Whether you’re sitting under a shady tree on the shoreline or bobbing around in a boat, fishing can be a great way to relax. But what has fishing got to do with worms?
Worms are a popular bait used by anglers around the world, and being able to grow worms for fishing bait can be a great add-on bonus to owning your own vermiculture setup.
Read on as we give you a quick rundown on using worms for fishing.
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What Are the Best Worms For Fishing?
Fish are generally attracted to anything that is moving around and looks like food, so worms fit the description really well. Worms also have a strong ‘smell’ which attracts animals looking for a quick meal, like fish.
This being said though, not all worms are good bait for all fish.
Different fish have different mouths, and smaller fish may not be able to physically get the worm and the hook into their mouths.
Most worms raised in a worm farm will also only be suitable for freshwater fishing. The saltwater can break down their bodies quickly and cause them to fall off the hook before a fish gets the chance to eat it.
So really, the best worms for fishing will be the ones suited to what fish are in your area and where you’re going to drop your line.
The three most popular worms used as fishing bait are:
- Red Worms
- Night Crawlers, and
- Mealworms
Red worms are great for both worm farms and for fishing. Because they’re smaller they’re great for catching smaller freshwater fish. You can get multiple worms onto a single hook to improve your chances of a catch.
Night Crawlers are bigger, fatter worms that make great fishing bait and are easy to cultivate in a worm farm. Because they’re bigger and can last a long time submerged underwater, you’re more likely to catch larger fish and have success in deeper water.
Mealworms are more versatile as fishing bait than the other two worms mentioned. You can use them live on hooks, dried and glued to lures, or mashed up in pastes or slurries. They are also a bit different from the other two worms when it comes to cultivating them, but are still relatively easy to raise in a worm bin at home.
You can purchase Mealworms from Uncle Jim’s Worm Farm here.
How Do You Rig A Worm For Fishing?
You’ve got your worm for fishing bait, but how do you rig it onto a hook?
Depending on the size of your worm, you’ve got a few options.
You can cut your worm into smaller pieces and thread a few pieces onto your hook by piercing them with the hook and sliding them up the shaft.
Alternatively, you could also thread single pieces of worm onto the hook by piercing the top of the worm and pulling it over the hook to cover everything but the barb.
These two methods are good for catching smaller fish or when using smaller hooks.
If you want to hook a whole worm, you can start at one end and thread the hook through the body of the worm like you’re sewing it up. The more you thread it through the body the more secure it’ll be.
If you’re using this method, leave a bit of one end hanging off the hook to wiggle around to attract fish.
This is a good method if you want to catch larger fish or you have big worms.
Final Words on Using Worms for Fishing
While fishing isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when you think about worm farms, using your worms for fishing is definitely another benefit of owning a worm bin.
Depending on where you’re planning on fishing, and what you’re aiming to catch, using worms that you’ve cultivated yourself can be a great way to save some money on expensive baits and lures.
Red worms, night crawlers, and mealworms are all suitable for freshwater fishing and can be easily rigged to a hook. Smaller worms are great for smaller fish, while big fat juicy worms are just too irresistible for larger fish.
For tips on how to start a worm farm, check out our beginner’s guide here.
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