rigging a pink worm?

[high_arc]

The last time I was out, I tried to drift a pink worm. I don't think I am doing it right. I just tried to thread the hook through the worm up the leader. The worm kept wiggling down the leader and would start to tear around the hook. What is the best way to rig one? Any pictures?

[ZaQ]

Put a corkie or bead in between the worm and the hook.

[Willow Drifter]

You can also put it on a jig head and run it under a float.

[Fish Hawg]

Does any one have a pic, I did a search but found the pictures were deleted?....Thanks Ross

For maximum buoyancy try running it under a rag. It's amazing the hard takes you get with pink worms.
I learned to use pink worms from Mark of First Cast Jigs and was amazed at how well they worked under a float. I started drift fishing them and have had good sucess with them.
Now I tied a pink worm fly made from yarn and fished with the typical winter fly fishing set-up.
Here is a picture of the finished product.



[ 01-08-2004, 05:03 PM: Message edited by: Stew ]

[Jennie@ifish]

I delete pictures in the upload every two months or so.
I wish I still had the one of the pink worm!

If anyone has that pic, and wants to share it here, permanently, (and the same for any informative fishing info) send it to me for permament upload.

Jen

[Corkie Monster]

Here is how I've been rigging them. I use a worm threader and thread the worm on backwards (tail first) Leave about a 1/2 inch of the tail hanging in the back to reduce short strikes. Top off with a pink Corky or Spin-n-Glow if water is cold or colored.



CM

[spare link]

Try this website pink worm rig

[Fish Hawg]

Thanks for the picture, That is how I did it yesterday on the EF lewis. I Thought it looked fishy, It was the first time I drifted one.
Great Minds Think Alike :grin: . What size of hook did you use? I had a red #1 owner needle point....Ross

Here is the one Parker posted from awhile back and it's the one I use



[ 01-08-2004, 07:18 PM: Message edited by: Stew ]

[Fish Hawg]

Stew, Is that a pink glitter cheater Above the worm? Thanks in advance....Ross

Originally posted by Fish Hawg:
Stew, Is that a pink glitter cheater Above the worm? Thanks in advance....Ross

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">No I think that's a spin glo body without the wings. I have a few of them but I like the cheater better.

[Fshklr]

here's one previously posted by Catch22 with cheater above the hook


[ 01-08-2004, 08:22 PM: Message edited by: Fshklr ]

[Corkie Monster]

Fish Hawg

I beleive that is a winner body on Stews worm.

Winner Bodies

looks like a better way to rig them, Than I do.

CM

[happybrew]

I tried a pink worm on a jig head, drift fished with no float last summer for steelies. I got a few really hard takes, but no hookups. Ended up with the worm pulled down on the hook, or completely off the hook. If you use a jig head, it may be worthwhile to rig a stinger hook.

happybrew

[slabhunter]

This works for me. That said, they will only last for a couple of fish.

[parker]

Dang. Maybe I should have put a copyright up on my photo.

Ok, here's the deal with drift pink worm.

You want a worm that floats. We add more floatation by putting the pink winner on top of the worm. Don't know if it's needed, but it's hard to change something that works.

We rig these worms with 10lb UG and a 2/0 hook. Short leaders (24-30") are the norm. They are just tied on to a swivel, some pencil lead is added, and that's it. Rod of choice is a Loomis 1025 with 12lb UG main.

The worms are pocket fished. We're fishing them behind logs, rocks, slots, etc. I want that worm to get down, and I want it down now. Usually, a fish will hit the worm as soon as it hits the bottom. Half the time, you think you've hooked the branch you've pitched at, but are quite surprised when the "branch" jumps out of the water!

Yes, you will mangle up a few worms on a float. We don't use beads at the base of our hooks, as it's just more gear to lose/waste. When the worm scrunches down your line, just law the worm flat in your palm, close your hand, and pull on the hook. The worm will straighten out. You want the worm completely straight when fished.

If your worm is tearing too easily, try a different (good quality) worm.

I get my worms from a bass guy on the East Coast. They are hand-made and hand colored. I get them for about 10 cents each.

On an average float down the Hoh, I can expect to burn through about 15-20 worm rigs. That is what it takes to get the double digit fish, or to get the Big Toad. We fish them aggressively, and are not afraid to replace gear as needed (frequently).

