How to Catch a Fish With a Live Worm for Bait - 3 Ways (Beginner Fishing Tips)

Fishing with a live worm for bait is a great way to catch a lot of fish. Everything from bluegills to bass to catfish will eat a live worm or nightcrawler. This video goes over how to fish worms using a bobber, a weightless technique, and a basic bottom rig.
Also check out our video on creating your own worm farm at home to raise your own worms for much less cost than buying them at a bait store.
• Making a worm farm in ...
How to Tie a Fisherman's Knot
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[@0x45Swims]

Probably one of the best fishing videos I’ve seen. No filler, no extended monologues about things that people of this skill level aren’t going to understand anyway

[@FishingwithNat]

Thank you - I appreciate you taking the time to leave this feedback

[@MikosoOsaco]

Lots of these other guys who teach fishing on youtube just do it as an excuse to show off their equipment or their catches. You're the best by far! You make it simple to understand, your voice is calm and nice to listen to, and your examples are very easy to understand visually (i watched your different bait lure videos and that was great too). One thing about this video, you mentioned multiple times how you're looking at the line or the bobber to see action, but the camera doesn't show it that well on this video. Maybe you can come up with an example to show what you mean, even if it's not with a live fish. Keep up the great content!

[@FishingwithNat]

Thank you - I appreciate the feedback. You're right - I wasn't able to show a closeup of the line during the video, so I did my best to describe what I was seeing or watching for.

[@Sconnie13]

I grew up fishing with worm & bobber from my Dad. We would "hunt" for red wigglers in our compost pile before going on our evening trips. It wasn't until I was in my late 30's that I started trying the lure method. I STILL go with the live worm method - but I have to buy them now at the local bait shop. I do take a second pole that is set up for lure to get my practice in with lure fishing. But live worms is my favorite way to fish. I've also taught my kids and now my grand daughter to fish with a worm as well. Thank you for this video!

[@FishingwithNat]

Awesome. I used to collect worms from the compost pile with my dad too, and hunt for nightcrawlers on a warm, rainy night in the lawn. Good memories and good fishing!

[@FailSafe161]

Just started fishing about a month ago and so far I've had the most success with live worms under a bobber! Where I live it usually catches me little smallmouths, but I've also caught a small yellow bullhead via this method.

[@FishingwithNat]

Smallies and bullheads love worms!

[@sajeelkhan2818]

i also use worms but after fish is hooked i don't know how he break the hook away

[@FishingwithNat]

@@sajeelkhan2818 It breaks the hook or breaks the line?

[@sajeelkhan2818]

@@FishingwithNat it breaks the hook

[@sajeelkhan2818]

@@FishingwithNat but sometimes it didn't stuck with the hook well

[@robertlosasso4222]

I fish for trout using the split shot and night crawler, letting it dangle on the hook , also leave some slack in the line once it settles to the bottom then just wait for a bite ,the slack in the line will straighten out when a fish picks it up . I’ve fished this way since I was about ten years old in the lake near our home . That was almost seventy years ago, yes they had spinning rods and reels then . I would walk across the street to Mrs. Woods and walk down to her dock and sit there on a bench which was built right into the dock and catch trout that were stocked in the lake . I had to buy a trout stamp and license when I turned twelve years old , that cost one dollar each . Sorry but my dad and me would eat the trout , they were very tasty . I’m seventy nine now and I’m going to try it again, only now I don’t need a license or a trout stamp once your seventy or older and this time I’m going to release any fish I catch .😊

[@FishingwithNat]

Thanks for the comment - that sounds like a lot of fun!

[@carolyncrews3658]

Finally got a video to show me the 3 basic ways to fish with a worm. Thanks so much. I saved your video.

[@FishingwithNat]

You're welcome. I'm glad you were looking for this topic and here it was!

[@phils6733]

I just got back home after fishing for 7 hours…and why better to do is watch some fishing videos 😂 I use soft plastics, spinners, spoons, jigs etc for bass and pike…after seeing your video I feel like another trip out on the lake with some night crawlers is in order…great video buddy you just earned yourself a subscriber! Wouldn’t mind catching some smaller fish also and bring me back to when I started fishing 😊

[@FishingwithNat]

Thanks. Good luck!

