Worms

[philntomo]

who uses worms and how do you use them???

[Julian Grattidge]

Piece I did on worms;

----------------------------


Those who know me understand my deep fascination with worms; not in a ‘weird cousin’ sort of way, I’m just fascinated by their extraordinary ability when used as bait for catching specimen fish of almost every species. My main experience with worms is when used for stalking specimen carp, and I would say over 90% of the carp I’ve banked over the last few years have been taken on worm, either fished on its own, or over a handful of particle mix. Not just carp either; tench and bream to near double figures have been amongst a host of other lumps to gobble up a tasty worm within moments of it being cast in.

So what is it about the humble worm that works so well? I don’t think it’s just the wriggling, for maggots do just the same but their results for specimens have been nowhere near as effective for me. I think the secret lies in their chemistry. Worms are an extremely rich source of amino acids, and some earthworm species actually exude aminos, many of which can be lacking in the natural diet of the fish, so it’s no wonder they prove so effective as bait!

I’ve lost count of the times carp have moved in over a baited worm completely covered in silt, only for them to root it out in a matter of seconds. Some of this will doubtless be down to movement, but you only have to smell your hands after you have been handling worms to remind your self how effective that pungent amino smell must be!


I started using hair-rigs for worms but the presentation looked dodgy and the movement of the worm did not look right so I made a few modifications to the hooklink and attached them straight to the hook - the fish soon followed. I tried loads of different hooks and braids to get the best presentation and after a bit of trial and error settled on a size 12 Ashima hook and Edge 2000 15lb braid (which is fantastic for the job).

I tie the braid straight to the eye of the hook and then slide a rubber-stop right up near the eye. Hook the worm on so that when on the hook, its head is pointing away from the eye, as they tend to move forward and this stops the hook tip getting masked in weed. Gently pull the worm round to the back off the shank and over the eye itself so that it masks the bottom of the shank and the eye completely, the little rubber stop will stop it going further up the mainline.

That’s it - nice and simple. I don’t worry about the worm going into the silt, if anything that helps – any carp coming by will know the worm is there both by the food signal it gives off and its movement. It helps to use a particle mix just to hold the fish long enough to find the worm, but don’t overdo it, I use one or two decent pouchfuls of my particle mix and then fish the worm over it, this encourages them to get in amongst it and hopefully pick up the hookbait. I use either one or two worms on the hook, depending on how active the fish are and how much I need to get their attention!

Check the baits often as nuisance fish will always be there to have a go. It can be a bit fiddly to get the hang of but the rewards are there.


--------------------

J

[silverbirch]

The best bait going..rich in amino acids

Collect Lobs off the lawn at night, bit of an art...or lay some old carpet down in the garden and they will collect under it after a while...keep in spagnum moss is the classic way but torn up newspaper is fine. The one to use on mixed fisheries as the Perch, Bream Tench infact every species going can be a nuisance...so pick the biggest ones or fish multiples.

Redworms...my favourites..best out of muck heaps..fish in big bunches, up to 10 on the hook...don't bother with hair rigs, usually. Tip off the hook with an artificial maggot to stop them squirming off. I use a tiny piece of a Storm baits artificial sandeel, which has the irridescent quality worms have and also counteracts the hook weight a bit!!

Dedrabenas and brandlings live in soil and tend to have more acidic juices and I do not use them if poss.
There are a number of companies breeding them now expect to pay £12-£15 a kilo plus p+p
Oh! forget trying to enhance the flavour by adding or dipping them in any of the shop bought worm flavours...one, because most do not smell like worms and most importantly because the preservative in them kills the worms.

Best dropped right next to feeding or patrolling fish, or feed some chopped worm (if the perch are not pesent)

With great care!!! you can air inject one end of a lob so it pops up and if you have two or more on the hook nip the end off one to get those juices into the swim quicker...

Hope this helps

[philntomo]

Cheers Chaps!!!

[braidman]

Everything you wanted to know about worms but were afraid to ask

nice bit of info there lads cheers

[Stig]

Ive found one of the best ways to get a supply of worms is to collect all your used tea bags ,break them open and put a layer down about an inch thick of the tea leaves then moisten and cover with a piece of carpet and as long as you remember to keep it damp in the summer and keep topping up the tea leaves every week/fortnight it should give you a supply of worms year round

[davidg]

Originally Posted by Julian Grattidge

Piece I did on worms;

----------------------------


Those who know me understand my deep fascination with worms; not in a ‘weird cousin’ sort of way, I’m just fascinated by their extraordinary ability when used as bait for catching specimen fish of almost every species. My main experience with worms is when used for stalking specimen carp, and I would say over 90% of the carp I’ve banked over the last few years have been taken on worm, either fished on its own, or over a handful of particle mix. Not just carp either; tench and bream to near double figures have been amongst a host of other lumps to gobble up a tasty worm within moments of it being cast in.

So what is it about the humble worm that works so well? I don’t think it’s just the wriggling, for maggots do just the same but their results for specimens have been nowhere near as effective for me. I think the secret lies in their chemistry. Worms are an extremely rich source of amino acids, and some earthworm species actually exude aminos, many of which can be lacking in the natural diet of the fish, so it’s no wonder they prove so effective as bait!

I’ve lost count of the times carp have moved in over a baited worm completely covered in silt, only for them to root it out in a matter of seconds. Some of this will doubtless be down to movement, but you only have to smell your hands after you have been handling worms to remind your self how effective that pungent amino smell must be!


I started using hair-rigs for worms but the presentation looked dodgy and the movement of the worm did not look right so I made a few modifications to the hooklink and attached them straight to the hook - the fish soon followed. I tried loads of different hooks and braids to get the best presentation and after a bit of trial and error settled on a size 12 Ashima hook and Edge 2000 15lb braid (which is fantastic for the job).

I tie the braid straight to the eye of the hook and then slide a rubber-stop right up near the eye. Hook the worm on so that when on the hook, its head is pointing away from the eye, as they tend to move forward and this stops the hook tip getting masked in weed. Gently pull the worm round to the back off the shank and over the eye itself so that it masks the bottom of the shank and the eye completely, the little rubber stop will stop it going further up the mainline.

That’s it - nice and simple. I don’t worry about the worm going into the silt, if anything that helps – any carp coming by will know the worm is there both by the food signal it gives off and its movement. It helps to use a particle mix just to hold the fish long enough to find the worm, but don’t overdo it, I use one or two decent pouchfuls of my particle mix and then fish the worm over it, this encourages them to get in amongst it and hopefully pick up the hookbait. I use either one or two worms on the hook, depending on how active the fish are and how much I need to get their attention!

Check the baits often as nuisance fish will always be there to have a go. It can be a bit fiddly to get the hang of but the rewards are there.


--------------------

J

Julian

Any chance of a photo or diagram just to make clear

Thanks

[Julian Grattidge]

Originally Posted by davidg

Julian

Any chance of a photo or diagram just to make clear

Thanks

I did have some - might be on my old pc.

leave it with me, will have a look.

J

[philntomo]

[kerrwaf]

Originally Posted by philntomo

lol

[davidg]

Originally Posted by philntomo

lol

Still serious question - I've got the chance to fish a new water thats not seen a lot of bait and more natural food than you can shake a stick at. Looks like maggots, worms, slugs etc or corn/tigers etc

[Bet]

Pmsl