Fishing with worms

[Errrm]

Hi,

 

I spent a few hours today fishing on the River Dove with worms (Dendrobaena) for the first time, I fished them on a size 8 hook and I was getting what seemed to be little tugs.... similar but less pronounced to minows when fishing with maggots during the summer. After a while I would bring the worm in and sometimes it had a bit of the tail missing and normally it would have been stretched out like something had been pulling it. I assumed these were small fish so I looped the worm over and hooked it twice but I didn't managed to hook anything (1 missed bite with the new hooking method). I didn't have maggots with me so I couldn't switch to see what fish was causing the bites, I doubt they were minows at this time of the year even though there are loads of them in the river.

 

Anyone got any ideas about what was happening? Anything anyone can suggest I do differently?

 

Errrm

[Peter M]

maybe a size 8 hook is too big for a single dendra, i use nothing bigger than a size 12 and usually a 14 when fishing a dendrobaena.

[Anderoo]

Are there crayfish in the Dove? If so, that could be it. If not it's probably small fish nipping at the bait. You could try a much smaller hook (like a 16) with a small bit of worm on.

[DavyR]

I've had similar experiences on the Dove when fishing worm. AFAIK there are no crayfish (at least not in the stretch I fish, downstream of Uttoxeter) and very few small fish of any species, other than the previously-mentioned minnows in the summer. I wonder could it be smaller grayling?

[Errrm]

As far as I know there are no Crayfish, I've never seen one or heard of any so I think we can assume there aren't any.

 

The best theory so far would suggest small grayling or dace.... there aren't many roach in the river so I doubt it's them. I'll try a smaller hook perhaps and maybe take some maggots as well to try and find out what they are.

[Andy Macfarlane]

Stuff About Worms

 

"Word of advice to all you worm users.

The saddle is where the highest concentration of blood vessels is. Hooking through the saddle will kill your worm faster than stamping on it with a size 10 Doc Marten boot. I used to hook through this bit myself. I don't know why either, it just seemed to be the right bit. I was told this by a friend who studies biology and since then I've hooked through the tail somewhere and to be honest, he was right. My lobs do in fact last that bit longer.

Also, the story about halving worms and both ends growing into a 2 worms is also a myth. The head end may survive but the tail end withers and dies.

Did you also know you can 'beef' up your worms by adding mashed potato to them over a period. We do this with both Dendrobes and Lobs and we grow some right big snakes. Even the 2lb Perch are scared of them. You can add a handful of freshly mashed potato or a liberal sprinkling of Smash/Mr.Mash. Potato peel done in the blender works well too, as does a lot of household waste. Just don't use anything from fruit because they don't like it and it alters the PH of the medium. Fresh leaves, fallen in autumn, are a big favourite of the old Lobs. Just leave them on the surface and the lobs will drag 'em down into their lair.

If you must keep them for a period, make sure the soil is PH neutral or they can die of pretty fast. Also make sure you ventilate the tub from all sides.

Um...if you add a handful of sharp sand and moss to a tub of Lobs you can toughen the skin, which makes them extra hookable and if you soak them in a few mm of water on the night before you go fishing, they absorb the extra water to save themselves from drowning and bloat right up, fatter still.

You can give all your worms names but don't get too attached or you’ll never use them for bait.

You can reuse worms if you put them back into a nice medium after 20 mins or so. Any longer and they drown. I leger big Lobs and I rotate them often. Even if they catch fish, as long as they are still kicking, they'll survive if you look after them. A bit of mash and they soon spring back to health. Change them into fresh medium after a session and you can keep the same bunch of worms for ages.

Err...that's about it on the subject of worms.

Oh yea...did you know that worms are an excellent source of minerals and protein. If you go fishing for a few days and you break your pinkie, you won't die as long as you have a tub of fat lobs. Yum Yum.

Um...worms can't climb trees without crampons...... "

 

Andy Macfarlane