It seems that every person on the planet who has ever heard of the term "fishing" knows that live worms are a good bait for fishing. What's interesting about this is that although everyone and their brother is aware of the fact that live worms are a great bait for fishing, almost no one is aware of how to fish a live worm effectively. You see, effective live worm angling, doesn't involve simply "threading" a live worm onto a hook and calling it good. Sure, this is what most anglers do, but that doesn't mean that it the most effective way to fish with live worms. Not by a long shot. Effective live worm angling involves one simple, yet very important piece of fishing gear.

What is that piece of fishing gear? It's called a set of gang hooks. What's a set of gang hooks, you ask? Simply a pair of small hooks, tied in tandem, that enables a live worm to be presented outstretched and naturally, the way God intended. Live worms weren't meant to be presented like some sort of worm ball, which is what happens when a live worm is "threaded" onto a single hook. Live worms were meant to be presented outstretched, the way they naturally look, and that's exactly what a set of gang hooks allows you to do. Effective live worm angling begins with a set of gang hooks.

With a set of gang hooks, especially size 8 or 10, the hooks are barely visible, and the worm looks like it would if you just threw it in the water. This point alone makes using gang hooks that much more effective. Which worm do you think a fish is more apt to bite? One that looks like a "worm ball" or one that looks like it naturally appears? The answer is simple.

Effective live worm angling also involves having a practical way to carry your worms while fishing. Carrying the container of worms around with you while you fish isn't at all practical, by the way. The most practical and effective way to carry your live worms while fishing is called a bait bag. A bait bag is simply a small bag that attaches to your fishing vest and carries your live worms while fishing. This way your bait is always literally "at your fingertips". This means that baiting up takes seconds, rather than minutes while you search for, open, and re-close a worm container. I've been fishing with some manifestation of a bait bag for more than 15 years, and can't imagine fishing with live worms without it.

I've been using the tips laid out in this article for more than 15 years and I know that they will make you a much more effective live worm angler. These tips were taught to me by the best live worm angler that I've ever seen, and I know they work. If you begin employing them while you fish, they will increase your catch rates as well. Effective live worm angling doesn't have to be complicated, many times it's the little things that make all the difference.