fishing6.jpgFor those of you who enjoy fishing with live worms, I’ve got some tips and techniques that will help you become a much more successful angler. Many people think of fishing with live worms as simply “threading” a live worm onto a hook, clipping a red & white bobber onto your line, casting this into the water, and calling it good. If this, or some manifestation of this is what you call fishing with live worms, hopefully this article will enlighten you.

Fishing with a live worm, to me, is as much of an art form as fly fishing has ever been described to be. It’s simply that it has to be done properly, and not like was described above. For live worm fishing to be as effective and productive as it can be two main points must be followed. Those two points are: The use of light line and the use of gang hooks.

What do I mean by light line? For me (who fishes primarily in small river and streams) that means four-pound test, but it really has to do with the size of the fish that you’re fishing for. In my opinion, when live worms are being used as bait, eight-pound test is probably the maximum line strength needed. You have to keep in mind that “pound test” means that the line can stand up to that amount of weight at it’s weakest point without breaking. Many anglers simply use fishing line that’s entirely too heavy. I’ve hooked, fought, and landed an eight pound walleye on four pound test, so I know that fishing line is much stronger than people give it credit for.

The second point when fishing with a live worm is to use gang hooks. Gang hooks are the only way to present a live worm in a natural manner, which means outstretched, the way God intended. When fish look at a potential meal, the more realistic and natural it appears, the better. And gang hooks make live worms look exactly like they look without any hooks in them. Don’t you think this would be an advantage to you, the angler? I can tell you from experience that it is an advantage. Begin using pre-tied gang hooks sooner, rather than later when fishing with live worms, and you will catch more fish.

If you fish with live worms, having an effective and efficient way of carrying then with you is important as well. You don’t want to be wasting valuable fishing time searching for you bait when you need to re-bait, which is where a bait bag comes into play. A bait bag is just a small bag that Hangs from your fishing vest or shirt and carries your live worms while you’re fishing This way your live worms are always at your fingertips waiting to be used, rather than in a pocket or tackle box every time you need them. The worms don’t even crawl out. They just sit there, as if waiting to be used. A bait bag is a “must have” item for the serious live worm angler.

These simple, yet extremely effective tips will make you a much more effective live worm angler. Remember fishing with live worms doesn’t have to be the amateurish endeavor that so many people think it is. Not if you don’t want it to be.

Trevor Kugler is co-founder of JRWfishing.com and an avid angler. He has more than 20 years experience fishing for all types of fish, and 15 years of business and internet experience. He currently raises his three year old daughter in the heart of trout fishing country…..Montana!

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