S
oft plastic worms are among the oldest bass
fishing lures and have been used for many years,
starting with the first version invented by Nick Crème in 1949. Since then, plastic or “rubber worms” have
dominated fishing, and every bass angler has piles of them
in all shapes, sizes, and colors.
For most bass fishing applications, a worm between four and 10 inches is the norm, but a recent trend from Japan is worms that are double that size. These jumbo worms are not brand new, as western anglers have been hand-pouring lengthy worms for decades, but the way these Japanese baits are being fished is new, as anglers are having success with these extra-long worms on a Neko rig.
It’s still emerging, but professional angler Alton Jones, Jr. has already been using them successfully as he fishes with Major League Fishing on the Bass Pro Tour. Jones shared some insight about what he’s learned fishing them, when they work, and how to get the most out of them.
KEEPING AN EYE ON JAPAN
When Jones visited Japan in late 2024, one trend he noticed was that baits were either super finesse or very big, with hardly anything in between.
“It seemed like everything they sold was either tiny baits or huge stuff; it’s like they didn’t have any standard-sized lures,” he said. “There were also some huge baits, which led to the creation of the Geecrack G Crazy that was designed by Marshall Arwine, also known as ‘The Homeless Fisherman’ on YouTube who was also on that trip with me.”
Some other existing baits on the market are the 12-inch RAID Japan ADJUSTRAIGHT and 13-inch Deps Kincoo Air Worm, but the G Crazy is even longer and comes in at 18 inches long.
“Marshall is a huge fan of big worms on a Neko rig and wanted an even larger bait, but 18-inches was the biggest they could make with the mold,” he said. “These worms are skinny, and even though they are so long, I’ve caught everything from a 10-inch bass to a 6-pounder on them. You have to let the fish eat them for a little longer before you set the hook, just in case they only have one end of the worm.”
A SITUATIONAL WAY TO FISH
One of the first things that Jones pointed out about large worms like the Geegrack G Crazy, an 18-inch-long worm, is that they will not always be the best choice for catching fish.
“Like many JDM baits, these big worms are very situational and specific,” he said. “It’s not something you will fish fast and cover a lot of water with as you go down the bank. It’s a lightweight bait that I fish with light line and a small hook. Even though it’s 18-inches long, it’s still a finesse tactic.”
While these long worms can be rigged several different ways, Jones prefers fishing them on a Neko rig to get the most unique action out of them. Rigging them also requires specialized gear because the baits are so thin.
“You need to have the right gear for it, and it’s not stuff many people have in their tackle boxes,” said Jones. “I like to fish it on a #1 Neko rig hook or circle hook, but you can use whatever hook you prefer as long as it’s around that size, and you need a thin tungsten nail weight and a silicon
band for your hook. Since the
worms are so skinny, you
need a 5.5mm band like the
ValleyHill Worm Saber Tube
band because your worm will
tear in half without it.”
Part of what makes these large worms so effective on a Neko rig is the action.
“What makes them so unique, being so long, is that the tiniest movement of your rod or any current or wind will make that bait flow,” said Jones. “The bait never stops moving, and it’s something that the fish don’t see. That’s
when these lures shine,
when they’ve seen every
finesse worm, crankbait,
and minnow after a long
fishing season.”
WHEN AND WHERE TO FISH IT
Since these baits are so different than a standard worm, mainly when fished on a Neko rig, they excel in pressured situations. This is where Jones has had his best luck and says the hotter the weather, the better.
“These big worms are great for the dog days of
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Fall 2025
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