Worm bait tips

[Grant]

Not an offer, more of a request!! I like using worm baits from the shore, mainly on sandy beaches.

 

Favourites are white cat (rag), which I reckon has to be tops, but I was having a little think on the beach the other day.

 

Some of these worms are difficult for people to get, so when changing bait, do people leave the old worms on?

 

I guess they do provide an extra attractant on one hand, but does a mangled worm next to a live wriggling one put the fish off?

 

Anyone got any views?

[glennk]

I'll quite often leave old worms on for a few cast especially if there are a few fish about. Having said that cod would eat the **** of your shoe if they were hungry. Not sure about other species.

[Grant]

Too far south for Cod mate!! I think main things I would target are flat fish, or school bass, with these sort of baits.

 

We will also get the odd pollock in these conditions, and have even had a strap conger on worms off the beach.

 

So really, would be interested in comments re the flatties, or schoolies!

[seaside]

Too far south for Cod mate!! I think main things I would target are flat fish, or school bass, with these sort of baits.

 

We will also get the odd pollock in these conditions, and have even had a strap conger on worms off the beach.

 

So really, would be interested in comments re the flatties, or schoolies!

 

The biggest dab I ever caught was taken on 2 day old de-frozen black lug which was itself over a year old - aye short of bait and scraping the bottom of the bait freezer - that said, I have noticed dab aren't the fussiest of eaters.

 

There are times of the year when the flounder up here seem to only favour herring, mackerel, worm, crab etc won't do, and it does appear to cut down bites if you re-use/leave on old stuff yet when they are taking any non-fish baits, they don't seem to care if you re-use stuff.

[glennk]

That sounds good advice seaside. Friend of mine is a bit of a scratching specialist, he told me when fishing for dabs he would rarely use fresh bait. Siad if he was to use makeral he wouldnt rate its catching potential untill it had been in and out of the freezer about half dozen times.

[maximo]

being a bit laid back by nature means when the fishings slow i would leave bait on the hook and add more but then this would affect my bait presentation resulting in a often missed bite and when reeled in a big blob of worm masking the hook or hanging off.a disaster during a match when the fishing is slow,so i would say strip it off and start again which i now do.

[arthurcodsbody]

If you are targeting dab specifically then old smelly black lug is king. The older and smellier the better. As for leaving old bait on your hook, chances are you'll be using smallish hooks too much bait will inevetably lead to masking of the hook point which will knacker you up straight away

 

Matt

[Steve Coppolo]

When using lug for Cod, (I can just about remember them!), and when using peeler crab, I usually build on an old bait to a point. There comes a time when it looks like crap and probably is, so then it all gets stripped and I start again. When using king ragworm it's a fresh new worm every cast.

[glennk]

Saw something new with a king rag the other day. Well new to me anyways. Lad cut the rag open right down one side, says its improves his catches as it lets more scent go.