Don't overlook the natural baits when fishing. Next to the minnow, nothing is more copied by artificial lures than the nightcrawler worm. Bass anglers have entire tackle boxes of artificial worms, so why not try the real thing!

1. For Something Different Try Night crawlers For Big Bass
Paul Katsus will use nightcrawlers to catch that finicky large bass with lockjaw. While
many fishermen thinking nothing of having a box full of artificial worms, the real
thing isn’t usually on their radar. All artificial worms are made to imitate the
nightcrawlers with their actions and smells. So why is it anglers seeking big bass
don’t use live nightcrawlers? It could be that there is a greater status attached to
tricking a bass with lures. Or, it could be the angler community has been so
bombarded with glossy ads from lure manufacturers that the real thing never enters
their mind.
Sure shiners are the preferred live bait for bass, but ever underestimate the age old
recipe for big bass – nightcrawlers. More cartons of worms are sold than any other
live bait. While many of these cartons of worms are sold to the occasional angler,
there are those serious anglers who go quietly about their business catching large bass
on the live worm. Perhaps, many serious fishermen doubt the appeal of the real thing
or have not been used to trying anything but artificial imitations. With the advent of so
much hi-tech everything, the basics of catching fish the old fashion way have been
overlooked. Old school fish techniques do catch trophy bass. An added bonus is that
there may be a large delicious catfish tugging on that line. It happens all the time
depending on the waters you are fishing
The most popular method for hooking the worm for big bass is to run the hook near
the head end tip of the worm. Some anglers prefer to do the opposite and hook them
through the tail end tip. Either method allows a natural action, so it’s basically a
matter of personal preference. This type of rigging is not without its disadvantages.
First the worm can be ripped off the hook during casting if the angler has a stiff action
rod or is not careful. Also, the worm can wrap itself around underwater structure and
escape as you reel in or flip the rod tip.
The most effective way to fish nightcrawlers is to fish them by slowly raising your rod
tip six to twelve inches with pauses in between each rising of the rod tip. The fish will
often times hit the bait on the downward falling action. Sometimes the fisherman will
get an explosive hit and other times the fishing line can be seen slowly moving as the
fish picks up the bait and runs with it. Remember to fish slowly and combine the
action you are imparting on the bait with the natural action of the worm. Each cast
should take several minutes to retrieve as the angler wants to maximize the time the
bait is being moved along.
If one worm is effective, how about using multiple worms? Try using multiple worms
for the World Record Bass. Hook multiple worms through the front tip of the head
and suddenly you have a moving, smelly mass of food that would be hard for any

2. hungry bass to refuse. The artificial manufactures’ would love to come up with such a
deadly combination of movement and smells! Try this method when you have a
particularly stubborn bass that does not want to move far for his meal. It could just be
the ticket to tempt that finicky lunker into biting. Often the worms will tangle
themselves on the hook, so for the best fish attracting movement and fishing success,
remember to untangle them after each cast.
Many times nightcrawlers will be best presented to the fish by free weighting the bait
with the hook being the only weight on the worm. But sometimes this is not possible
because the water is deep or there is some current keeping the bait out of the
productive zone. In cases like these, it is best to use a small split shot 8 to 12 inches
above the bait. In those cases where more weight is required, use a sliding bullet
weight with a tiny split shot 6 -12 inches above the bait, The tiny split shot will serve
to keep the heavier weight from sliding all the way down to the base of the hook. You
do not want to be dragging the bait on the bottom but rather slowly bouncing it off the
bottom with the lifting of the rod tip.
Paul Katsus will always use nightcrawlers as part of this arsenal for big bass. Have an
open mind and expand your horizons by trying live worms. That trophy bass that has
been eluding you may be just waiting for a change in strategies.