The Traditional Fisherman's Forum

It seems I'm not the only softy here...

I'd like to stress I don't condemn the practice, or live baiting for that matter, all valid ways of catching fish; I'm just as soft as clarts....

No, don't get me wrong I'm not against what other people do, it's just I can't bring myself to do it.

All vegetarians then?

Julian wrote:
Its something I would like to try, but I have always shyed away from doing it because there is a serious risk when you use the syringe . If you actually slipped and injected just a tiny bit of air into yourself then that's it - the end - of everything.

So long as it's only a couple of ml. of air it wouldn't cause any real harm especially if it went into tissue (rather than directly into a vein). To be safe always use a small syringe to ensure you can't inject too much, after all you are only trying to make the worm float up, not look like a balloon!

I think you would be at far more risk of infection than an air embolism from a small syringe and needle.

I have been reliably informed that you would need to inject approximately 20mls of air directly into a vein to cause a fatality. By using a 5ml syringe you can avoid disaster. I would have thought that pricking yourself with a needle would hurt so you wouldn't continue to inject air? Never wounded myself in that way (except with hooks) Ouch!!

JerryC wrote:Rather than injecting worms I prefer to use them on a drop shot type setup where they may be fished at whatever depth one requires.

Hear hear - a method I have been using quite a lot of late. It is huge fun to use and having had a pb perch of 3-10 the other week on 'the walking worm' (copyright Des Taylor I think) I intend to use it some more

I`ve had some good results with chub, injecting smaller lobs, then letting them float/drift under the overhanging branches. As for injecting oneself, I always injected away from myself, holding worm down with forceps, never had the slightest problem. I`d also second drop shotting.....

I use the method a lot, usually with the line hard on the bottom and the worm popped up; the depth determined by split shot on the hook trace. Over here they sell a thing called a “Worm Blower” it is just a soft plastic bottle with a large gauge needle fitted to the open end. You can also inflate pinkie mice and frogs, fished popped up on a weed line they often bring me big eels.

I'd not thought of inflating rubber lures Jon, but I can see how they could be highly effective on at least one of the waters I fish. Top tip mate

This is the style worm blower we use over here. Getting caught with a medical syringe would likely get you jailed for possession of drug paraphernalia so these are our standard.