JELLYWORMS

Jellyworms work when no other lure will catch, particularly at those difficult times around slack water

RIGGING.

Using a 4/0 to 6/0 wide gape hook, depending on the size of fish you are likely to catch. Start by placing the hook alongside the worm with the eye of the hook just above the head of the worm. Note where the start of the bend of the hook is in relation to the body of the worm, this is where the hook will exit. Start the point of the hook in the head of the worm and thread the body on the hook until you reach the exit place. The worm should almost cover the shank of the hook and hang straight down, do not go around the bend otherwise the worm will spin. See picture above. Put your main line through a 10" Sundance wreck boom, tie on a swivel, attach a 10 to 15 foot length of clear nylon trace (15 to 30 lbs BS), then tie on the Jelly worm. Diagram at the bottom of the page.

FISHING.

Hang a weight on the boom and lower to the bottom, then start retrieving with a slow to moderate pace. Vary the speed and note how fast you were winding when you get a take, then stick to that speed. Count the turns of your reel handle, inshore reefs and shallow wrecks may only need 20 turns, on offshore wrecks 40 to 50 turns are the norm and we have had Pollack up to 80 turns. When you get to the desired height drop to the bottom and start again. Quite often you will feel tugs on the lure, don't stop, don't strike, just keep winding most times the fish will rush in and hook itself. Jellyworms are best fished in the slacker parts of the tide.