Weightless or "Do-Nothing"

The "weightless", "do-nothing", or "horizontal drop" style of rigging can be one of the most simple and effective ways to fish a plastic worm.  It is basically a Texas rig without the sinker.  While this technique is more popular with "stickworms" it is a deadly way to rig and fish the Salt Shaker Worm.  In fact, many anglers agree that the Salt Shaker Worm rigged weightless will outfish soft plastic jerkbaits.  While the 4 inch Salt Shaker Worm can be fished this way it works best with the 5 and 6 inch models.

During the slow horizontal drop the thin tail of of the Salt Shaker Worm quivers as if it were alive, creating a subtle yet natural baitfish appearance that predatory fish can't resist. Once the bait has reached the bottom slowly lift the rod tip and let it fall again. Repeat this technique throughout the entire presentation. Most of the strikes will come while the bait is falling.

The Salt Shaker Worm's horizontal drop action is best achieve on a controlled slack line. Basically, just keep the slack line to a minimum and watch or feel for strikes. Most strikes will appear to be just slight twitches in the slack line as the bait falls.

The Snake: Another way to fish the weightless Salt Shaker Worm is to crawl it slowly along the surface.  The unique head design helps keep the Salt Shaker Worm level on the surface while the thin tail wiggles enticingly - causes vicious strikes from feeding gamefish.  Vary up the retrieve by pausing every so often.  This will help encourage curious, follower fish to strike.

Texas Rig

One of the most common and easiest to rig weedless rigs for plastic lures is the Texas rig. The most typical way to Texas rig is to slip a bullet sinker on to the main line then attach a worm hook. Rig the bait by inserting the hook point into the head of the bait and then out the bottom. Pull down, twist 180 degrees, and insert the hook point into the body of the bait without having it come through the other side. There are two basic types of Texas rigs - pegged and un-pegged.

The pegged Texas rig is most easily achieved by adding a toothpick to the standard "un-pegged" rig. Start by pushing a toothpick into the butt of the bullet sinker and breaking it off. Do not push it in so hard that the line becomes damaged. Then slide the sinker down to the head of the bait. The toothpick will hold the sinker against the head of the bait, creating a single piece that will slip more easily through structure.

The Salt Shaker Worm is an excellent Texas rigged plastic worm.  After the initial fall to the bottom the bait will sit with it's nose in the ground with the thin tail sticking up, wiggling around.  "Dead sticking" the Texas rigged Salt Shaker can be deadly.

Carolina Rig

The Carolina rig is used to keep the bait suspended off the bottom where it is visible to fish as the angler slowly works it along the bottom. It is an excellent way to fish just above structure and weed beds. This method is extremely effective with the Salt Shaker Worm because it is also a way to create the weightless, horizontal fall appearance while fishing deep.

Thread an egg sinker onto the main line, followed by a plastic or glass bead - a bead is optional but it will help keep the sinker from getting stuck on the knot and a glass bead will create a rattling sounds as the sinker hits it. Next tie a swivel on to the main line. The leader is typically 18 to 24 inches long but can be any length the angler choses. The leader is tied onto the opposite end of the swivel and the hook is attached to the opposite end of the leader.

The Carolina rig is also great for fishing points, humps, ledges, and sandbars.

Dropshot Rig

The drop shot technique is what the Salt Shaker Worm was originally designed for. The ability to suspend the bait off the bottom and keep it in the strike zone is what drop shotting is all about. The length of the tag can be adjusted to match how far from the bottom the fish are at. Drop shotting presents the bait in a naturally horizontal position and is one of the most sensitive plastic worm rigs because there is no weight between the angler and the bait. It is a very effective way to fish deep lakes that are clear or slightly stained.

Tie a short straight shank dropshot hook with a Palomar knot and leave the tag end of the knot 12 to 24 inches long. Thread the tag end through the eye of the hook to keep the hook point up. Attach a drop shot sinker to the tag end of the line the distance off the bottom the bait should be and nose hook the bait.

Wacky Rig

The wacky rig is an unorthodox way to fish a bait such as the Salt Shaker Worm but it does work and can be very effective.  This is usually a light line technique for clear open water.

Take a short shank hook and poke it straight through the bait. For baits such as the Salt Shaker Worm the hook should be placed more toward the head than the tail. The goal is to get the most action from both the head and tail of the bait.

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