How to Hook Plastic Worms

Plastic worms are a great bait. According to the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society (BASS) these baits have won more bass fishing tournaments than any other bait during all the years since BASS tournaments started in 1967. The original plastic worm was invented in the late 1940's, but changes in plastic and new techniques of rigging the worm on a hook have made it even more popular with today's successful angler.

Things You'll Need

• Plastic worms in the color and style of your choice
• Worm hooks
• Assorted bullet weights
• 6mm glass beads in red or clear
• Carolina rig swivels

Instructions

Texas Rigging

1. Slide a bullet weight on the fishing line, small end first.

2. Adding a glass bead next is optional. Used with a brass or tungsten weight a glass bead makes a clicking noise when the unpegged weight slides against it as the line is pulled. As crayfish (a favorite bass food) make a clicking noise many anglers feel the sound helps provoke bass strikes.

3. Tie the line to the eye of a worm hook using a good knot, such as a Palomar or improved clinch.. Hook size is important. Use a 1/0 offset hook with 4 or 5 inch worms, 3/0 or 4/0 hooks with 6 inch worms, and 5/0 or 6/0 with worms from 7 to 10 inches in length.

4. Push the point of the hook in the center of the nose of the worm for a distance of approximately 1/4 inch. Allow the point to exit the worm at this point, but keep pushing the worm on the hook until the nose is against the back of the hook eye.

5. Turn the hook around to a position where the hook point is facing the underside of the worm. Hold the hook against the side of the worm to see where the bend of the hook lines up with the worm body. Push the hook point in the worm at that point and bury it in the worm body until the worm is straight. If the worm is crooked or bunched take the hook out and try it again.

The Carolina Rig

1. Select a bullet weight of at least 3/8 ounce. In deeper water or areas with a lot of weed cover you might use a weight of as much as an ounce. Slide the weight onto the line, small end first.

2. Placing a bead on the line is optional, but if you want one for noise or to protect the knot from the weight put it on the line now.

3. Tie the line to one end of a small swivel. Use the smallest swivel you can find which is rated for at least 15 pounds.

4. Tie a piece of clear monofilament line to the other end of the swivel. This is the leader and should be between 18 inches and 3 feet long.

5. Tie a worm hook to the end of the leader. Attach a worm, lizard or similar plastic bait to the hook using the same method as in a Texas rig.

Finese Worming

1. Slide a 1/32 or 1/16 ounce bullet weight on the line. The ideal line for this technique will be six or eight pound test mono or hybrid line.Hybrid line is a blend of nylon and flourocarbon polymers resulting in great strength and low visibility and is well suited for this type of worming.

2. Slide a glass bead on the line and tie the line to a 1/0 offset or Kahle worm hook.

3. Push the hook through the nose of a four inch straight tail worm. Allow the hook to exit the worm body about 1/4 inch from the entry point on the nose. Measure the hook against the worm and insert the point of the hook where the hook bend meets the worm body. Keeping the hook point just under the plastic of the worm makes the setup more weedless, allowing it to slide through cover better.

Tips & Warnings

• Use a weight proportional to the size of the worm---don't over power the worm. Use just enough weight to pull the worm through the aquatic vegetation.

References

• Bassresource.com
• fishing.com

Resources

• Animated fishing knots