Fishing worms, what are fishing worms? Are they the multi colored pieces of plastic formed into the shape of a worm used by Largemouth bass anglers or are they the creatures that live in the ground and eat dirt? When it comes to fishing, a fishing worm has to be the creature that lives in the ground and has been universally known as fishing bait since the dawn of time in my opinion. As a matter of fact when a live worm is fished in the proper manner, their use can be considered every bit the art form that those people who wave feathers back and forth consider their form of fishing to be. In my opinion the flea flickers have cornered the market on the term ‘art’ long enough. If I had my way, I don’t think the guys using the multi colored pieces of plastic attached to 20 pound test should have the market cornered on the term ‘worm fishing’ either.
So what is the proper way to present a fishing worm? The best way to present a live fishing worm as bait is through the use of a set of gang hooks. Size 8 or 10 are usually perfect for live worms. What is a set of gang hooks? A set of gang hooks is simply two hooks tied in tandem. This enables you (the angler) to present the worm outstretched and naturally. When rigged on a set of gang hooks the worm looks as it would without ant hooks in it! This is obviously an incredible advantage to you (the angler). The more natural you bait looks, the more likely a fish is to bite it.
Now that I’ve explained the best way to rig a fishing worm, I’ll also tell you the best way to carry fishing worms with you. For many years I carried my Styrofoam container of worms with my while fishing. I stuffed it in my vest pocket, or whatever and it was really inconvenient. Then I fashioned my own bait bag for carrying my worms. It was great. Then I simply started removing my fishing worms from the Styrofoam container, placing them into my bait bag, and going fishing. It was awesome, and is now the way I carry my live fishing worms. The worms just sit there, in the bait bag that’s hanging on my vest, waiting to be used! This way your fishing worms are literally, “at your fingertips”. Fashion yourself or purchase yourself a bait bag, and you’ll never fish with live worms without one, I promise you that.
Fishing worms have been known to be wonderful fishing bait since man first started fishing, and if you begin employing these techniques, coupled with the use of ultra light fishing gear, fishing with live worms becomes every bit the art form that any other fishing technique claims itself to be. Remember what Steven Wright said of all of us anglers: “There’s a fine line between fishing and just standing on the shore looking like an idiot.” This is very true, and one of my goals is simply to avoid being the person standing on the shore looking like an idiot!
By: Trevor Kugler
Posts Tagged ‘Fishing Bait’
Fishing Worms
April 26th, 2010Fishing With Worms – Tips to Catch More Fish
March 27th, 2010
In this article, I want to outline some tips and techniques to help you when fishing with worms. Just for clarification, when I refer to the word “worms” I’m referring to live or synthetic worms (you know the extruded worms that are manufactured to be similar to live bait), and not the plastic worms that bass fisherman are so enamored with. If you’re looking for new take on a Carolina rig, you won’t find it in this article.
This article will focus on bait fishing, whether that bait be live or manmade. Before we get into the actual tips and techniques let me remind you that the best tip for any fishing technique it is extremely important to consider when you are fishing. The best way to determine when the best time to fish is, is to pay attention to the moon. The moon plays a huge role in the behavior of fish and the more you understand this phenomenon, the more success you will have.
Now let’s get down to the actual tips for fishing with worms.
Watch Your Shadow – When Fishing with worms you want everything in the fishes environment to be as “normal” as possible. This means watching your own shadow and never casting a shadow on the area you’re fishing. Few things “spook” a hole like a human shadow. When fishing with worms, never cast a shadow on the water you’re attempting to fish. Make Sure Your Hands Are Free Of Unnatural Scents – Any unnatural scents that are on your hands, such as gasoline residue, will transfer to your worm and cost you bites. Many species of fish have sensitive senses of smell, and if they detect unnatural scents, they are much less apt to bite. The remedy for this problem is to take a handful of grass or dirt and rub it into your hands before baiting up. This will effectively eliminate any unnatural scents that might be on your hands. Use Light Fishing Line – When fishing with worms you want to use fishing line that’s as light as possible. Think about the type of fish you’re fishing for. What is the biggest fish you will have a chance of catching? Is there a lot of underwater debris in the water you like to fish? These are a couple of the questions to keep in mind when filling your fishing reel with line. In most cases, you can use line much lighter than you actually use. When fishing with worms, either live or manmade, use fishing line that’s as light as you feel comfortable with. Use Gang Hooks – Anytime you’re fishing with worms, gang hooks should be employed. Gang hooks are a pair of hooks tied in tandem, which enable you to present a worm in an outstretched and natural manner. These hooks allow you to present your worms in a natural manner when fishing with worms. This tip may be the most important worm fishing tip in this article.
These tips will help anyone catch more fish. If you want to catch more fish when fishing with worms use one or all of these tips sooner, rather than later. They all work extremely well, so give them a try and find out for yourself.
By: Trevor Kugler
Fishing Tips for Beginners
March 27th, 2010
If you are new to fishing you might be overwhelmed by the amount of information you are presented with. There are numerous sources of fishing information from books, shops, friends and family, the Internet and many others. Don’t be intimidated by it all. Instead, focus initially on a few simple tips to help make your first fishing trip a success.
1. Fishing with bait.
To get the bait to the fish you will need to use a weight. The weight you need will depend on where you are fishing. A bank sinker and a number 2 hook should be ok to begin with.
Using a swivel will prevent the sinker from sliding. If you want to protect the knot use a lightweight bead positioned between the weight and swivel.
Bait – the most popular and easy to obtain type of bait is worms. Some fishermen also like to use livers or chicken in particular. You must make sure your bait is cold so it does not fall off the hook. However, you should experiment with different types of bait and see what produces the best results.
2. The 3 basic methods to fish.
Drift–fishing. This, as the name suggests, allows the line to drift in the current that you have cast into. You can do this up or down stream.
Plunking. This method uses weights to keep the bait in place after you have cast out. If you would like to use the current to assist you slightly, just use a lighter weight.
Back-bouncing. This method relies on you lifting your rod up 1 or 2 feet and letting the lure settle back down again. While you are doing this, reel your line in slightly allowing it to stay taught.
3. Fishing from a boat. First you need to decide in what location you will be fishing. This allows you choose the weight of your jigheads.
Using a heavy weight and keeping your line straight, you will be able to drift with the current. Slow trolling with a bottom walker is good when boat fishing.
If you follow these quick tips you will be enjoying your first fishing trip with minimal problems. In fact, take a friend or family member with you to share your enjoyment. Just be cautious and carry safety equipment and a first aid kit with you at all times in case of an emergency. It is also a very good idea to take a cell phone along with you.
By: Garvin Douglas
