Assembling Your Tackle

• 1). When assembling your tackle for trick worm fishing, a medium heavy spinning rod is an excellent choice. The spinning rod is versatile, as it allows you to skip the bait under over-hanging brush, rock out croppings, docks and other structures.
  
  
• 2). Monofilament line is recommended and the pound test is a matter of personal preference. Keep in mind that heavier lines allow for more positive hook sets as they will not stretch as much as lighter lines. However, lighter lines are more practical, especially when the water is clear and unstained.
  
  
• 3). After these initial choices, it is time to attach a hook to your line. When fishing a trick worm, keep in mind that this plastic bait is typically presented weightless. Simply tie a 2/0 or 3/0 offset hook onto your line. An excellent knot for this purpose is the improved clinch knot.
  
  

Tying the Improved Clinch Knot

• 1). To tie the improved clinch knot, pass your line through the eye of the hook, and then bring it back up and along side of the main line for about 3 inches or so.
  
  
• 2). Twist the short end of the line around the main line for six to eight turns, and then pass the end of the line through the loop created by wrapping or twisting the line near the eye.
  
  
• 3). Bring the end of the line back through the newly created second loop between the top of the wrap and the eye of the hook. Slightly wet the knot and cinch down. Trim any excess off the end of the line.
  
  

Rigging the Bait

• 1). When rigging the trick worm there are several different options. However, there are two traditional means of rigging, and both produce great results. These are the Texas rig and wacky rig.
  
  
• 2). For the Texas rig, slide the point of the hook through the end of the bait from top to bottom for ½ inch or so, bringing the point out toward you.
  
  
• 3). Twist the bait so that the main inline portion of the hook (near the eye) is inside the bait and the remainder of the hook is exposed with the point facing the bait.
  
  
• 4). Bend the bait and reinsert the point through the bait and out the opposite side. The bait should have sufficient room to lie flat with no arc or bend from the hook. Reinsert the point of the hook slightly into the bait. This proves especially helpful when fishing in waters with vegetation and weed.
  
  
• 5). The Texas rigged trick worm may be fished a variety of ways. Throw the bait toward rising bass and allow it to slowly settle acting as bait fish. A particularly tempting presentation is to cast the bait along cover or a bank and let the worm settle to the bottom. Slowly retrieve the bait with an up and down motion or ticking motion. Pause and repeat. The trick worm may also be fished as a jerk bait with slow side-to-side motions, followed by a period of settling.
  
  
• 6). The alternative method of rigging the trick worm is know as wacky rigging. To accomplish this, simply bend the trick worm in half and insert the point of the hook through both parts of the worm below the bend. This will result in the worm being suspended from the hook with the front and back portions hanging down.
  
  
• 7). To fish this rig, simply throw the bait to a designated point and allow it to settle. The motion of the water will do the work. This is a particularly good choice for finicky bass and bass under pressure from large numbers of fishermen.