Live Worms?

[Eric J]

Just read the thread about breeding nightcrawlers. Never used live worms for bass. Who uses them and how?

[fishballer06]

I prefer to catch fish, not feed them.

[Eric J]

17 minutes ago, fishballer06 said:

I prefer to catch fish, not feed them.

Ha!

[LonnieP]

You can catch bass with live worms but you will also catch every other kind of fish living in the water also.

[Team9nine]

If you want to learn all the details, track down and buy a copy of "Lunkers Love Nightcrawlers." Should be able to find a reasonably cheap copy for sale online. It was published back in the 70s by the editors of Fishing Facts magazine, and covers the original Binkelman 'Nightcrawler Secrets' material, along with Buck Perry structure concepts...and more. Still the seminal piece of work on the subject to this day, and just as effective in the right circumstances.

[Eric J]

I'm heading out tomorrow to hit a couple spots that have different populations. One is Smallies, trout and panfish while another is LM, chain Pickerel and Crappie. So I picked up some nightcrawlers to cast out a lazy rod...

[Team9nine]

Nose hook on a splitshot rig and actively fish it...as in stitch them in or slowly pull and let sit...or drift along tight to bottom if in a boat. Never been a huge fan of dead rods myself.

[Glaucus]

Step 1: Take your nightcrawlers

Step 2: Open the lid

Step 3: Feed the birds

Step 4: Go fishing

[Krux5506]

When I was a kid I used to pretty much only use worms on Lake Ontario and it would be smallie after smallie, and it was usually on an eagle claw hook with some split shot thrown on somehwere.  That lake has changed with the gobie infestation as has my fishing practices though. I fished worms once a couple years ago on my home port just drop shotting them and it did the trick. 

[Eric J]

8 minutes ago, Krux5506 said:

When I was a kid I used to pretty much only use worms on Lake Ontario and it would be smallie after smallie, and it was usually on an eagle claw hook with some split shot thrown on somehwere.  That lake has changed with the gobie infestation as has my fishing practices though. I fished worms once a couple years ago on my home port just drop shotting them and it did the trick. 

I haven't fished worms in a long while. Just felt nostalgic I guess and picked up some nightcrawlers...

[Squarebill79]

Nope! Only time I ever resort to live worms is if Im fishing for catfish or catfish bait. To me its cheating and takes out all the reasons why I fish for bass to begin with. 

[Bluebasser86]

I would if I still had a good place to pick up crawlers, I'm not paying the $4 a dozen they want for them now. #6 Octopus hook, 4lb test on a light action rod and either no weight or very small split shot. It catches everything but even big bass can't resist a worm because of how easy they are to catch with minimal effort. I'm not too proud to catch a bass on live bait, still have to put it where they live and present it right. 

 

The guides on Table Rock use them on a drop shot during the heat of the summer when the bite gets tough. 

[NHBull]

Timely thread....

 

This afternoon, taking the grandson, his kiddy rod, bobber and crawlers to a place know for Sunnys. Big crawlers can be had at every market in the area.  No more digging for me

[mattkenzer]

An air-injected crawler and a weight (original drop shot... ) can increase your chances of catching bass and finding "new to you" fishing spots.

 

Great pre-fishing technique.

[Choporoz]

22 hours ago, Eric J said:

I'm heading out tomorrow to hit a couple spots that have different populations. One is Smallies, trout and panfish while another is LM, chain Pickerel and Crappie. So I picked up some nightcrawlers to cast out a lazy rod...

Years ago I tried to put a nightcrawler under a bobber on a 'second rod', while casting.  Never worked for me, because unless I paid very close attention to the worm rod, I'd just be feeding fish.  Turns out the fish weren't too keen on hooking themselves while I wasn't paying attention.

[Black Hawk Basser]

I would suggest a circle hook if you are also fishing another rod simultaneously.  Bass usually get really deep hooked on crawlers with a regular hook, especially if you aren't quick on the draw, so to speak.

