When most anglers think of fishing with live worms they think of attempting to “thread” said worm onto a hook and calling it worm fishing. In my experience, nothing could be further from the truth. There is one way to fish with live worms that is better than all the others, which is what this article is about. In this quick article I’m going to show you how to rig a live worm for fishing, so that you will forever know how to do it effectively.
Using live worms for fishing involves more than simply “threading” a worm onto a size 4 hook and casting it into the water in the hopes of catching a fish. Especially if you want to take your live worm fishing to the next level.
The first thing to consider is your fishing hook, or should I say hooks. When using worms for fishing they should always be rigged on a set of gang hooks. Gang hooks are simply a pair of small hooks tied in tandem, which enable worms to be presented outstretched, the way God (and the fish) intended. These hooks are without question, the best way to rig live worms for fishing no matter what fishing technique you choose to employ.
I was first introduced to these fishing hooks by my fishing mentor more than 20 years ago and have been using them ever since. Gang hooks make worms appear as natural as they do in nature, which is a huge advantage to the angler. Most anglers who fish with worms end up presenting some manifestation of what I like to call a “worm ball”. Worm balls occur by hooking a worm over and over again on a single hook, thus creating a ball of worms.
This type of fishing alternative alleviates this problem, as well as helping to hook those ‘short striking’ fish. Having the second hook trailing behind the first hook is extremely effective in hooking fish that are “just nibbling”. These fishing hooks can be used in almost any fishing situation. These hooks are attached to your fishing line using a barrel swivel, and can be used with various fishing techniques from river fishing to fishing with floats and everything in between.
Another tip to keep in mind when using live worms for fishing is your hands. You see, any smells on your hands will transfer to your live worms and cost you bites. When fishing we want our worms to smell like, well worms, not any scents that might be on our hands. An easy and effective remedy to this problem is to grab a handful of dirt before baiting up, and rub it into your hands. This will eliminate any unnatural smells that might be on your hands. Never forget what Steven Wright said od fishing: “There’s a fine line between fishing and just standing on the bank looking like an idiot”. This is most certainly true, and especially when it comes to fishing with worms.
Now you know how to rig a worm for fishing. Worms can be rigged on gang hooks in a variety of manners. Minor variations to the above model will point you in the right direction. The bottom line is that these hooks are the best way to rig a worm for fishing. Having two hooks is a ton better than having one.