[@philtravis2093]

Just want to say this is an incredibly cozy channel.

[@user-vy8dt1kh5k]

It’s super cozy

[@FishingwithNat]

Haha thanks.

[@JohnRitson78]

Thanks for the tips, that idea with the jig head is something I have never tried before and had piqued my interest, I wonder if a weight nymph would do the same? One of my favourite methods mostly for rivers and streams is the bouncing Betty or jumping Jack, it is usually a rubber ball with a swivel fitted, you fix the swivel with split shot after setting the leader length to the hook, it bounces along the bottom and off and over rocks and snags, minimising tackle losses. Often used in a sink and draw method.

[@FishingwithNat]

Thanks for sharing. I think a weighted nymph would do the same as the small jighead.

[@Kanoshe]

i've been getting back into fishing and now that i'm older i was thinking mayber i should learn more, go for the bigger fish not just what works. all my life i'be only used worms, i think it's all that works in my muddy pond or so i told myself. idk long story short after getting into lures and gear and such here i am 2 am some midwesterner on youtube is reminding me that bottom fishing is a thing. great vids nat love the under water footage. i think my huge preference to worms has really held me back

[@FishingwithNat]

Worms are tried and true, but lures are more convenient and can be a lot of fun. They can also be used in areas where worms don't work, and for fish that don't want worms.

[@masonpearson6664]

Another way I like to use worms is putting a one on a swish swash hook of a size 3 blue Fox vibrax. Absolute kills the smallies in rivers during the summer.

[@FishingwithNat]

Cool. Thanks for sharing!

[@fizzyheart2486]

Not sure how to thank you. I learned more here about fishing than I ever have

[@FishingwithNat]

Thank you so much. I really appreciate the comment and I'm glad to hear you learned a lot!

[@JacksonDunbar-dc4mr]

I always just put on a worm and casted it out. Now i will be a pro. Thanks nat

[@FishingwithNat]

Good luck fishing!

[@alfredguerrero5083]

Here because I can't even catch a cold

[@FishingwithNat]

Keep at it. Practice makes perfect.

[@davidwilliams1805]

Nice video with some good information! Enjoyed watching it! Thanks for sharing my friend. always looking forward to what you have coming out next. Keep up the good work. And as always, #FishinwithNat rocks!!!

[@FishingwithNat]

Thanks!

[@user-jw9mh9gx9l]

Hey so I have been watching you channel for a while and I was wondering if you could do a guide on bank fishing rivers or lakes as I live near the Columbia River in Washington and was really wondering what you would do since I don’t have a boat or kayak/canoe

[@FishingwithNat]

Sounds like fun to me. Thanks for the suggestion. I'm working on a few other ideas first but I'll see if I can fit that one in yet this summer.

[@pauls2731]

This video is so helpful!

[@FishingwithNat]

Thanks - glad to hear that!

[@pablogarcia6188]

Actually the best tutorial for fishing thx

[@FishingwithNat]

Thank you - good luck fishing!

[@jasonbarrett8991]

Can you do a guide on trout magnet for bass and bluegill? I’ve had an incredible amount of success with that, and it should be more widely known 😊

[@FishingwithNat]

Simple things like that are often overlooked. I do plan on doing a video on simple, inexpensive lures that are incredibly effective. The trout magnet stuff is a good example.

[@Gypsyboy932]

Thanks! Very helpful.

[@FishingwithNat]

Glad to hear it! Thanks for the comment!

[@WHITE_AND_PROUDD]

thank you, i just started fishing a few days ago and i’m using a jig just like at the end of your video, haven’t been able to catch anything at all. gonna try this

[@FishingwithNat]

Depending on the types of fish around and the habitat, you may have better luck with one of the other methods instead of the jig.

[@WHITE_AND_PROUDD]

@@FishingwithNat thank you

[@FishingwithNat]

@@WHITE_AND_PROUDD Good luck! Report back with how it goes!

