As the season changes, many are preparing their fishing equipment for some pleasant fishing expeditions. And if there’s one way of enjoying fishing effectively, it’s with a bait and a hook.
But there’s a catch: you won’t get anywhere if you don’t learn how to bait a worm properly. So, how do you hook a worm for fishing? (Properly!)
Have you ever had the misfortune of casting your rod out into the lake after priming your hook and noticed that your thread travels one way while your bait goes the other?
Bait fishing necessitates some skill to succeed and make the most of your efforts. We show you how to make sure you’re hooking a worm right!
Step By Step Guides to Hook A Worm Like a Maestro
This straightforward guide will help you get the most from your worms.
You’ll discover how to swiftly and effectively hook a worm so that it remains on the bait till you catch that fish!
The Standard Baiting Method
The fisherman merely holds the pole or lays it down and awaits the unmistakable tug of the catch to be conveyed through the line.
The Standard Baiting Method is as follows:
- Get a jar of worms or rake some out from your backyard before fishing. Store them in a sealed container filled with cold mud, such as Ziploc or jar.
Bring out your worms just when you’re prepared to take them fishing. Check that your hook is securely attached to your fishing line.
- Insert the pointed tip of the hook entirely through the worm’s tail. Choose a spot approximately half-centimeter from one end of the worm.
If you go too near to the worm’s neck, it may be able to crawl free from the bait. Take care not to entangle your hand when pushing the hook through the worm’s shell –
Please don’t push the bait directly down on the hook’s tip, as it might pass through the bait and poke your skin.
- Bring the worm to the top of the barb. Slide the worm up the hook as if you’re sliding a bangle up your hands. Place the speared worm directly below the loop on the hook.
Some anglers connect the speared worm’s tail end to the piece of string with a basic knot termed a half hitch to fasten it further.
Thread the fishing line through your worm and slide it through the knot to make the half-hitch knot. Firm the worm’s grip on the rope for extra security.
- Grab the harpooned worm’s outer edge and shove the hook through it once more.
Choose a point a bit farther down the worm’s length –
Your best option is to leave enough leeway for the “looping” of the worm’s body between both the two speared points.
When hooked, the worm should resemble an “S.”
The exact number of times you must pierce the worm depends on its length. In most cases, 2-4 times is sufficient.
Don’t pierce the worm’s head directly. Instead, by leaving a portion of the worm’s body “loose,” you enable it to wriggle, which attracts fish more than a securely speared worm.
- Draw the worm onto the hook. Of course, you would like the fish to swallow the hook’s spike – if the bait isn’t anywhere close to the point, a fish may receive a free feast!
If your worm is tangled around the hook’s loop, slide it downwards the hook’s “bend.”
- Have fun fishing! Replace your older bait whenever you lose or catch a fish.
Pro-Tip – Consistency is vital. It may be difficult at first to spear wriggly, slippery worms. However, you’ll be baiting worms like a master in no time once you practice and get the hang of it.
The Sleeve Baiting Method
Another sort of bait angling, sleeve baiting, is typically done in rivers and streams.
It means floating a fish hook into deeper ponds and behind in-stream vegetation to tempt game fish that position themselves in these kinds of areas for feeding.
The fisherman seeks to dangle the hook at a depth where feeding fish will detect it, usually near-natural hiding spots such as submerged weed patches, stumps, and undersea layers of rock.
The Sleeve baiting method is as follows:
- Using the hook, penetrate a worm slightly behind the head. Don’t go all the way inside; the pin should be within the worm’s guts but not going
out the other end.
This way of baiting is a little more complex.
It increases the likelihood that a fish may accept your worm without swallowing the hook.
However, it is far more appealing to fish using this method.
This method will surely consume more worms but will result in more bites.
- Push the hook longitudinally into the worm’s body gently. Thread the worm around the hook’s bend in the same way you would a sleeve up your shirt.
This step is a challenge in itself because you must be careful not to break the worm in half by drawing the hook’s tip through the worm’s body twice.
- Pause when the worm’s neck has reached the top of the hook. Then, push the hook’s tip through the worm so that it protrudes from its side. Let the worm’s body lie stiffly beneath the curve.
When the worm can dangle free of the hook, its movement will be much more visible to fish in the water than the traditional approach.
Note that it also makes it simpler for fish to eat the “loose” portion of the worm without biting the hook.
This method has a high risk/reward ratio.
- Ensure you have enough worms on hand if you plan to use this tactic; you’ll go through many swiftly. If you have difficulty mastering it, keep separating your worms in half.
Don’t worry. You can still use the ripped worm pieces as bait by shanking them on the hook right under the spike.
Pro-Tip – Whenever you hook your worm, smear mud on your palms. The dirt’s roughness makes it far easier to grab a slippery worm as it slides up the hook.
Furthermore, it may camouflage your smell, making the worms believe that it’s surrounded by their natural habitat and not a threatful environment.
Conclusion
Because hooks are barbed, it’s nearly impossible to remove a baited worm from a line without ripping it.
However, don’t fret if your worm gets ripped; although alive, writhing worms are more appealing to fishes, a limp worm can still serve as bait.
If you cut yourselves on the hook when hooking a worm, seek medical attention immediately and disinfect with water and soap.
Don’t worry if the hook becomes lodged in your flesh and you have trouble taking it out; instead, leave the area untouched and pour some antiseptic on the surface until you get professional medical help.
