Simple wobblehead lure has endured time as steady bass catcher

Jim Dillard snaked this hefty largemouth from near a boat dock on a Wobblehead lure. (Photo courtesy Major League Fishing)

I still remember the first time I tossed a red wobblehead lure with a natural earthworm colored Creme worm trailer out into the grassy waters of Bayou Bartholomew and brought it back on a slow retrieve. As I watched it just under the water’s surface get closer to the boat, I didn’t know whether to reel it on in or swat it with the boat paddle.

I mean, it looked just like a baby snake swimming right up to the edge of the boat. That “baby snake” swimming action has made this lure a go-to for big summer largemouths for more than 50 years.

But it’s a lot more than that.

“The Wobblehead works great in the heat of summer, but there’s a common misconception among anglers about when to use it,” said Jim Dillard, pro bass fisherman and owner of the company. “Let me clear up something here. The Wobblehead is what I call a “58 to 58” bass killer. By that, I mean it’s good from when the water warms to 58 degrees in the spring all the way until the water cools below 58 degrees in the fall. Most people don’t know that.”

Because the water has warmed up and the activity level of snakes is high, this is the time that many anglers that know about this long-lived bait pull it out and put it to work. But keep Dillard’s tip in mind for the rest of the year.

Cashing checks

Dillard is a nine-year veteran of the bass pro tour and he is known by fans and anglers for his consistency and versatility on a number of different bodies of water. The Louisiana pro has five top-10 finishes at the sport’s top level and has qualified for the Forrest Wood Cup twice in his career.

Some of his best catches have come on the Wobblehead. In fact, a few years back, Dillard bought the company. Today he cashes checks with the lures in two ways — by selling them to other anglers and by using them to pick up checks at bass tournaments.

While the lure is an old standby, a couple of changes that Dillard and the Cheniere Lake Tackle Company made to the lure are huge, he said.

The new Pro Series Wobblehead has two major improvements. First, there’s a new hook that Dillard designed himself to fit the bait better. And second, the bait now has a keeper on it where the attached worm won’t slide off when fishing.

Fishing the Wobblehead is simple, but there are a few tips that make a huge difference in the success ratio.

First of all, use an O-ring ring on the lure. It gives it more action and prevents line twisting from the mega-wobble the lure gives off. Second, when you cast the lure out and it hits the water, give it a quick move to get the wobble going, then let it sink slowly on the retrieve to get to the desired depth. The lure doesn’t have much weight, so anglers must be attentive to not pull the lure too shallow. However, this time of year, when fishing grass beds, pads and other shallow structure where bass seek bait and shade, anglers usually fish it shallow.

When fishing cypress trees or stumps, swim the lure slowly up to the cover, then pause it and let it flutter a second, then resume the retrieve. Even if a fish isn’t hungry, he can’t resist that action.

Don’t limit yourself

Dillard gives the audience at an MLF tournament a look at his favorite lure. (Photo courtesy Major League Fishing)

The bait is mostly fished around trees and grass in its home area, but Dillard catches fish around docks and rocks as well. Don’t limit yourself to old ideas about the bait, he said. You can fish it everywhere. In the summer, he recommends skipping it up under the docks where the shade keeps the water cooler. The worm won’t slip with the new design.

Another interesting item about the lure is that while lures get hot, then not, the Wobblehead seems to be a lure the fish never get used to. It works as good today as it did decades ago.

When you feel a bass tap the worm on the retrieve, don’t immediately set the hook. If you do, you’ll take it away from him. Wait until you feel the fish pull, then use your rod to set the hook with a firm, but not powerful, sweeping hook set. Because it is a single hook lure, it is usually hard for a fish to throw, much like with a plastic worm.

The lure is simply a slender curved slab of metal with a single hook fastened on it. The curly metal head gives the bait an amazing wobble, which gives it the name. The best trailer is a plain straight tail 6-inch plastic worm. Best colors are earthworm, black and purple with a red tail, all old favorites that have survived a generation of fishing.

The lure comes in a variety of colors like red, black, orange and purple. You can pick up the lures at your local tackle store or find out more about them and place an order at https://wobbleheadlures.com/ then give them a try.

The post “Simple wobblehead lure has endured time as steady bass catcher” first appeared on MS-Sportsman.com.

About Kinny Haddox 589 Articles
Kinny Haddox has been writing magazine and newspaper articles about the outdoors in Louisiana for 45 years. He publishes a daily website, lakedarbonnelife.com and is a member of the Louisiana Chapter of the Outdoor Legends Hall of Fame. He and his wife, DiAnne, live in West Monroe.