The need for sensitivity with worm fishing, albeit a four inch or
a twelve inch worm is the number one skill
you must perfect if you are to be successful. When I first began fishing
worms as a child dangling them under
a bobber, the worm did all the work! Now, when using the plastic worm,
you will have to make the imitation
look so good, that the fish just cannot refuse it.
Weightless
worming is one of my favorite methods of fishing with just a hook and
the worm. To successfully
use this method the line must be lighter than you would normally use for
Texas or Carolina rigging. I
recommend no lighter than 6-lb and no heavier than 12-lb test. A 6-foot
light spinning outfit will work well. Use
a 1/0 hook for 4 to 6 inch worms, a 2/0 for 6 to 8in worms, 3/0 for 8 to
10 in worms and 4/0 or 5/0 for the really
large worms over 10 inches in total length.
Simply cast the worm
into cover or onto a lily pad located at the edge of a weed line. Allow
it to fall slowly,
watching the line for twitches or a sudden change in direction. To the
fish, the worm will look as if it has fallen
from the overhanging tree or from the top of the pads. Allowing the worm
to reach the bottom. Do not retrieve
line, just shake the rod and the worm will twitch on the bottom as if it
is struggling to get back to the surface.
This method is often
very productive if the fish become finicky in they're feeding habits.
This is often caused
by fishing pressure, a sudden change in the weather, or water levels
going up or down. Using a floating worm
over cover is also a very exciting method of worm fishing. Bright pink
and yellow are perfect for this application
as you can see the worm clearly and often watch the worm disappear as a
bass engulfs it! Drag the bait in
small movements over the cover, and then let it sit in spaces between
pads or at the edge of weedbeds.
Texas rigging is used
on Long Island with great success and it is a concept devised to get the
worm to the
bottom quickly and through thick cover. Heavier line to 18-lbs test is
required and a heavy action rod so that
you can muscle the fish out of the weeds or fallen tree cover. A 6 to 6
1/2 foot bait-casting or spinning outfit
will work with this application.
Your needle nosed or
cone shaped lead should fit tightly on top of the worm or slightly away
from the head
dependant upon conditions. I like to place the weight against the head
if I am deep in thick cover. I find that
the worm cuts through the weeds and surface cover quickly, minimizing
snags. I will place the weight a 1/4 of
an inch away from the head of the worm if the cover is not too dense. I
have found that using a toothpick will
secure the weight to the line. Just insert the toothpick into the lead
head and snap off the excess. The wood
will expand in water making the fit tighter.
Placing the lead away
from the worm allows a more fluid movement and gives the appearance that
the
worm is following something small. Bass like to ambush other smaller
fish or creatures when there are
apparently chasing something else, and so are not aware of the bass
being present. Your presentation should
be hopped or dragged along the bottom and paused so that the fish can
get a look at the offering. Slow to
moderate retrieval is best. As the weight is close to the worm, set the
hook with a firm upward movement,
this will ensure a good hook set.
Carolina rigging is
not so common here on Long Island but if you find yourself in an open
water situation
without too much cover (Lake Ronkonkoma is a perfect example) this
method can prove very effective. With a
7 or 7 1/2 foot bait-casting rig, your main line can be as heavy as
20-lb test. Rig a 1/2 or 3/4 ounce ball or
pear-shaped lead and attach a link swivel. In rough weather conditions
you can upgrade your lead weight to
2 ounces if necessary. (You may like to add a glass bead in between the
weight and the swivel, which can be
effective as a sound attractor, but I have often had fish bite the bead
rather than the worm and so given false
bite indication). This will stop the weight from sliding down to the
hook.
Next attach a length
of lesser breaking strain line (12 to 15lb test) to the swivel which
will determine at
what distance from the bottom you want your worm to rise and fall from.
I like to use a four-foot length of line
but dependant upon water depth and clarity you may decide to make the
leader from 18 inches to six-foot in
length. Attach your hook dependent upon worm size (as mentioned above)
and make your cast.
Retrieve is slow and
deliberate, dragging the weight along the bottom of the lake or pond.
Long agonizing
pauses may also be necessary, waiting to feel for those tell tale tugs
from hungry bass. When you feel the
resistance from a fish, your strike should be hard and to the side, not
upward, as that can often pull the bait
out of the fish's mouth. A side ways hook set will pull the bait into
the corner of the mouth and your hook up
ratio is increased.
When Carolina rigging,
you may also want to use a floating worm. This is often used if there is
structure
on the bottom, which might snag the bait if dragged. If you do, allow
time for the worm to return to an upright
position over the weight before beginning the retrieve. Many other lures
can be fished by this method, I have
Carolina rigged, small crankbaits, floating rattletraps, and even
jerkbaits with great success in open water.
Don't forget, if you can show fish different lures in a presentation
they have never, or could never have seen
before, you have a greater chance of catching. |