[islandbass]

I still use them on occasion when I target blues, perch or other non bass species. However, bass catches are incidental and welcome, lol. My top two methods are with a float or by drop shot.

 

I can relate to feeding fish, lol. It's so true! You feel the tug, and the hook comes back empty.

[geo g]

I only used them when I took my kids fishing when they were little.  You will feed a lot of fish.  But they will catch bass.  I've also used maggots and put a bunch on one small hook.  Catch rate was better.

[Raul]

Go to my everyday lake and the only thing you'll catch with worms is a truckload of bluegills.

[NE-KID]

My father fishes with nightcrawlers and does okay with them but nothing big. He fishes for anything that would bite/hit a nightcrawler. He buys his Nightcrawlers from the baitshop before he does he ask the owner of the baitshop what kind of worm they are selling and what is the best. Surprising he was told couple of times to stay away from the Canadian Nightcrawler for some unknown reason they claim fish don't like them.

[Deeare]

The best 2 methods I used when I was younger.  

 

Lg mouth. Try blowing up the crawler with a worm blower.   Use a weight so the crawler floats a foot off the bottom.  You can catch trout if you do the same with smaller worms.   

 

Smallmouth.  Put a dillie (smaller crawler) on a eagle claw hook that has a small Colorado blade already rigged on it.   Put a split shot on the line and drag it on the bottom. 

 

[soflabasser]

Every bass fishing technique has its time and place it works best and it would be foolish to not consider using a technique just because you think you are too good to fish a certain technique. This includes fishing with live worms and I rather catch a +8 pounder on some type of live bait that is legal to use than catch a bunch of dinks on lures.

2 hours ago, Deeare said:

The best 2 methods I used when I was younger.  

 

Lg mouth. Try blowing up the crawler with a worm blower.   Use a weight so the crawler floats a foot off the bottom.  You can catch trout if you do the same with smaller worms.   

 

Smallmouth.  Put a dillie (smaller crawler) on a eagle claw hook that has a small Colorado blade already rigged on it.   Put a split shot on the line and drag it on the bottom. 

 

Good advice. I have not tried these methods and will consider trying them the next time I travel up north for smallmouth bass.

[ApacheGuns515]

I fish live worms whenever the fish aren't biting on any of my plastics or lures. Fish are moody creatures, sometimes no matter which artificial lure you toss out there they simply won't want it. Worms are a fail safe, I honestly don't think I have ever not caught SOMETHING when using live worms. May not be a bass but it'll be something. 

 

I'll usually just catfish rig them and slowly reel it in until something grabs it. If the bottom is terrible them I'll drop shot it. 

 

I've accidentally caught more bass while fishing for catfish than when I specifically fish for bass. Usually when I'm reeling in the line to make sure the bait is still on there is when a bass will swim up and ****** it. 

 

It's probably the easiest way to fish, just wrap a worm on a hook and attach a weight a few inches above and toss it out there and reel it back in. Something will usually take it eventually. 

[N Florida Mike]

I get the urge to fish worms for bass several times a year.

I have a worm bed with what we call wigglers. Not nightcrawlers but they work well for numbers, not size. Biggest bass Ive caught with them is 3 1/2 pounds or so.

I use a # 4 or # 6 wire bronze hook, usually eagle claw.  I put a small float about 16 inches or so up from the hook, and I put a bb shot 5-6 inches above the hook to help cast it. I hook the worm once through the band. You need to gently cast or youll throw the worm off. You can fish without a cork but you cant cast very far that way.

You will catch a lot of dinks and pound sized fish but the bigger the worm, the bigger the bass.

[Deeare]

20 hours ago, soflabasser said:

Good advice. I have not tried these methods and will consider trying them the next time I travel up north for smallmouth bass.

It works great for me in nh.   I use lures 99% of the time but when I take friends or family out they use this and do well.