Hooking & presenting worms.

[nige_LS7]

A few questions about worms .

Do you use a 'stopper' to stop 'em wriggling off a barbless hook?

I've used maggots as a stopper for a big lob, as well as a tiny folded  bit of salami, and caught trout and perch doing that .... but not had  a bite from a chub yet when I had any kind of stopper.

I've not yet tried using a tiny bit of elastic band as a stopper. That a good idea? Or will that just make Mr. Chub's wary instincts go "Hmm, this worm smalls rubbery, I'm not having that"

Are the bigger, wilier fish likely to be put off by a 'stopper' seeming less natural? Can any more experienced anglers  reassure me they've caught chub with a worm/bunch of worms  and a stopper?

And what about chopping a bigger worm into pieces and hooking all the bits? Looks less natural maybe, but I caught my PB (errm, my only) chub that way the other day, with chopped worm in the feeder presumably helping to make it more natural if the fish has already had pieces from the feeder mix.  

Or what about a small artificial bait to 'stop' a big natural one? E.g. if I've got a few pieces of  corn in the feeder mix, could I use a piece of rubber corn stopping  a big juicy lob? Or does Mr. chub again think "that's unnaturally presented that is, Mr. Angler, you'll have to do better than that?" (Not tried a rubber worm to stop the natural one yet).

[jimlad]

A maggot usually suffices as a decent stopper, even on barbless hooks

[johnboy66]

I love fishing with Lobworm

1/ with a big Lob I hook it twice near the top end first one I pull through the eye then you have a long tail of the worm, I use a size hook for this.

2/ you can just cut half a Lobworm up and use the tail end on the hook, putting the hook through where you cut the Lobworm. this release the inner sides and smell for the fish.

3/ you can and I do this as well for Barbel fishing put either a piece of normally corn or if you prefer artificial corn on to hold the worm on.

hope this helps.

PS I also love to just freeline under a bush with Lobworm

regards Johnboy.

[nige_LS7]

Thanks for the replies, much appreciated Jim & John.

[rushy]

Rubber maggot or caster works wonders Nige. Keep trying the humble worm myself but the only fish I had on it this season was a Barbel and that was with a lump,of meat on the hair and a worm on the hook. Desperation eh . . . But it worked

[smithleback]

Do it the crabtree way 4-5 lobbys on a barbed 6,great for chub barbel carp tench perch even pike,or a micro barb if rules allow

[nige_LS7]

Jan 29, 2015 9:13:15 GMT rushy said:

Rubber maggot or caster works wonders Nige. Keep trying the humble worm myself but the only fish I had on it this season was a Barbel and that was with a lump,of meat on the hair and a worm on the hook. Desperation eh . . . But it worked

Interesting question: fishing for trout with worm after March 25th, am I within the spirit of the law if I'm using an artificial red maggot as a 'worm stop'?

I mean the worm will be about 20 times the size of the bit of maggot-shaped red rubber.  This will enable me to continue using barbless hooks, cos I'm still having trouble keeping worm on the hook