The Storm Wiggle Wart is one of those baits every angler should have in their tackle box year round. We all know these lures. For reasons unknown, they seem to catch more and bigger fish than the others in our arsenal. They are the tricks up our sleeves when nothing else seems to work. One such bait is the Storm Wiggle Wart. The Wiggle Wart is arguably one of the deadliest, most effective crankbaits ever created.
The Storm Original Wiggle Wart is designed to dive anywhere from 7 to 12 feet depending on line size, reeling speed, and a host of other factors. The bait has an oddly aggressive, hunting action that drives fish wild, particularly largemouth and smallmouth bass. The bait is designed to be abused by bumping it into rocks, timber, or any other cover it finds. The bait comes in well over 30 different colors and is highly effective in warm water periods.
Search For Active Fish
The Wiggle Wart seems to be in its prime when searching for active fish. Given its wide hunting and rolling action, the bait calls fish in from a large radius. Thus, transition periods during the spring and fall are some of the best times to use the bait. Depending on how deep you want the Wart to run, use anywhere from 10 (for maximum depth) to 16-pound test fluorocarbon fishing line. Pair this up with a 7-foot or 7.5-foot medium action cranking rod and a medium (6:4.1) gear ratio and you are off the races.
The Best Wiggle Wart Colors
As far as colors are concerned, you won’t need all 3 + colors offered by Storm. You need just a few to be covered for most fishing conditions. In the spring, it is important to have some sort of crawfish-red colored bait. This is a go-to color for this time of year and works well in dirty or dingy water conditions. Some type of chartreuse/yellow is also a must-have for low-light and dirty water situations. Lastly, round off your Wiggle Wart box with a few bluegill or sunfish colors. A bait that has a fair amount of blue or purple with some orange accents is perfect.
Gear Recommendations
Once you have the Wiggle Wart of your choice on the proper rod, reel, and line setup, it is time to fish. Keep the Wiggle Wart on your deck as it makes a great bait when you are moving from spot to spot. Target hard bottom areas like riprap, boulders, timber, or gravel. Reel the Wiggle Wart just hard enough so the bill of the lure digs into the bottom, causing the bait to leave a trail of dirt and microorganisms in its path. If the bait hangs up, relieve pressure immediately. Oftentimes, the bait’s buoyancy will enable it to come free. Make sure to re-sharpen or change your treble hooks if fishing heavier cover as this will dull your hooks and cause you to lose fish.
