| Before I begin this article, let me preface it by stating | | | | of gang hooks. Gang hooks enable the angler to |
| that I'm not referring to colorful pieces of plastic that | | | | present a live worm in an incredibly natural manner. |
| so many Bass anglers are enamored with. The worm | | | | Once you begin to use gang hooks, you will never |
| fishing that I'm referring to is live worm fishing. That | | | | again "thread" a live worm onto a hook. A basic of |
| is, the basics of fishing with live worms. I leave the | | | | worm fishing is to present your worm in a natural |
| fishing with colorful pieces of plastic to other people. | | | | manner. |
| For this article we'll stick to that which I'm familiar...the | | | | - Bottom is Your Friend - A basic premise of worm |
| live worm. When it comes to fishing with live worms | | | | fishing is that bottom is your friend. The most |
| there are a few basics that every angler should be | | | | effective technique for presenting a worm is to |
| aware of. | | | | bounce that worm off of the bottom, as it flows |
| - The Key Word Is Live - When fishing with live | | | | naturally with the current. Use split shot sinkers, and |
| worms the key word is live. This means the livelier | | | | add or take them away as needed. The goal is to |
| your worms are the better. Employing an apparatus | | | | get your live worm to bounce off of the bottom as |
| like a simple bait bag is a great idea to help keep | | | | it flows downstream. With a little practice, detecting |
| your worms lively. When it gets hot outside, simply | | | | the difference between bottom and a bite is as easy |
| dip the bait bag in water, and the coolness/wetness | | | | as telling a penny and a quarter apart! Just |
| of the water will help your worms 'liven' right up. You | | | | remember, the bottom is your friend, and also what |
| can make a bait bag yourself or purchase one, the | | | | my fishing mentor told me more than 20 years ago: |
| important thing is that you employ one to help keep | | | | "if your not getting snagged, you're not fishing in the |
| the live in your live bait. | | | | right place." |
| - Bait Needs To Be Natural - Natural presentation is | | | | These points are the basics of worm fishing; at least |
| key to live bait fishing. Your bait should appear just | | | | as far as live worms are concerned. As I said, when |
| like it would in nature as much as possible. How often | | | | it comes to those colorful pieces of plastic, you'll |
| do you see a dead minnow in nature? And how | | | | have to get your information somewhere else. Follow |
| often do you see a "worm ball" in nature? Never, it | | | | the above points and you will begin to catch more |
| simply doesn't happen. Therefore we shouldn't use | | | | fish almost immediately. And remember, there's no |
| these types of things for bait. Rather than using a | | | | substitute for practice. The more time you can spend |
| "worm ball", which is simply a worm that has been | | | | on the water, the better. You can't catch anything |
| hooked over and over again on a hook, employ a set | | | | without having your line in the water. |