Swimming a plastic worm is one of the most simple fishing techniques, but also one of the most effective.

Popularly known among bass anglers as speed worm fishing, swimming plastic wigglers produce great catches for anglers regardless of experience or how they approach their favorite waters.

It is as simple as fishing can get. The angler simply lobs out a Texas-rigged plastic worm and reels it back with a steady retrieve that makes the lure appear to be swimming.

The basic cast-and-reel approach works great in most situations, but the angler can experiment with weights and retrieval speeds to match the mood of the bass.

Speed worming is great in the summer when the water is warm and the fish are chasing but perhaps weary of spinnerbaits, swim jigs, vibrating jigs and lipless crankbaits. Anglers use it with success at many local lakes, particularly Mosquito, Pymatuning, West Branch and ponds with grass and lily pads.

The set-up is subtle but obviously appealing, judging by the bass’ reaction. A speed worm typically is 6 to 8 inches long, featuring a straight body with a paddle tail or sickle-shaped cut tail that flutters as the angler retrieves it.

The technique is named after one of the original lures used in the technique, the Zoom Speed Worm, a paddle-tail creation that gained popularity in lakes with aquatic vegetation, especially in Florida. Zoom and other manufacturers then started marketing versions with a cut in the paddle that caused the tail to vibrate tightly during the retrieval. Zoom named its worm the Speed Worm Utravibe.

All of the variations — from paddles to cut tails — are easy to fish whether the angler is working from the shore, a kayak or a boat. The technique is perhaps the easiest way for an angler who wants to learn how to be effective with plastic worms because the presentation is so simple and the bites are not difficult to detect.

I boated a dozen or more bass with speed worms last week, tossing three different models to see which was more effective. All three – the Zoom Ultravibe, Yamamoto Speed Senko and Reaction Innovations Renegade — generated hard strikes from bass that stalked and attacked as I worked it in two- to four-foot depths.

Colors don’t seem to matter much, as I’ve caught bass on Junebug, plum, green pumpkin and Okeechobee craw speed worms. A bit of glitter in the color adds fish-attracting sparkle.

Many anglers fish speed worms weightless, but I prefer a light weight — one-eighth to one-quarter ounce — to get the lure down to fish hiding in the weeds. I toss the worms on medium-heavy baitcasting outfits on 15- or 17-pound-test fluorocarbon line, depending on the cover.

I start with steady, swimming retrieves and speed up or down if necessary to generate strikes. Bites are unmistakable, as the bass usually hit aggressively. The bulky worms are a mouthful for even big bass, so I strike back with a hard hookset to push the hook point through the plastic and into the fishes’ mouths.

Some anglers prefer to do their speed-worming with spinning outfits, which will work fine as long as the rod and line have the power to deliver solid hooksets.

Such a simple, versatile and proven-to-catch-bass tactic, what more can an angler want?

Jack Wollitz is the author of “The Common Angler,” a book that explores anglers’ passion for fishing. Email Jack at jackbbaass@gmail.com.