There are many anglers in this country that fish with live worms. How do I know this? I think the fact that in many areas of the country, every convenience store worth it's salt carries "live bait" as an item in their store, and that "live bait" would of course include worms. I figure, if live worms are sold in convenience stores, they're pretty popular. That or live worms are used in some secret recipes, that I'm not aware of. The bottom line is that fishing with live worms is incredibly popular, yet most anglers don't know how to do it. Most anglers think that fishing with live worms involves simply "threading" a worm onto a hook and calling it fishing. This is not the case.

I have to say, I have nothing but contempt in my heart for the entire idea of fly fishing, however "A River Runs Through It" is my favorite movie (not because of the flea flicking, obviously). In that movie, the reverend McLain is quoted as saying, "Anyone who does not know how to catch a fish, should not be able to disgrace that fish by catching it." I couldn't agree more with that sentiment, especially as it pertains to fishing with live worms.

To me, fishing with live worms is every bit the art form fly fishing has ever been professed to be. The first aspect of fishing with live worms is to employ a set of gang hooks. A set of gang hooks is simply a pair of small hooks, tied in tandem, thus enabling the angler to present a live worm in a completely natural manner. This is a far cry from simply "threading" a worm onto a hook or creating the dreaded "worm ball". The act of employing a set of gang hooks couldn't be simpler. I mean it is just 1 more hook than you're probably used to. The only difference is that the hooks are smaller than you're probably used to using and they're tied in tandem.

With a little knot research you can tie your gang hooks yourself or you can buy them ready to fish, it makes no difference how you get the actual gang hooks. What's important is that you begin using them for your fishing of live worms. It only makes sense that the more your bait looks like it would in the wild, the more bites you'll get. And when's the last time that you saw a worm all "balled" up in the wild? The more natural your bait looks to the fish, the better.

Fishing with live worms also means transporting those worms to your various fishing spots. If you're a sedentary fisherman, and don't move from spot to spot, this is no problem. You just take the container the worms come in; sit it down beside you, and your good to go. If however, you move from area to area (like me), carrying the container of worms is a pain in the butt. The best way to deal with this problem is through the use of a bait bag. A bait bag is simply a small bag that hangs off of your fishing vest, belt, or shirt that carries your live worms.

In other words, you remove the live worms from their container and place them into your bait bag. You then leave the container that the worms came in your vehicle. This way your fishing worms are hanging right there waiting to be used. Your worms are literally "at your fingertips". Just as with the gang hooks, with a little research you can make your own bait bag, or you can purchase one, it makes no difference. What matters is that you begin using one. Remember, fishing with worms is every bit the art form that fly fishing professes itself to be, but only when done properly. And "properly" simply doesn't include worm balls, threading worms onto a hook, or carrying around Styrofoam worm containers.