Entry 177-1

Bass Fishing with Mike Wurm

Part 1: Monster Bag of Bass

Editor’s Note: Mike Wurm of Hot Springs, Arkansas, has fished the Bassmaster Circuit since 1991. This past season, he brought in a one-day stringer of five bass that weighed a total of 32-pounds and 4-ounces.

Question: Mike, how did you catch all those fish?

Wurm: I caught all those bass on a Texas-rigged Strike King 3X Centipede.

Question: Most people don’t fish the centipede rigged Texas style. If they’re going to fish a centipede, they’ll usually fish it on a Carolina rig. Why did you decide to rig the Strike King 3X Centipede Texas style?

Wurm: I was using a spinner rod with 10-pound-test line, and we were fishing on Santee Cooper Lake. The bass were in a pre-spawn mode, and the water was very clear. I’d move in close to a cypress tree or a stump to look for a bed. However, when I’d find a bed, the fish would be gone. So, I decided to cast to these places before I went to look at them. I learned that if I made short casts to the areas where I expected to locate bass, instead of moving in close to look for the bed, I could get a bite.

Ninety percent of the bass I weighed in at this tournament were caught on a Texas-rigged Strike King 3X Centipede. I chose to put a 3X Centipede on a Texas rig because I wanted a small bait that wouldn’t make a big splash and spook the bass when it landed. Too, I wanted a bait the bass would bite if they were holding on the bed. I caught some of the bass rigging a worm wacky-style, but because a worm rigged like that’s so light, it’s difficult to cast.  However, when I rigged the 3X Centipede Texas style, I could cast it right to the spot where I wanted it to land. The bait would land softly on the water and fall slowly right in front of the bass’ face.

Question: Have you ever fished a Strike King 3X Centipede before?

Wurm: Yes, I fish it quite often in the spring because it presents a different look to the fish for this type of lure. The lure rigged this way is also a lure the bass aren’t expecting to see, and it’s easy to fish. I use a 3/16-ounce weight on 10-pound-test line with a spinning rod to present the bait. I can pitch this lure rigged this way into very small pockets and openings in cover. I can pitch it from a longer distance than if I try to flip the bait or cast it. This technique also gives my lure a really-quiet entry into the water.

Question: What color 3X Centipede works best?

Wurm: Green pumpkin or watermelon red pay off for me. These colors will catch bass in just about any water you fish and they’ll catch bass regardless of the lure style.

Question: How big was your biggest bass?

Wurm: It weighed more than 9 pounds, but I don’t know the exact weight. I also had an 8-pounder. I was culling 5-1/2- and 6-pound bass. This day was one of my best days of bass-fishing.

Question: How did you finish in the tournament?

Wurm: I finished 12th overall. On the first day of the tournament, I had only about a total of 15 pounds, and I was in 22nd place. On the second day, I caught a total of 27 pounds and 11 ounces, which got me into the top-12 cut. The third day was the day I caught the 32-pound, 4-ounce stringer, and on the last day, I didn’t catch but about 14 pounds. The first day and the fourth days were the two days I caught the least amount of fish, and both those days were bright, sunny days. The two days that I caught the most fish were cloudy and overcast days. The fish were ultra-spooky in that clear water, and even though I’d chosen the right lure on those really-clear days, the fish were just much-more spooked and didn’t want to bite as well.

Question: What size hook were you using with the 3X Centipede?

Wurm: I was using a No. 2/0 Strike King Sabre Point trailer hook. I’ve found that this is the strongest hook I can use. It has a small diameter, and it’s very sharp, so I get plenty of penetration when I set the hook. I use these hooks religiously, even when I’m fishing the Senko. However, I do move up in hook size to a No. 4/0 hook when I’m fishing the Senko.

Next: You Don’t Have to See Them to Catch Them

Contents:

• Part 1: Monster Bag of Bass
• Part 2: You Don’t Have to See Them to Catch Them
• Part 3: A New Love Affair with the Zero
• Part 4: How to Make the Classic
• Part 5: The Five Lures I Bet On