How to Bait a Hook with Worm

By: Sam Richards
Date: November 16, 2021
Time to read: 5 min.

Anyone who has tried fishing would know how frustrating it can be. One of the most annoying parts would be trying hard to attract a fresh catch and ending up with nothing. There are many reasons for this, such as the wrong location and timing. More so, it can also be because you are using the wrong bait.

Speaking of baits, live worms are amongst the best. The best thing about worms is that they are cheap, making them great bait. You can even grow a worm farm at home and harvest your own bait! This is especially good if you are into composting as a way of going green. They wiggle in the water to attract fish. However, using worms will not guarantee a catch. To increase the chances that fish will bite the worm, pay attention to proper set-up. If you are clueless about how to do this, keep on reading and learn from the insights we’ll be sharing.

Choosing the Right Worm

Before anything else, take note that not all worms are the same. There are plenty of choices, but this does not mean that they are all promising. One of the most important is to consider the type of fishing or the environment. For instance, in freshwater fishing, manure worms and earthworms are some of the best options. If you are in salt water, on the other hand, sandworms and bloodworms are great.

The size of the worm is another important consideration. This depends on the size of the fish you want to catch. Larger fish will require larger worms. For smaller fish, meanwhile, consider long worms that you can cut in sections. This will help make the most out of your bait. Cut the worms based on the size of the hook. Meaning, if the hook is big, then the worm should not be too short.

Do not worry about cutting the worm into different sections. The tail may eventually die, but it will take quite a while. The best practice is to not cut unless you are ready to hook. This way, you can better guarantee the freshness of the worm.

A Step-by-Step Guide for Hooking a Worm

If you are new to fishing, the thought of hooking a worm may seem intimidating. When it is still moving, you might be creeped out by the thought of putting it in a hook. It will wiggle, but you should not panic. Otherwise, the worm might end up slipping from your hand.

Hooking a Worm Through Standard Baiting

This is the kind of baiting that most people are used to and also the easiest to do. Here’s a quick step-by-step guide on how you can do this.

Start by holding the hook and the worm. Hold the hook using your non-dominant hand. Your dominant hand, meanwhile, should be holding the worm.
Make sure that your hand is positioned near the top part of the worm, at least half a centimeter from the end of its body. If you grab the worm too near the head, then it might end up wiggling too much and you will lose grip of its body. If it is too low on the body, on the other hand, you will find it difficult to hook. When holding the worm, avoid applying excessive force.

Insert the worm on the hook. Do not feel guilty about doing so! According to science, worms do not feel pain, so you don’t have to worry about whatever it is that you are inflicting upon them!
Once the worm is hooked, make sure to push it a bit backward to the hook. If you want to ensure that the worm is secure in its position, then do something called a half hitch. All you have to do is loop the fishing line around the bait and tighten the worm.
Next, grab the long end of the worm and push it again through the hook. At this point, the worm should have already been speared three times. It might seem morbid, but this is the ideal set-up to ensure that the worm stays in its position. Otherwise, it can easily slip off the hook even before you have a catch.

Hooking the Worm through Sock Baiting

As an alternative to hooking as mentioned above, you can also try sock baiting. Read on and we’ll talk about how you can do so.

Use your non-dominant hand to hold the hook and grab the worm using your dominant hand.
Hold the worm near its head and pierce it through the hook. The main difference from standard baiting is that you won’t be pushing the worm. This means that the hook should not go through the other side of the worm’s body.

Slowly push the worm through the hook lengthwise. This means that the hook should be inside the body of the worm. Think of the action similar to wearing a sock, except that you are doing it in a hook and not in your foot. This is a delicate step. In a lot of cases, people end up tearing the body of the worm. Take note that this works best only when you have a fat and long worm, which should penetrate the hook.
Stop pushing the worm when the head is already at the top of the hook. The end part of the worm should be sticking outside. Once the worm is ready, cast, and hope for the best outcome!

Conclusion

If you are new to fishing, there are fundamental skills that you will need to learn. Among others, one of the most important is how to bait a hook with a worm. Doing so can be quite intimidating, especially for someone who is easily grossed by the feeling of holding a worm. Nonetheless, it does not take an expert to hook a worm. Take note of the steps mentioned above and you can do it like an experienced angler! More than knowing the right steps, however, you should also choose the perfect worms to increase the chances of ending up with a fresh catch!

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