Before I even begin, let me clarify something. I'm not talking about rubber worms that come in a thousand different colors. I'm referring to what Hank Hill calls "The good old American worm". When I say do you fish with worms, I'm of course referring to the live variety that we all learned how to fish with. I'm not sure of the reasons behind it, but I am sure of the fact that fish of all kind like worms. So how do you fish with and carry your worms while fishing? Let's start with taking your worms fishing with you. Do you just carry the worm container with you to the area that you're going to fish? This is fine as long as you don't move around much. If you move around or wade (like me) carrying a container of worms is a pain in the butt! So I began using a bait bag, and would suggest that you do the same. It's really convenient. You can make one yourself or buy one, it makes no difference. The important thing is that you begin using a bait bag to carry your worms. The live worms are simply transferred into the bait bag, and then they are right there at your fingertips ready to be used as bait. Now, how do you fish with live worms? Do you simply "thread" a worm onto your hook and call that worm fishing? If this is what you do to fish with worms, it's a mistake. That's how a ten year old fishes with live worms. The way to fish with live worms is through the use of a set of gang hooks. A set of gang hooks is simply two small hooks tied in tandem, thus enabling you to present the worm in a completely natural manner. You see, when a live worm is used as bait, it should look as if it were just thrown into the water. If you just threw a live worm into the water, what would it look like? By employing a set of gang hooks, the live worm looks just like it would if you simply threw said worm into the water. This natural presentation is extremely effective, especially in the moving water of rivers and streams. If you like wading and fishing in rivers and streams, for fish like smallmouth bass, walleye, or trout, you need to begin using gang hooks. They are fairly simple to tie yourself or you can buy them, it make no difference, the point is that gang hooks should be used. If you fish with live worms, these two tips will make you a much more effective and efficient angler. Remember what Steven Wright said about us anglers, "There's a fine line between fishing and just standing on the shore looking like an idiot." I couldn't agree more, and just want to help everyone avoid the 'looking like an idiot' part of the equation.
For those of you who are like me and fish with live worms and like to move from spot to spot while fishing, such as along a river or stream, then this article should interest you. More than 20 years ago my fishing mentor came up with the most ingenious solutions for carrying live worms while fishing, that I've ever seen. He didn't have a name for it at the time, but that of course didn't make it any less effective. Carrying live worms while fishing, if you move from spot to spot, can be quite a dilemma. You always have to try to remember exactly where you left them and then open the container, remove a worm, and bait your hooks. This can become a real time waster and just all around pain in the butt. So JRW, my fishing mentor and the best trout angler that I've ever seen, came up with the idea of having a little sack that would hang off of your fishing vest and carry the live worms for you. In other words, worms would be purchased as normal, then simply taken from the container they were purchased in and placed into the sack for the duration of a fishing trip. This seemed strange at first, but I tried it and fell in love with the concept. It was the most ingenious apparatus that I'd ever seen. The live worms that were being used as bait were always hanging right on my fishing vest, literally "at my fingertips". It was great. From this original concept, The Bait Bag was born. The bait bag has become much better to look at and much more functional than it was in the beginning, but the point is that it's still the best way that I've ever encountered for carrying live worms while fishing. As a matter of fact I've been using some manifestation of a bait bag for at least 20 years and I wouldn't even consider fishing without it. My bait bag has become as much a part of my fishing repertoire as any single piece of fishing gear is. A bait bag will make any angler so much more efficient that it's difficult to put into words. Just think about it. All that time that used to be wasted with you fumbling around with your live worms can now be used with your line in the water, where the fish are. If a fish steals your worm, you simply use your fingers to grab another worm from your bait bag, re-bait, and you're good to go. How much quicker is this than looking for your worm container, opening it, grabbing a worm, baiting up, closing the worm container, and putting the worm container back where you got it? The two options don't even compare! The reality is that I personally haven't carried a worm container fishing with me for 20 years! I leave the containers in my vehicle. When I get to my fishing spot, I open the container that I purchased the worms in, transfer the worms to my bait bag (just the worms, not the dirt) and leave the container in my vehicle. Then I'm on my way to fish. I don’t even have the option of forgetting my worm container and thus creating another piece of litter along my favorite river. If you fish with live worms, and are mobile while fishing like I am, check out the convenience of a bait bag. You'll be glad you did, and wonder how you ever fished with live worms without one.
Trevor Kugler has sinced written about articles on various topics from Acid Reflux, Fishing and Fishing. 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. Trevor Kugler's top article generates over 27100 views. to your Favourites.