Worms on barbless

[Barbelseeker]

This method, for lobs, was taught to me, by Steve Calcott Snr, fishing tackle shop owner from Sheffield, when he used to go eel hunting in the beck, 1960's - That's another story.

Most bank side fishery have rushes growing at the side. You take one of those, snip off about 1" to leave a soft pithy middle. Place the hook point into this, Snip about 1" off your lob, and push the hook, into/down the worm as far as you want. You will be able to hold the hook, pull out the rush, and the hook point should penetrate through the side of the worm. Haven't fished worm for years, but it did work for me - or as suggested a piece of rubber - I'd just cut a small bait band into sections. Rough diagram follows:

[EricW]

I always hook the worm on and then add an artificial rubber maggot. Works for me. They come in assorted colours and while prefer red, white or yellow can add just a bit of extra eye-catching temptation.

[BoltonBullfinch]

Hook in the normal way and tip with a maggot, that's what they told me to do.

'They'?? Who is they, would they be the voices....

Thanks
BB

[AntiqueAngler]

Bit late on this but very simple method is to use eyed hook and thread the worm completely over the eye leaving hook dangling below,works best with 18's to 14's hook.
Cheers,
Ginge

[Dave Burr]

Bit late on this but very simple method is to use eyed hook and thread the worm completely over the eye leaving hook dangling below,works best with 18's to 14's hook.
Cheers,
Ginge

I often leave a 1/2" tag of line at the knot on the hook, push the hook right through the worm and pull back so that the line tag holds against the worm, then nick the hook point back into the worm so that the point is exposed. It's a neat presentation and generally holds fast.

Adding maggots (which I also do), I have found that the worm's writhing can cause the maggot to obstruct the hook point. A piece of corn is useful as it gives a flash of colour to your bait but you will find that bream are magnetically drawn to this particular cocktail.

Today I are mostly using barbed hooks for worms.

[Santiago]

Worm and corn, what are great cocktail for bream fishing in the autumn. Especially with those small red worms you get in compost heaps. I well remember catching lots of bream, about 50lb or so, in one evening on the Thames, with this combination. Neither corn or worm alone were any good, the bream wanted both together!

[Dave Burr]

Worm and corn, what are great cocktail for bream fishing in the autumn. Especially with those small red worms you get in compost heaps. I well remember catching lots of bream, about 50lb or so, in one evening on the Thames, with this combination. Neither corn or worm alone were any good, the bream wanted both together!

I used to fish a pool on a small river that produced countless chub on corn or worm but, a switch to the magic cocktail and it was bream almost every time. I remember being told decades ago that bream like a cocktail (and I've told a few in my time), and it's right but why? It's just one of those examples of fish behaviour that seem, to us humans, bizzare and illogical.

[Duckett]

Worm and corn, what are great cocktail for bream fishing in the autumn. Especially with those small red worms you get in compost heaps. I well remember catching lots of bream, about 50lb or so, in one evening on the Thames, with this combination. Neither corn or worm alone were any good, the bream wanted both together!

I used to fish a pool on a small river that produced countless chub on corn or worm but, a switch to the magic cocktail and it was bream almost every time. I remember being told decades ago that bream like a cocktail (and I've told a few in my time), and it's right but why? It's just one of those examples of fish behaviour that seem, to us humans, bizzare and illogical.

I don’t know the reason Dave but my experience tells me that both Bream (in my case up to 9lb) and smaller Tench (under 3lb) do seem to prefer a cocktail. For me, last week, it was worm and jelly pellet or worm and maggot.

Phil

[Wakou]

Another vote for plastic/imitation caster or maggot....

[Stathamender]

Hook in the normal way and tip with a maggot, that's what they told me to do.

Me too. Who is 'they'? See here: