Drag the Vegetation for Florida Bass
Summer 2024 saw the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission officially replace “Florida-strain largemouth bass” with “Florida Bass.” Elevating these amazing fish from a subspecies, to a unique standalone species spotlights one of the nation’s most celebrated freshwater targets.
Offering adrenaline-charged excitement, these large-growing fish feed aggressively, fight with unrivaled fury and deliver top-shelf, Instagram-worthy bragging rights photos. So, why would anyone refer to Florida Bass as a drag? Well, that’s no diss to the species; rather, it’s a statement of strategic suggestion — dragging worms for big bass bites.
Promising Areas
Slow worm tactics are nothing novel, but one of the more underutilized tactics involved slowly weaving a worm through Florida’s aquatic vegetation. The idea is to give your bait greater exposure than the in-and-out rhythm you get with the flipping technique.
And don’t assume that blindly casting a worm anywhere near vegetation and slinking it past the stalks or stems will work. No, this is close-contact fishing that relies on the age-old fishing truth that tells us: If you want to catch fish, you have to fish where they live.
True, low-light conditions of early mornings, late afternoons and cloudy days may find the fish strolling the perimeters of lily pads, buggy whips, or Kissimmee grass. However, throughout much of the day, the interior areas with more shade and protection will hold the majority of bass. To reach these fish with those long-exposure presentations, you have to drag a bait through the cover.
Rigging and Presentation
Worm choices vary with preference, but for the smoothest passage, the LIVETARGET Stick Worm provides a streamlined form that easily snakes its way over and between the vegetation’s subsurface structure. Also, the stick worm instantly doubles as a flipping bait for hitting key spots after a missed bite, or if a big one shows itself by wiggling the weeds.
Texas rigging with a stout Mustad Tak Offset Hook is the way to go for this technique, as it keeps the bait weedless but ensures a solid connection when you trick a big bass. Often the weight of the worm and hook are sufficient, but in deeper spots, or on windier days, a 1/4- to 3/16-ounce Mustad Tungsten TitanX Worm Weight helps with casting distance and bottom contact.
Take a few seconds to survey your vegetation before casting. Pads, reeds and grasses rarely grow in a solid wall (hydrilla is not a good habitat for this technique), so look for lanes, breaks, and cuts that allow you to drag the enticing worm through the cover in a reasonably consistent course.
Fight the Good Fight
You don’t want a slipping stick here, but a 7-2 or 7-4 medium-heavy outfit allows you plenty of negotiating power, with appropriate castability. Also consider that, while 8-strand braided line offers a tight, slick surface that facilitates the long casts you need for spooky open water fish, a 4-strand braid like TUF-LINE’s 4ORCE has a rougher surface that acts like a saw for cutting through entangling vegetation.
When you stick a bass in cover, lean back and do your best to guide the fish out of the vegetation. Often, the fish will take the path of least resistance and run right through the lane you were tracing, but when they dig in deep, it becomes a battle of wills.
That’s what Florida Bass fishing’s all about and that’s why they have their own name.