A Worm for All Waters
Ladson, SC – From a Bassmaster Classic champion to a Kayak Series Angler of the Year to a 200‑days‑a‑year river hammer, three very different anglers found themselves leaning on the same bait. Whether it was Luke Clausen skipping docks with a shaky head, Abby Abbondanza coaxing pressured fish when his ChatterBait® bite faded, or Jody Queen dragging a Texas rig through river rock, all three trusted the new Z-Man® FattyZ™ Thick StickZ™ to get bites in wildly different scenarios.
Engineered to elevate and upsize one of bass fishing’s most trusted bait styles, the new FattyZ Thick StickZ delivers a bulky, buoyant magnum finesse worm profile built to shine on a shaky head or Texas rig. Its stout body tapers to a thin waist and a bulbous tail that swings with minimal input, driven by the natural lift of ElaZtech®. At 6 inches, it brings the freshest and fattest silhouette to the FattyZ family, joining the proven 5” FattyZ™, 3.25” TRD FattyZ™, and 7.25” Mag FattyZ™.
Evolution of a Confidence Bait
Designed fifteen years ago by Bassmaster Classic and Forrest Wood Cup champion Luke Clausen, the original 5” FattyZ™ quickly became a staple nationwide. Clausen sees the new Thick StickZ™ as a natural progression of his go‑to power-finesse worm.
“The Thick StickZ is a really versatile bait,” he said. “There are many ways to fish it, but my favorites are on a big shaky head, a Neko rig, and a Texas rig.”
Clausen notes that the added bulk boosts drawing power without dulling the bait’s responsiveness. “It has the same great action as the smaller one I’ve used for so many years,” he said. “There are times when a bigger bait attracts a bigger bite, and there are also situations where it simply gets more bites.”
He also points to its standout visibility on forward‑facing sonar, giving it an edge in today’s electronics‑driven game.
Bulky Profile, Subtle Appeal
The FattyZ Thick StickZ is designed to quiver naturally at rest, creating lifelike movement without constant rod work. Its bulkier profile gives bass a clear target while still maintaining the subtle action needed in pressured conditions. The bait skips cleanly and fishes confidently around docks, rock, and vertical cover, and its meaty body holds a 5/0 or 6/0 hook needed for pulling big bass from heavy cover.
2025 Bassmaster Kayak Series Angler of the Year Abby Abbondonza credits the bait’s design for its effectiveness in tough scenarios. “The thicker 6-inch profile and the way the tapered tail quivers really set it apart,” he said. “On a shaky head, the floating ElaZtech material lets it stand straight up. You can let it sit there and do the work—that subtle movement is what triggers bites.”
A New Go-To Worm
Long before its full public release, Z-Man pro Jody Queen leaned heavily on the Thick StickZ throughout the 2025 season, citing its versatility across fisheries and cover types. Paired with Abbondanza, the duo won back-to-back Team Kayak Series tournaments on Lake Guntersville and Kentucky Lake using the bait.
“I fish well over 200 days a year, and the Thick StickZ never leaves my favorite worm rod,” Queen said. “Whether I’m fishing docks, rocks, or heavier cover, it’s been a consistent producer.”
Despite its thicker profile, Queen found it equally effective for both largemouth and smallmouth. “I was initially concerned the meaty profile might be too much for smallmouth,” Queen added. “That concern didn’t last long. This bait flat-out produces everywhere.”
