| I understand that you may not look at live worm | | | | immediately fashioned my own and began using a |
| angling as an "art", but I've always said that if flea | | | | bait bag to carry my live worms as well. That was |
| flicking can be considered an art form, so can live | | | | almost 20 years ago, and to this day I do not fish |
| worm fishing. You see, a little more than 15 years | | | | with live worms without my bait bag. It's literally one |
| ago I had the pleasure of knowing a great fisherman | | | | of the most ingenious idea's that I've ever come |
| who fished almost exclusively with live worms in a | | | | across. |
| manner in which I had never in my life seen. He used | | | | From his experience fishing, he knew that it was |
| ultra light fishing gear and very light line (he preferred | | | | necessary to present live worms in the most natural |
| four pound test) and caught monster trout out of | | | | manner possible. So he also came up with the idea of |
| streams that people didn't think trout that big even | | | | the gang hook for worm fishing. JRW's gang hooks |
| lived in. It was amazing, and since I was best friends | | | | were simply a pair of small hooks tied in tandem |
| with his son, he taught us both his tips and | | | | (usually size 8 or 10), thus enabling him to present a |
| techniques that made him such a great live worm | | | | live worm in an outstretched and natural manner. If |
| angler. As I've gotten older, I've realized that he was | | | | the worms were large, then he simply pinched them |
| an artist and now I'm going to attempt to pass a | | | | in half. Then the gang hooks were attached to his line |
| few of his worm fishing secrets on to you through | | | | using a small barrel swivel (usually size 10 or 12) and |
| this article. | | | | weighted down by using split shot sinkers. The goal |
| There were honestly too many tips and techniques | | | | was to allow your live worm to bounce off of the |
| to cover in one small article, but I'll give you the | | | | bottom, as it flowed naturally with the current of the |
| important ones that I continue to use to this day. | | | | river or stream. |
| JRW (that's the 'artist' I've been referring to) | | | | What I just described was the exact gang hook rig |
| believed in fishing is the flowing water of rivers and | | | | that JRW used to catch all of his trophy trout, and |
| streams. He loved fishing for trout, walleye, and | | | | it's the same rig that I've been using ever since JRW |
| smallmouth bass while wading in rivers and streams. | | | | taught it to me. This rig, when allowed to flow |
| He learned that these fish (especially trout) in small | | | | naturally with the current of a river of stream, is |
| rivers and streams were much more sensitive to | | | | deadly. The rig is also pretty good for still fishing if |
| things such as colors and sound than fish in other | | | | the split shot sinkers are replaced with an egg sinker |
| bodies of water. That's why he always "treaded | | | | (above the barrel swivel) and when rigged under a |
| lightly" while wading, so as not to spook the fish. He | | | | bobber in your favorite lake, it works very well also. |
| also always wore drab clothing, so as not to stick out | | | | The gang hook rig is very versatile and incredibly |
| like a sore thumb. He said the fish could see you and | | | | effective. |
| the more that you stood out, the less apt they were | | | | The bottom line is that I believe that live worm |
| to bite. | | | | angling is an art, when done properly. In my opinion, |
| The next thing he believed in was being efficient. This | | | | JRW was flat out an artist when it came to live |
| is why he developed the first bait bag, at least that I | | | | worm angling and I hope that I've become half the |
| had ever seen, for carrying live worms while angling. | | | | artist that he obviously was. By using these simple, |
| This meant that any time a worm was needed, they | | | | yet effective tips, you to can elevate your live worm |
| were literally at you fingertips. After seeing his, I | | | | angling as well. |