How To Rig a TR and Save Worms

[gunsinger]

I realized something today that helped me out a lot so I’ll share it, though I’m sure most of you already know this.  But, for the less experienced readers in the group, here goes…

 

Historically, I’ve gone through a lot of worms when TR’ing, especially when panfish (or bass) grab the tail and never get the hook. I’d  rip the lips and come back with an empty hook.   But, even on a good bass bite, my worm was pretty well destroyed meaning one fish, one worm.  Sometimes I could nip the head off and reuse the shortened worm but not always. 
 

Today, I realized my mistake. I simply wasn’t running the point of the hook far enough into the head of the worm before turning it out. I was only going about half the depth of the barb side before bringing it out of the worm which left only a small part of the worm at the eye. This morning, I started keeping the point of the hook in the worm until I reached the bend of the hook. The difference was amazing. I think I might have gone through 3 worms in 11 bass.  
 

I’ve watched videos on TR’ing and never picked up on this subtle difference but it was a difference maker for me. YMMV.

[Kenny Yi]

also, once the hook eye is covered, stab some thicc mono (40#) in the eye to make it stay even more. 

[scaleface]

You can also buy parasite clips and catch a lot more fish per worm or use a barrell swivel the same way .

[LCG]

On 7/3/2021 at 6:57 PM, gunsinger said:

I realized something today that helped me out a lot so I’ll share it, though I’m sure most of you already know this.  But, for the less experienced readers in the group, here goes…

 

Historically, I’ve gone through a lot of worms when TR’ing, especially when panfish (or bass) grab the tail and never get the hook. I’d  rip the lips and come back with an empty hook.   But, even on a good bass bite, my worm was pretty well destroyed meaning one fish, one worm.  Sometimes I could nip the head off and reuse the shortened worm but not always. 
 

Today, I realized my mistake. I simply wasn’t running the point of the hook far enough into the head of the worm before turning it out. I was only going about half the depth of the barb side before bringing it out of the worm which left only a small part of the worm at the eye. This morning, I started keeping the point of the hook in the worm until I reached the bend of the hook. The difference was amazing. I think I might have gone through 3 worms in 11 bass.  
 

I’ve watched videos on TR’ing and never picked up on this subtle difference but it was a difference maker for me. YMMV.

It also helps make it more weedless as the hook eye is burried in the plastic. If you want amazing durability try zman elaztech material, those worms last forever, different action in the water, but I have one of their TRDs tied on and it's caught 27 fish so far using the same bait. That's durability. I used super glue near the eye of the hook and Texas rig it on a size 2 EWG. 

[Jig Man]

3 hours ago, scaleface said:

You can also buy parasite clips and catch a lot more fish per worm or use a barrell swivel the same way .

You can buy 20 ga. wire at a big box store and have enough material for thousands of clips.  Two finishing nails in a board, a pair of side cutters and needle nosed pliers and you are ready to go.

[papajoe222]

Thread a barrel swivel on your line prior to tying on your offset hook. Run the hook point into the worm and prior to finishing the normal rigging, run the hook point through the open end of the barrel swivel. This will not only keep the worm from sliding down the hook and  tearing, it adds a little bit of weight which can benefit weightless worm fishing. 

[PressuredFishing]

On 7/3/2021 at 3:57 PM, gunsinger said:

I realized something today that helped me out a lot so I’ll share it, though I’m sure most of you already know this.  But, for the less experienced readers in the group, here goes…

 

Historically, I’ve gone through a lot of worms when TR’ing, especially when panfish (or bass) grab the tail and never get the hook. I’d  rip the lips and come back with an empty hook.   But, even on a good bass bite, my worm was pretty well destroyed meaning one fish, one worm.  Sometimes I could nip the head off and reuse the shortened worm but not always. 
 

Today, I realized my mistake. I simply wasn’t running the point of the hook far enough into the head of the worm before turning it out. I was only going about half the depth of the barb side before bringing it out of the worm which left only a small part of the worm at the eye. This morning, I started keeping the point of the hook in the worm until I reached the bend of the hook. The difference was amazing. I think I might have gone through 3 worms in 11 bass.  
 

I’ve watched videos on TR’ing and never picked up on this subtle difference but it was a difference maker for me. YMMV.

Yup, works well and you can even run some of the worm up the line as well to make the hook be farther down. Senkos still tear after about a fish for me but I cut them in half and use them for Ned rigs. 

[mhone]

12 hours ago, papajoe222 said:

Thread a barrel swivel on your line prior to tying on your offset hook. Run the hook point into the worm and prior to finishing the normal rigging, run the hook point through the open end of the barrel swivel. This will not only keep the worm from sliding down the hook and  tearing, it adds a little bit of weight which can benefit weightless worm fishing. 

Does anyone have photos/videos of what this looks like? I sometimes feel I only get 1-2 fish per soft plastic. 

[WRB]

I use a Peg-It II. Tie on the hook of choice and put a rubber Peg-It through the hook eye and trim off the ends about 1/8” each end. Now rig the worm as you normally would and pull the hook with the rubber ends into the soft plastic about 1/8”.

The soft plastic will not move.

Tom

[Fishes in trees]

I get it now.   Just looked up your bio.   Married with a son & daughter.  I totally get why you're more concerned about making your soft plastics last than I am.  I've had numerous fishing buddies in your situation, i.e. like to fish, but have other obligations as well, so doing what you can to stretch your fishing dollars is important.

[scaleface]

17 hours ago, John6.47 said:

Does anyone have photos/videos of what this looks like? I sometimes feel I only get 1-2 fish per soft plastic. 

Here you are .

[mhone]

37 minutes ago, scaleface said:

Here you are .

Thanks @scaleface! That makes perfect sense. I’ll give that a try.