Want to try pink worms, need a little advise.....

[Artwo]

Thanks Os,
I like the jig hook under a float, I was going to also fish some jigs as well so I wont have to re-rig much to try them.....thanks again.

JK

[WheresMyBobber]

Don't limit yourself to pink - I've done well on black when the water is low and clear. The type I prefer to use are the "jig" type worms with the fat body and flat wavy tail, but I've also used just the plain old rubber worms. I use my normal steelhead hooks (1/0), and thread them on so there's part of the worm or tail left to wave in the current. I just drift fish them as I would any other bait.

This is a common bait on the Snake and other northeastern Oregon rivers, since they don't have access to fresh sandshrimp, and eggs are harder to come by. I lived back there for a while, and was fishing the Snake below Hells Canyon dam with no luck one day, when along comes a guy using a big black rubber worm. I thought he was crazy until he proceeded to pull 2 nice fish out af a hole I had just fished with no luck. Ever since then, they've been part of my arsenal.

[Artwo]

Hey thanks WMB,
I'll buy a couple of those types/colors of worms as well and try them also.

JK

[SAUKit2em]

Here's a link that should help you out http://www.piscatorialpursuits.com/tips/pinkworm.htm

I love pink worms....they taste like chicken!

[Artwo]

Thanks SAUK,
I appreciate the link, very helpful.

JK

[Jigman]

On a jighead is extremely effective, Osprey had the setup right on the money. 1/8th or 1/4 oz heads depending on the water flow. Fish them just like a jig and hang on! A little scent where legal can help. Look for a tip on fishing the pink worm from Rainbow Jigs in the next issue of Salmon Trout Steelheader magazine.Be sure to use a jighead that has a collar to hold the worm in place. There's no need for the head to be painted, the fish key in on the worm.

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Fish the best....Rainbow Jigs!

[This message has been edited by Jigman (edited 01-30-2001).]

While pink is the go to color, black and also transluscent purple with a little sparkle flake are proven steelhead takers. I am experimenting with a number of shapes and sizes of rubber worms on jigheads, with various colored heads; some with eyes painted on. If you look in the bass section you will find rubber concoctions half way between a worm and a squid. I am trying some of the smaller versions of these for clear water. There haven't been enough trips or fish to properly field test these yet though, but I'm pretty sure some of them will be real fish takers. - RT

[Jigman]

I've used some white worms with success as well as light orange. A pale pink worm works well for summer fish.

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Fish the best....Rainbow Jigs!

[Fishin Magician]

Steve-A friend of mine took a steelhead last week on a jig head with a squid skirt pushed over the jig head. I hope you understand?? It was a lime green one I believe.

[First Bite]

I like using them under a float attached to a jig head. Like it was mentioned above, different colors will work too other than pink. I've had more fish nail them on the retrieve then with any other lure.

[superfly]

Try the Vision pre-rigged worms, they work great, low water fish the 4" version, bigger water or big nates fish the 6 " version.
We absolutley killed them on the oly pen rivers with these worms, fish them under a float with a 8 to 12 ball slinky and set it up so that you are slightly dragging the bottom that way the worm swims in and out of the rocks and ledges. A little hint, the boulder garden below the hatchery on the sol duc yeilded 3 fish in 3 cast last year one day.
Peace Superfly

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If you want to run with the big dawgs then get your ass off of the porch!!

[Artwo]

I am going to fish the Sandy this weekend and thought I might try some pink worms. I have a few questions though.....

- which pink worms should I buy; powerbait or the bulk worms you find at Joes or Fishermans?

- how do I rig them up; single hook through the tip or a double hook set-up?

- do I use standard drift fishing techniques or is there some other way of presentation?

your help would be much appreciated, thanks.

JK

[Osprey]

Techs vary here ,you can use a bait threader and put the hook out the bottom or my Fav ,use a jig hook and cut it off to 3" and fish it under a float the other tech will work for drift fishing,I use the power worms and lately if experimented with the yamagunies(sp),I've sen fish come from a ways off to eat this thing up.
I'm also experimenting with a new set-up that I will talk about later after more research,
Hope that hepls....Os

[Artwo]

Hey everyone,
Thanks allot for all the advise, I will be picking up some of these materials and trying them this weekend....now I'm really excited. That's what I like about this BB, everyone's willing to help a fellow fisherman, thanks again.

JK

[Mikie]

Hey Artwo. Try a tandem set up with a corkie between the two hook's, and don't forget some real worm's the corkie float's the real thing off the bottom. Siletz brood stock steelies love this set up . SEE YA MIKIE.

[BassMan]

I have been reading a lot about this floating pink worm , and we in the bass community call them trick worms and they are deadly!! And these "squid" looking plastic baits are called tube jigs. I use the trick worm a lot in the early summer and sometimes I use what is called the wacky rig, which is using a bit smaller hook and then sticking the hook right in the middle of the worm. This makes the worm do realy odd things in the water and it might work for steelhead. Just a thought, I have never caught a steelie but would love to tangle with one. I see a lot of similar things between bass and steelhead and think a lot of the lures that are made for bass would also work great for steelhead. Well this is just my 2 cents. Good luck and tight lines.

[scooby]

The most effective way I have found to fish the worm is under a float the way superfly described. In fact I am float fishing more and more this year and between that and jigs and spoons I don't drift fish that much. anyhow, BC Orange worms seem to work pretty well also - BC Orange is really close in color to Rocket Red.

I gotta try the purple w/flake add a cerise birdie and that sounds like a steelie killer to me.

scooby

[tadpolly]

C-3PO.Color really is personal.Treat them like corkies or plugs or anything else and they will work .Provideed that you fish with confidence.We fish them behind a diver when the Nates are in.Tandem hook rig like cut plug herring.The stinger hooks most of 'em.Try the front hook about 1" in from the head.Gives it room to wiggle and much better action.Try 'em bass style on the bottom rigged on a leadhead(probably get yelled at for letting that out,but hey I fish the John Day a lot.How else do ya think we figured that one out?).Under a float too.Adjust your presentation to the water and they will produce.The next "pink worm" will look a lot like a hootchie.Hmmm.Gotta run.Mark

[Steelheader69]

I have to agree with superfly. That's similiar to what I use also. I fish on the Hoh alot on the Oly Pen and the upper float is usually a bait restriction section. I'll put mine under a bobber then add a swivel with a weight off tag end of swivel then a 3 ft leader. I usually run tandem hooks with worm threaded in them with some of the tail floating freely off trailer hook. I like having the worm float with current. I'll use them on jigs occasionally, but I prefer the more natural swing you get with the longer leader. I've seen with jigs where they stay in one spot since the weight keeps them in that zone.

I'd suggest having pink, but I'd also suggest buying some actual worm color. The skin colored similiar to what a real nightcrawler looks like. I've seen fish literally inhale them while they were drifting down river. You can also drift fish them just like bait. I've done that too, but found the bobber helps it along a little easier.

Good luck..

PS, Os, I have some of those "experiments" tied up for you. Will give them to you on the float.

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You haven't lived til you've rowed a cataraft. Friends don't let friends run Outcasts.