Surely the past millennium will go down as the era of soft plastics. Early developments in soft plastics, like Nick Creme’s original worm, Bill Stembridge’s Fliptail, and Tom Mann’s Jelly Worm changed the way we fish for bass and even where we look for bass. From where I sit, the new millennium promises more of the same, incredible new developments in soft plastic baits that are sure to put more bass in your boat this year.

New Worms

The earliest worms were pencil-like, still a popular style, as evidenced by new models like Bass Pro Shops’ tapered Worm, an entry in the new Ecogear Series. Japanese bass pro and biologist Norio Tanabe designed the series, which also includes grubs, lizards, and baitfish. Bonzai Worms, a recent West Coast favorite offers narrow 6- and 9-inch worms in unusual earth tones. Also check other hand-poured operations like Preferred Plastics, AA Worms, Angler’s Choice Custom Baits, and Action Plastics. Gambler’s new 7-inch Floating Worm was designed by North Carolina bass pro Randy Howell, and Mister Twister’s floating Nightcrawler features the company’s Exude fish attractant.

Berkeley’s Sqwormers and Larew’s Mega Ring Series go to the other extreme, offering even more wiggles instead of gliding finesse. Segmented and grooved bodies plus a thin swimming tail put the wiggle in 4-, 7-, and 10-inch worms. Berkley’s 4-inch Paddler, new to the line, is available in new colors as well as classic black-grape.

Culprit’s new Swim Fin adds an eel-like dorsal fin that gives the worm a unique rippling action when moved. And Creme’s Scremer is star-shaped when viewed head-on. The fins provide a spongy feel, a slow drop, and underwater vibrations. Also note Stren’s entry into the soft plastics field, the Classic SPL series including a 7-inch Ribbontail Worm. The wackiest new worm is ReAction Lures’ Wacky-Wacky, a three-pronged concoction that reportedly squirms like a caterpillar on a hot plate when immersed.

Mister Twister has jumped into the soft plastics line with a splash, offering the Exude Series of worms, impregnated with a mix of minerals, proteins, and amino acids. The formula is dubbed MAG 400. The impregnated material slowly emanates from the lure, leaving a scent trail for fish to follow. Riverside Lures, a division of PRADCO, adds three new worms, a 5-inch, straight-tail Finesse Worm, Rib Fry, and Jitter Worm designed for fishing thick cover.

Soft Minnows

This category includes soft jerkbaits of the Slug-Go style, plus more solid lures that may sport treble hooks like a crankbait. New soft jerkbaits include Berkley’s 5-inch Tournament Strength Power Jerk Shad, Mister Twister RT Slug in the Exude line, and Bass Assassin’s Glass Shad with a reflective holographic insert molded inside the body. Allen Lures puts a double twistertail on their 4-inch Minner. Not to be outdone in his own genre, Lunker City’s Herb Reed has added 5- and 7-inch versions of the popular Fin-S-Fish.