The earthworm, or night crawler, is one of the most-effective and best-known all-purpose baits. It attracts many different species of fish in all four seasons and is easy to find and inexpensive. Every angler has his own method of threading an earthworm on a hook, and your method will depend on the species of fish you're targeting.
Tandem Hook
A tandem hook works well for trout fishing. It consists of two hooks attached to a length of leader. The bend of the lower hook faces downward, with the point facing up. The second hook, an inch higher on the leader, faces upward, so the points of the two hooks face each other. Hook your earthworm on this rig so the ends of the worm trail about an inch past the points of each hook, leaving a loop of the worm's body between.
Small Hooks
Smaller fish, such as bluegills and other panfish, require tiny hooks. Cut your worm into pieces and thread enough worm sections on the hook to cover it. Push the barb of the hook into the end of the worm to keep it from sliding off.
Large Hooks
When you're targeting larger fish and using larger hooks, you have a couple different choices of baiting methods. You can cut your worm into sections and thread the hook through the center of four or five of them so they dangle from the sides of the hook. You can also use a large night crawler and hook the worm in two or three places along its body, leaving a dangling tail to attract fish. Smaller fish will bite the dangling tail without grabbing the hook, so don't use this method to catch these smaller species.
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