If you put a small worm on a jig head, make sure the tail of the worm points UP, when fished. Steelhead will "nip" at the tail of the worm on a jig head. If the tail is up, odds are, they will just bit the hook. I generally don't use these, but have here or there. They will also work.

[Sky-Guy]

Sounds like you learned from one of the best Parker, or did he learn from you?

[Fshklr]

CM,
Do you have trouble with that disk/fin forcing the worm off the hook once retrieved? Where did you get those wobble fins?

[Corkie Monster]

I usually tie a piece of rubber band or tooth pick between the worm and Wiggle Fin. Here is their web site, and Cabelas sells them too.

Wiggle Fin

CM

[ 01-09-2004, 04:03 PM: Message edited by: Corkie Monster ]

[JohnB]

Here's another alternative



I use Yamamoto brand pink worms in either 3 or 4 inch size. Others use Berkley brand worms, some have embedded scent, and there are lots of other brands with different tail configurations, etc. I havent done enough testing to determine that one brand works better than another.

I thread a #2 hook thru about 2/3 of the length of the worm so as to leave a "tail". I always put a float in front of the worm and most often use a little scent on the float -- anise, shrimp, egg, etc. See the picture below. Some fishermen rig a pink worm on a jig by cutting a 1-2 inch length of worm and working it over the hook point and bend and leaving a tail. This jig setup is best fished under a bobber.

In addition to pink, steelhead will also be attracted to black, white, brown and other color worms. The darker colors seem to work better in warmer and clearer water conditions.

[KingFisher85]

Thanks for the pictures guys! Any others have anything they wanna add to this?

[Corkie Monster]

JohnB

How or where are you getting colored Backer Rod?

Thanks
CM

Originally posted by Fshklr:
CM,
Do you have trouble with that disk/fin forcing the worm off the hook once retrieved? Where did you get those wobble fins?

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">I've had that same problem

[Fshklr]

Stew,
I think a very small pink bead(like the pictured in CM's post or smaller) tooth picked in place between worm and disk slightly above the worm would do the trick ..now just to get some of those disks to give it a try [img]graemlins/lurk.gif[/img]

CM,
I think it's just regular dish washing sponge that has been punched out with a leather tool die of sorts. i have seen multicolored packs of sponges sold in hardware stores(ACE, True Value, etc)

[ 01-09-2004, 07:26 PM: Message edited by: Fshklr ]

[Corkie Monster]

Thanks Fshklr I will have to give it a try. Where would one find one of these dies?

And as for the wiggle fin thingy. A tooth pick in the Wiggle Fin, bead, or both will work well.

CM

[Fshklr]

CM,
Try some kind of craft or hobby outfit that sells tooling leather and tooling stamps, punches, etc and they will most likely have a die punch for 1/4, 1/2, 3/4 inch punches.

[Slade]

I have not tried them yet, but Dave Vedder referred me to a site that showed how to rig the pink worm. The approach was much like how SlabHunter posted. Also a contributor named Skeezer showed how he/she rigged them and, again, it was pretty much how SlabHunter showed.

[HeavyMetal BankFisherman]

Some will think this to be a dumb question but wouldn't a live nightcrawler work just as good? Or is the purpose of the artificial pink worm for durability?

About fifteen years ago I saw a steelhead that was caught out of Dairy creek on a nightcrawler.

[Slade]

HeavyMetal, my wife asked me the same question as I was fixing up some pink worm rigs for this weekend (being very careful of course and taking my sweet time), so I don't think it is a bad question at all. However, I had to create a good excuse for my wife to explain my purchase and why I could not help her fold laundry and clean the toilets (this was after being home bound for the second day). The excuse sounded really good and scientific even. As a matter of fact, I was quite impressed by my knowledge of worms and how they behave in water.

[JohnB]

Fshklr and Corkie Monster, The sponges are custom made and use proprietary dyes. You can try the craft store leather punch idea as an alternative.

[Corkie Monster]

Thanks JohnB. Where can one find these proprietary dyes? I would like to try this.

Thanks
CM

[Corkie Monster]

Here is a Pink Worm on a Wiggle Fin setup up.



CM

[ 01-09-2004, 12:42 PM: Message edited by: Corkie Monster ]