| I realize that many anglers may be thinking that they | | | | hooks. He knew how important it was to present |
| already know how to use worms as bait when | | | | bait in a natural manner, and thus caught a lot of fish. |
| fishing, but my contention is that simply "threading" a | | | | JRW could never understand how people didn't use |
| live worm onto a hook and calling it fishing bait simply | | | | gang hooks to fish with live worms. To him, using |
| isn't right. We, as anglers, should respect the fish we | | | | gang hooks and presenting bait naturally, just made |
| are attempting to catch more than this. When live | | | | sense. |
| worms are traditionally used as bait, and are | | | | This is exactly how to use worms as bait when |
| "threaded" onto a hook, they end up looking like | | | | fishing: Begin be taking the end of your line and tying |
| some sort of worm ball, and this is just wrong on | | | | on a small barrel swivel. Now tie a set of pre-tied |
| many levels. The most important thing that's wrong | | | | gang hooks onto the opposite end of the barrel |
| with the "threading" technique is that the bait ends | | | | swivel. Now add a live worm to the gang hooks (if |
| up looking very little like what a live worm looks like | | | | the worms are large, simply pinch then in ½). At |
| in nature, and as I said, ends up looking like a worm | | | | this point split shot sinkers are added to your line |
| ball. And when is the last time you saw a worm ball in | | | | above the barrel swivel. If you're fishing in the |
| nature? | | | | current of a river or stream, the goal is to have your |
| More than 15 years ago, my fishing mentor JRW | | | | offering bounce off of the bottom as it flows |
| came up with a solution to this problem, and I haven't | | | | naturally with the current (bouncing off the bottom |
| attempted to "thread" a worm onto a hook since. | | | | as it flows). If you happen to be bobber fishing, just |
| That solution is called a set of gang hooks, and it's | | | | add a bobber to your line, and if you happen to be |
| the best way to use a worm as bait when fishing. | | | | still fishing, simply add an egg sinker to your line |
| You see, a set of gang hooks allows a worm to | | | | above the barrel swivel. What was just described is |
| presented in an outstretched and natural manner, the | | | | exactly the way that JRW rigged live worms as bait. |
| way God intended. Presenting a live worm in a natural | | | | The bottom line is that using worms as bait isn't |
| manner makes all the difference in the world. | | | | rocket science, but to do it effectively, it is a bit |
| JRW used gang hooks, and was the greatest live | | | | more involved than simply "threading" a worm onto a |
| worm angler that I've ever known. He consistently | | | | hook. By using the simple technique of a set of gang |
| caught not only numbers of trout, but trophy trout | | | | hooks, you too can catch more fish. How do I know |
| out of rivers and streams that received very heavy | | | | this? Because I've personally been doing exactly what |
| fishing pressure. Very few people knew his secrets, | | | | was joust described, to catch fish for more than 15 |
| but one of those secrets was that he used gang | | | | years. |