desires.

[Jason McGowen]

I fished a magnum trick worm in @ KY Lake this spring on a 3/8 oz. spot remover. Absolutely tore the fish up. Not some much a "new" technique, but one the most people are NOT fishing.

[Dustin Kelso]

I figure this would be great to use at Cataract and Raccoon. Maybe even Morse. I love to use the shaky head, so I will probably try this. Makes sense to me, especailly with Morse and Cataract as my next 2 tournaments.