I learned a little dilly that may help someone out.

First of all I didn’t like octopus hooks they let the worm slide down and cover the hook, so I use a long shanked hook used to tie nymphs. You can pick them up at any fly shop. I like the down turned eye because after you tie a Snell knot it does not tear up the inside of the worm. Leave a short piece of line behind the Snell it well turn backwards inside the worm and well help keep the worm from sliding on the hook.

I use the worm threader with the hollow center that you thread the worm on. Place the hook in the hole and back the worm off. Notice the worm after slid onto the hook/line well be backwards. Steelhead almost always bite the fat end of the worm and the weigh of the hook well make the worm flat vertical when fished under a float. Also I only go 3/4 up the worm so the tail well dance when the float hits turbulence or I mend my line on the drift.

This is what it looks like after threaded. Next well be the deal sealer.

Each river I fish has a color that seems to work better the others, when you figure it out add a little crown of marabou feathers in that color on the tip of the hook. The river I fish red seems to key the bite reflex. I don’t always use one with the crown but sometimes it helps. It does get gunked up after getting soaked in oil but if the worm is not riped apart by bites from fish at the end of the day your not doing it right. Plus they are pretty cheap.

Next I cut some foam in 5 X 4 squares and put slits top and bottom. I wrap the line around the slits place the foam in a Ziploc bag, squirt in your favorite scent and place in your vest. Next time the fish won't bite give the pink worm a try. I fish it under a float I like the vertical worm hanging about a foot off the bottom. I have a weight and a swivel about 18 to 24 inches above the worm but below the float. I use 20 pound power pro line because it floats and is easy to mend. Also if you throw it into a small eddy and you lift the rod high the line is light enough to let the float just ride in the eddy (no line in the water to drag the float down stream). It also can be drift fished below a slinky weight…..

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