How to hook lobworms

[boilie]

How do you hook Lobworms. Some say you should use a big long-shank hook and pass it through the worm three times. Current opinion seems to be that you should only hook it once, near the head, probably in the saddle. In my experience, though, the fish bite the ends off, and I don't hook them! Or maybe they hold the end in their mouth, and I break the worm off when i strike!
I think they all work on different occasions.
What do you do. I am interested.

[Andrew Burgess]

If after trying with maggots you have little success, consider the fact that worms are a traditional yet effective baits Popular with the larger fish such as carp, chub, barbel and large tench whose mouths are capable of taking several in a bite, their attractive wiggle and scent pull the fish towards the hook. Worms are easily available from the nearby green or even your own garden, but they are fairly easy to catch and keep - often living in your compost heap. Generally, worms are only used around the summer period when the weather provides more favorable conditions for them.
There are three different kinds of worms - Lobworms, Redworms and Brandlings.

Lobworms
Lobworms are the slightly brown large fat worm you see when digging your garden or slithering along your path on a wet day. Their sizes vary significantly but can grow up to about ½ft (15cm) long so use about a size 8 hook. These worms can be bought from a tackle shop, but this may be unnecessary if you have a large enough green and the right weather to catch them. If the weather has been wet, you should have little difficulty catching lobs - especially at night. The important thing is not to tread too heavy though, as they will disappear at the slight vibration. Another technique is to use wet full newspaper placed on the lawn in a shaded area of the garden, ensuring it keeps wet after a couple of days worms, slug and other creatures will enjoy living under there, (paving slabs have a similar effect). A quick and easy method is to soak your loan with a hose in the late evening and then collect any surfaced worms.

It is important not to split them by pulling too hard on them when they are still in the hole as this may damage them and shorten their lifespan. As the worm contracts it will naturally release itself from the hole, but to make sure you don't lose your grip, apply some coarse talc or sand to your hands.

Lobworms are good for chopped groundbait. Cut into small segments with nail scissors and mixed with bread or even soil, they release a very attractive scent for the fish.

Redworms
Redworms are obviously red in colour but are small in comparison to the other worms growing up to about 3 inches (8cm). It is the size, colour and liveliness that make the fish attractive to perch and bream and are particularly effective when mixed with a caster or corn. If you wish to search for this worm, it can be found often with brandlings in farm manure, but much easier bought. Redworms are equally good chopped and added to the groundbait. Use about a size 18 for a single, a double is about a 14.

Brandlings
Brandlings are red and slightly yellow in colour (which also makes them known as tiger worms) and very soft to touch. Slightly smaller than lobworms. When hooking a brandling, it will ooze an unpleasant yellow fluid that smells a little, but this smell is very effective in catching the fish as they are attracted to the scent. Living in farm manure and compost these worms are more commonly bought from the shops.

When storing the worms, it should be in an aerated container kept in a cool dark place, ideally with the same material they left, be it soil, manure or compost. They can be stored also with damp newspaper and damp moss is quite a good material as it toughens the skin a little. If storing for a length of time (realistically, not much longer than a week), keep the worms damp by spraying them lightly but regularly with water and take out the dead worms as soon as possible as they contaminate the container and will shorten the lifespan of the other worms.




It is the worm's attractive to wiggle and appealing scent that make to effective. Bear in mind when hooking. A common mistake is to try "staple" a worm to a hook that is too small by piercing it several times; this results in alifeless lump of insipid looking "worm meat". After a couple of casts the bait tears as the hook pulls out, and soon becomes useless. Even if a fish is desperate enough to take your bait in this condition, it is likely that you will miss the bite because the hook will not be in the right place.

Whether presenting whole bait, part baits or cocktails, hook the worm with great care, threading it on to the hook rather piecing it.

[MrMatthew]

Of course its even trickier with barbless hooks
moon

[boilie]

Very true MrMathew. I forgot to add that.
Most waters i fish have a barbless hook only policy.
But lobworms catch the fish, if i can keep them on the hook. moon

[Andrew Burgess]

There is a worm stop on the market for holding worms on the barbless hook pattern

www.enterprisetackle.co.uk/terminalhtm/wormstop.htm

[BUDGIE]

Even cheaper but just as effective is a small piece of rubber band or rig tube sliped on the hook after the worm.You can also use a piece of sweetcorn.

[steveinmk]

I bought 50 large lobs and 1/2 a kilo of mixed works from one of the worm farms that send them through the post, put them in an old planter pot, with holes drilled in the side and bottom to drain, filed it with a mixture of soil and peat and covered them over with a bit of old carpet, Voila one worm farm, they are kept in the shade in the garden, i add a few vegetable peelings etc. now and again to feed them, keep the soil moist but not wet, have kept me supplied for a couple of months now and they don't appear to be running out, although the large lobs are getting a little short in supply.

[BUDGIE]

Its not normally reccomended to keep different species of worms together (not sure why!)