[@paulkirby2761]

Nice tips, thanks. So you're covering the hook with just enough amount of worm and then pinching off any additional amounts of worm? Not using the full worm? There's only perch where I'm starting to fish so I could with a little help in regards putting the worm on the hook and presentation.

[@FishingwithNat]

Yes, if you use a whole worm, the fish will usually just peck at the loose end until there's only a little bit left anyway, and then you'll catch one on the little bit. Except when you're fishing for something big that can actually fit a whole worm in its mouth like bass or catfish.

[@paulkirby2761]

@@FishingwithNat Makes sense. Thanks!

[@MikejMartin]

Hey friend you should have more subscribers you make it so simple to understand with visual examples. It’s crazy the attention to detail you have to have for fishing and how it’s not as simple as throwing a random bait into the water. There’s more to it than that. Not sure if you have a video on it but could you please tell me the best baits to fish different species, for example: Would a pike like a spinner bait? Thanks.

[@FishingwithNat]

Thanks - I appreciate your comment and I'm glad you find my videos easy to follow. I would recommend you check out a bunch of videos in this playlist - I have a lot of videos on types of baits, how/when to use them, which species they are best used for, etc. And yes, pike definitely like spinnerbaits! kzbin.info/aero/PLcXAWxBLRzoLwZtDQEhuaHby0yQM_wHhU

[@MikejMartin]

@@FishingwithNat Thanks so much man. You’re the best at explaining stuff and you go right into it, I don’t have to search for hrs on end trying to find info on fishing you’re my guy now. Ok I will definitely check these out thanks brother.

[@FishingwithNat]

@@MikejMartin I appreciate the feedback. Good luck fishing!

[@blah8114]

Could you add how long it typically takes for a bite? I'm new to fishing and I'm not sure how long I should let my line sit before trying somewhere else.

[@areefall3670]

If you are fishing in still water where there is no current meaning there is not a constant supply of fish passing through, you should usually wait 20 minutes before trying a new spot

[@FishingwithNat]

It varies a lot. In an area with a lot of bluegills, you can usually get bites very quickly (within seconds, sometimes). It helps to lightly twitch the bobber every 15-20 seconds just to attract some attention from nearby fish. Don't yank the bobber - that might just scare fish away. Just a gentle twitch. I'd recommend casting to a new spot after a few minutes without a bite, or adjusting your depth. The fish may not be biting because the bait is not deep enough for them to see it, or because they are staying down deep to get away from bright sunlight. Fishing is all about experimentation so it's hard to generalize what will and will not work. If you re-cast a few times, adjust your depth, and still don't see any action for 15 minutes, I'd move somewhere else.

[@blah8114]

@@FishingwithNat Awesome, thank you.

[@FishingwithNat]

@@blah8114 Happy to help. Good luck!

[@jackwinkler6143]

I have been fishing for a while but I’m new to kayak fishing. How do you stay still and not spin or drift away

[@FishingwithNat]

A small anchor (~3lbs) does a good job of holding a kayak in light current, or you can use manual anchor stakes like I did in this video. The stakes go into the riverbed next to the kayak and I wrap paracord around the stakes and back through cleats behind my seat. This keeps me in a precise position without any drifting or pivoting. A motorized stake like a power pole can work too but if you only have one stake, your boat can still pivot back and forth.

[@jackwinkler6143]

@@FishingwithNat tysm, love your vids

[@FishingwithNat]

@@jackwinkler6143 Thanks - I appreciate it

[@emanuelpescador674]

Top mesmo sua pescaria 😊

[@FishingwithNat]

Thanks

[@jacobburgin7472]

You mentioned that you casted by the structure with the bobber for the panfish, how did you decide where you wanted to cast the others? Just into deeper water?

[@FishingwithNat]

I just casted those away from the structure so that the sinking bait wouldn't get caught up in that branch. I didn't have a specific target in that direction, just open water.

[@toastclicks1497]

From my experience worms work really work on perch

[@FishingwithNat]

Absolutely.

[@ByTorSnowDog65098]

Perch have such a distinctive strike too.

[@FishingwithNat]

@@ByTorSnowDog65098 They do. And the don't usually mess around with nipping the end off of a worm. They go for the whole thing.

