How to fish a speed worm / swimming worm (Texas rig) for pressured spring bass: In this video I break down the Berkley Speed Boss “swim worm” system—one bait that can cover water fast like a moving bait, then slide through thick cover weedless like a Texas rig. If spring has you bouncing between chatterbaits when they’re chewing and Senkos when they lock down, this is the middle-lane pressured fish fix that shows them a different look and keeps you efficient.
We cover why a texas rig swimming worm works when the bank is getting pounded, the exact worm/size, weight range (1/8–1/4, usually 3/16), why I prefer an EWG Superline hook, simple spring color rules, where to throw it (shallow grass, pockets, wood, docks, flats), and how to retrieve it with rod tip up vs down plus steady swim vs stop-and-go worm fishing. Then we wrap with gear (rod/reel/line), when to upgrade to louder moving baits, when to slow way down, and the common mistakes that keep people from getting bit.
Berkley Speed Boss Worm:
https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Berkley_Powerbait_Speed_Boss_Worm/descpage-BPBS.html?from=TRFISH
Fusion19 Hooks Superline EWG 4/0:
https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Berkley_Fusion19_Hooks_Superline_EWG/descpage-SLE.html?from=TRFISH
Abu Garcia Revo STX Casting Reel 8:1:
https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Abu_Garcia_Revo_STX_LP_Casting_Reels/descpage-AGRST.html?from=TRFISH
Fenwick Elite Casting Rods (select 7’5” MH/XF on the page):
https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Fenwick_Elite_Casting_Rods/descpage-FECR.html?from=TRFISH
Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon Line (15 lb):
https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Berkley_Trilene_100_Fluorocarbon_Line_Clear/descpage-FBTR.html?from=TRFISH
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Chapters
0:00 Pressured spring bass fix
0:29 Why a swimming worm
1:14 Texas rig speed worm setup
1:57 Berkley Speed Boss speed worm
3:13 Speed worm weight and hook
4:38 Speed worm colors and rigging
6:05 Where to fish a speed worm
8:22 Speed worm retrieve
10:56 Speed worm for spawning bass
12:26 Speed worm gear and line
14:06 When to switch baits
15:51 Speed worm mistakes
Catch More Bass podcast with Tom Redington. Audio podcast version available on Apple, Spotify and other major podcast platforms. New episodes Mondays at 2 PM Central.
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Great stuff as always!
Would you include the Berkley Menace as a swimming worm? I have them and use them as trailers, but rarely throw alone.
This is a Florida staple and catches fish year round. I bought a pack of those Speed Boss worms a while ago and rigged the tails vertically and they didn't really swim/flap much. I ended up going back to the Zoom. I might have to give it another shot. It's a great profile. This was a great video btw.
Ripping a speed worm through wind blown emergent pads (especially near flats) is one of my favorite ways to smack them in the spring and late spring
I gotta give this a shot! Looks too good
What precent of the time you swim a magnum style swimin worm? Great content, super informative
Had to switch to this out in Arizona .. definitely is a different thing to throw and works
Tom has the best bass fishing video series YouTube. Bar none.
I bet I could use the Zoom Ultra Vibe speed worm in either Red Bug, Green Pumpkin or Junebug for 9 months in the lakes around my home. I learned swimming the worm as a co angler from a boater/pro I fished with many years ago. Swimming the worm has become my most effective bait. Chatter baits, spinner baits, square bills are all fun, but they will yield less bass per day on average.
Swim Senko checks all the boxes
I use a Zoom speed worm a lot here in Central FL. That said, I have been wearing them out lately using a 1/2 oz egg sinker Carolina rig with a 6th Sense Hogwalla or a lizard. I'll use a light guage EGW hook that allows the bait to fall down to the eel grass/hydrilla very slowly.
My fishing partner looked at me funny when I pull the setup out earlier this week. After I caught 3 nice size bass in my first 8 casts he was asking me to help set up a Carolina rig on his rod. 🤣
In 2024 I absoliutely crushed 'em on a Houdini colored Z-ManTurbo Fattz. Last year it hardly got bit. I will have a rod rigged up with one for sure.
“I like the thickest, longest ones”- Tom Redington, 2026
glad you mentioned that this is a normal bait in fla… I'd even say it's won money in FL than a chatterbait, but I live in cali no one even knew what it was…
Ever. Used the. Title Shot Jig. From fintech Swimming warms. Longer Swimbait body’s work real. Slithers through cover. And!!! Also had a nice body Roll.
Great video Tom 👍
Best night bait made.
Gambler burner worm. Absolute staple in Florida
Yep.
Zoom UV speed worm.
Almost the only soft plastic I fish. Works YEAR round ANYWHERE.