The plastic worm is a staple in the world of bass fishing. With hundreds of colors, shapes, and variations, the options are endless. So why would we make a worm? We’re the company known for catching bass with GT lures, after all. Going against the grain and introducing new techniques and ideas that genuinely improve the way people fish has always been our number one goal.
So how does that philosophy fit into creating one of the most produced lures out there? Watch the clip below to find out more!
Neko rigging a small finesse worm has been extremely successful for us. Last year, we put together our biggest bag of spotted bass at 24 pounds, followed by a 25-pound smallmouth bag just a week later, both entirely on the Neko rig. While the technique was insanely productive, one frustrating problem kept surfacing. After a fish catch or even a few casts, our expensive tungsten nail weights would slide out of the worm and sink to the bottom of the lake. Before long, we were burning through packs of weights, and Neko rigging was quickly turning into a costly way to catch fish.
That was a problem we decided to solve.
This is where improving upon a classic comes into play. We use a proprietary plastic blend in our Echo and Prodigy swimbaits, one that’s extremely durable while still delivering incredible action. We tested that same plastic recipe while developing the Nova, and the results were immediate. The plastic bites down on the nail weight, fully enveloping it so it does not easily fall out during fishing. The result is far fewer lost weights and a far more efficient Neko presentation.
From there, we took things one step further.
Borrowing another key feature from our Echo and Prodigy lineup, we incorporated a glass rattle into the Nova. Embedded toward the tail, this subtle rattle emits a sound similar to natural forage, especially crawfish. Not only did it increase our bite rate during testing, but it also opened our eyes to entirely new ways of fishing the bait.
When it came time to settle on size and profile, we were deliberate. The Nova measures 4.5 inches, landing perfectly between the two most popular finesse sizes, 4 inches and 5 inches. This length is ideal for triggering big bites while remaining finesse enough to fool pressured fish. The body shape was also designed to blur the line between craw and baitfish, creating a more natural appearance and dramatically expanding the number of effective rigging options.
While the Nova was designed with the Neko rig as its focal point, we quickly realized just how versatile this worm truly is. Below are a few setups we had outstanding success with during testing, and we encourage you to give them a try:
Finesse Jig Trailer
Trim the Nova down and you’ve got an exceptional finesse jig trailer for pressured fisheries. The tail action combined with the glass rattle perfectly imitates a crawfish clicking along the bottom.
Chatterbait / Bladed Jig
Cut the Nova to your preferred length and pair it with a bladed jig. The body mimics a baitfish, the tail produces outstanding action, and the built-in rattle helps fish locate the bait in stained water.
Jighead / FFS
Rig the Nova on your jighead of choice, we recommend the Queen lineup, and tie a small loop knot. This creates an excellent rolling action with subtle rod shakes. Burn it and you’ll get a tight wiggle paired with a tail rattle, deadly for triggering reaction bites from suspended fish targeted with FFS.
Shaky Head / Ned Rig
The Nova pairs perfectly with both techniques. The thin, tapered tail provides constant movement while the glass rattle adds an auditory trigger. For Ned rig applications, simply cut the worm to your desired length.
Texas Rig / Flipping
Thanks to its streamlined design, the Nova excels in and around cover and is a highly effective option for traditional Texas rig and flipping presentations.
The Nova has already produced a magnum 6.3-pound spotted bass for our good friend Franco, and we can’t wait to see the fish you all put on the deck with it.
Good luck on the water,
Ryan & Mick
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