Worms, when used correctly, can be an incredibly effective bait for fish of all species and all sizes, yet remain very underused as a big-carp bait.
It’s a bait I take advantage of in the winter, when the smaller fish are less active, or in late summer, when the fish have been under tremendous pressure and become quite tricky.
Now, I have to admit, it’s not a cheap method and the quantity of worms you’ll need for a session is very much stock and venue-dependent, but once you’ve witnessed just how devastating they can be, you won’t hesitate to get on them. Here’s how I do it…
RELEASE THE ATTRACTION
The key reason worms are so attractive is due to their amino acids, and these need to be unleashed into the water by chopping the worms in your mix. I first used this tactic in my match fishing days when I’d use chopped dendrobaena worms with super-fine riddled molehill soil. The juices and goodness from the worms would soak into the soil to the point where you’d be catching fish that were regurgitating the soil they’d eaten.
So, the first part of the bait prep process is to get chopping. The matchman’s multi-blade scissors are perfect for this, so pick yourself up a pair when you’re next in the tackle shop.
YOU WILL NEED A SPOD OR SPOMB TO INTRODUCE THIS MIX. CHECK OUT OUR GUIDE TO THE BEST ON THE MARKET.
THE MIX
When putting worms out you need to make sure they get to the bottom in a concentrated manner above your rigs. To do this, I not only keep them in the peat/soil they’re supplied in, but I also add another key ingredient – bloodworm!
In its own right, bloodworm is another phenomenal natural bait and acts with the other ingredients in my mix as a carrier to get it all to the bottom. You can purchase frozen 1kg blocks of bloodworm from CC Moore and it really is superb, even when added to more traditional bait mixes.
BUY FROZEN BLOODWORM HERE: CC Moore
Casters are another bait worth adding to the mix, but not what I’d call essential. Then we have things like chopped boilies or pellets. While these can be useful to have in the swim alongside the worms, I like to keep these mixes separate. It’s a personal preference, really, but I want separate signals to be sent by the baits.
FIND THE BEST BOILIES TO USE IN YOUR FISHING BY CHECKING OUT THIS BUYER'S GUIDE.
HOW TO FEED IT
When it comes to the fishing part, good watercraft and choice of spot dictates where you should deposit your super-attractive worm feast. I don’t think any particular spot – as in gravel, silt or clay – is particularly favourable with worms, so just let the fish or conditions tell you where you need to cast, as you would with any other bait.
After finding my spot, I’d then kick off the swim with a minimum of 1kg of my worm mix, fishing a couple of rods over it. Anything less than this is a waste of time.
This kilo of bait should be enough for a couple of bites, and I wouldn’t necessarily assume everything is gone after just one fish, as the aminos can linger in the area for a long time, even after most of the feed is gone.
When considering the amount to take for a trip, remember that it’s not a cheap method, and is even more expensive than boilies! So, you have to weigh up if the potential rewards justify the cost. On venues where the pay-off can be great, I won’t hesitate to go armed with 10kg or more.
FIND THEBEST CARP FISHING VENUE NEAR YOU IN THIS WHERE TO FISH GUIDE.
FISHING OVER WORMS
As I often use worms when the fishing is hard going and action on the traditional boilie hookbait approach has slowed down, it makes no sense to fish a boilie over the top. Particularly if opting for a bright pop-up, for example, it makes it very easy for the fish to avoid your rig and simply clean up what’s around it. This is why, for fishing over my worm feed, I use worms on the hair too.
Any rig will work with worms, but I use my standard blowback rig with the loop and hair longer than usual. The reason is that I don’t want the worms possibly getting snared up on the hook and impacting the hooking potential.
I use a big hook too – I’m certain the carp have no idea what it is, so a size 4 minimum and even a 2 are what I think are best for the job.
When putting the baits on, I first slide on a rubber caster which is the same colour as the worms. I then thread on three or four doubled-over worms, then slide another rubber caster on to lock them in like a sandwich. It’s then simply a case of nipping the ends off to let those mega aminos leach out into the water.
And that’s it. Simple but super effective, underused, and a method that will get you out of jail in the toughest of conditions. Give it a go this month!
FOR MORE CARP FISHING ADVICE FROM MARK PITCHERS CHECK OUT THIS TACTICS ARTICLE.
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