[@brokeguyshomestead6227]

been using frozen bait my whole life in saltwater and started using lures for bass with no luck so i want to try with worms. What size jighead do you use? like a 1/4oz?

[@FishingwithNat]

Weightless live worms are a good bet for bass, or you could try a 3/16oz or 1/4oz jighead. Honestly, plastic worms are just as effective for bass and tend to stay on the hook a lot longer. Did you try a wacky-rig or Neko rig? Those are good beginner baits for catching a lot of bass (and other species)

[@brokeguyshomestead6227]

@@FishingwithNat I tried wacky rig in my area I don’t think it will work. Also tried rage tails didn’t work

[@FishingwithNat]

@@brokeguyshomestead6227 OK. I would give the Neko rig a shot with a 3" plastic fluke, or the jighead with half of a nightcrawler.

[@jefferyfranklin6051]

Thake you

[@FishingwithNat]

You're welcome!

[@kodonryati]

Do you have any videos on how to cast weightless? I have an ultralight rod, but can only get it to go a bit in front of me

[@FishingwithNat]

How heavy is your line and what kind of lure/bait are you trying to cast?

[@kodonryati]

@@FishingwithNat I have 8 lb braid with 4 lb mono leader. I feel like i can only get any distance with 1/8 oz or higher. Anything less than that can't get much further than 10 - 15 ft. Also, i notice i often have an arc in my cast, instead of shooting it straight out. I have wondered if this played a part. Not sure how to correct if so.

[@FishingwithNat]

@@kodonryati Is this with a spinning reel? It could have to do with the reel, or possibly the line itself. I had Fireline Crystal braid on one of my rods a few years ago, and it really sucked at casting. I respooled with Sufix832 braid in the same weight and could cast several times as far. I like a lot of Berkley products, but that Crystal braid was awful. You should have some arc in your cast for maximum distance (unless you're skip casting under a dock or tree). But your cast should be 3-4 times as far as high.

[@L1m0n109]

Do this work for trout

[@FishingwithNat]

Trout will definitely eat worms. You'll be most likely to catch trout on the weightless technique.

[@vinhha6073]

Yes Sir... kim just kidding😂😂.. yes it's summer coming 😁😁

[@FishingwithNat]

Thanks for watching

[@jasonlopez4855]

You say is wait less but it has a jig head with lead or tungsten. When I was tat how to go wait less is no lead. 🤔 Must be different than trout fishing 🎣 because I us 4 lbs line I don't Bass fishing just started much different than trout fishing with heavy lines and cast weird to me. My son started me to bass fishing.

[@FishingwithNat]

The weightless rig is just a hook and worm. No jighead. I used a tiny tungsten jig with the bobber rig.

[@hattrick5076]

Is it true that the HEAVIER the sinker, the farther the cast????

[@FishingwithNat]

Yes. A heavier sinker will also hold better in fast current, but it will be more noticeable to a fish when it picks up the bait (unless you use a sinker slide or pass-through sinker where the line can be freely pulled through the sinker).

[@vinhha6073]

I know now.. so now what..🤷🏻‍♂️.. I need a cayak 😂

[@FishingwithNat]

All of these work well from the shore too. I was anchored right next to the shoreline.

[@Mikereynolds210]

This is what I did when I started

[@FishingwithNat]

It's a perfect technique to start with

[@NaufalFishing]

hallo. 👍😅🎣🎣🎣🇮🇩🇮🇩🇮🇩

[@FishingwithNat]

Welcome. Thanks for watching.

[@skohmminandang5255]

Hey i go fishing 🎣 using worms as bait

[@FishingwithNat]

Worms will catch just about anything! It's a tried and true fishing bait.

[@4KTREY.]

why do you wear those gay little gloves?

[@FishingwithNat]

Sun protection. That was during a 5-day stretch of bright sunny days, fishing 14hrs a day.

[@LanaiMoody]

​@@FishingwithNat what's the brand name for your gloves? :)

[@FishingwithNat]

@@LanaiMoody Those ones are from Kastking. I also have a set of Fish Monkey gloves that are nice.