February 17, 2014
By Ned Kehde
When the largemouth bass that abide in the flatland reservoirs of eastern Kansas exhibited an affection for a finesse worm, Terry and Eric Claudell of Overland Park, Kansas, discovered during the summer of 2013 that NetBait's Finesse Worm in the Bama Bug hue was the most effective plastic worm in their Midwest finesse repertoire.
It is a 4 3/4-inch worm. Above its smooth and slick clitellum or egg sack, its head is encompassed with 13 rings. Below the clitellum and extending to the tip of its tail, there are 41 rings.
The Bama Bug hue is laminated. It exhibits a green-pumpkin color on its back and a Junebug hue on its belly.
The Claudells rig it on either a chartreuse 1/32- or 1/16-ounce Gopher Tackle Mushroom Head Jig, and they often trim three-quarters of an inch off the head, making it four inches long, before they affix it to the Gopher jig. The hook is always exposed, and there is no weed guard, which is a standard Midwest finesse motif.
When the largemouth bass are foraging aggressively on invertebrates, the Claudells utilize the Midwest finesse presentation that is called the swim-glide-and-shake retrieve. During those times when the largemouth bass are tentative, the Claudells opt for the drag-and-deadstick retrieve. It is not unusual for the Claudells to tangle with nine or more largemouth bass an hour while wielding NetBait's Bama Bug Finesse Worm and plying several of the small flatland reservoirs that grace the countryside of northeastern Kansas.
A package of 20 retails for $2.89.
