[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"learn-card-worm-rigging-for-trout":3},{"id":4,"title":5,"applyCta":6,"authorId":9,"body":10,"cardType":80,"description":81,"difficulty":82,"discipline":83,"editorId":9,"extension":85,"glossaryRefs":86,"hook":92,"meta":93,"navigation":94,"path":95,"publishedAt":96,"readingSeconds":97,"regionTags":98,"relatedCards":99,"safetyDisclaimerRequired":94,"seo":103,"status":104,"stem":105,"track":106,"updatedAt":96,"version":82,"__hash__":107},"learn_cards\u002Flearn\u002Fcards\u002Fworm-rigging-for-trout.md","Worm Rigging for Trout",{"label":7,"action":8},"See worm-legal water near you","open_planner",null,{"type":11,"value":12,"toc":76},"minimark",[13,21,24,47,54,69],[14,15,16,20],"p",{},[17,18,19],"strong",{},"Check regulations first."," Many trout streams are catch-and-release or fly-only. Worm fishing is fully legal on most general-regulation water, but state and stretch rules vary — confirm before you cast.",[14,22,23],{},"The setup:",[25,26,27,34,41],"ol",{},[28,29,30,33],"li",{},[17,31,32],{},"Light spinning rod",", 4-6 lb test main line.",[28,35,36,37,40],{},"A ",[17,38,39],{},"size 8 or 10 baitholder hook"," with two barbs on the shank to keep the worm anchored.",[28,42,43,46],{},[17,44,45],{},"One or two #BB split shot"," 6-10 inches up the line from the hook. Add more in faster water, less in slower.",[14,48,49,50,53],{},"Hooking the worm matters. The goal is a hook that's mostly hidden inside the worm but ",[17,51,52],{},"leaves enough wiggle for it to move",". Two methods:",[55,56,57,63],"ul",{},[28,58,59,62],{},[17,60,61],{},"Threaded:"," thread the hook in through the head, slide it down the shank, and exit the side. About 1-2 inches of worm dangles past the hook bend.",[28,64,65,68],{},[17,66,67],{},"Pinned:"," push the hook through the worm's collar (the thickened band 1\u002F3 down the body) only once. Lets it wiggle a lot but tears off easier on the cast.",[14,70,71,72,75],{},"Cast slightly upstream, ",[17,73,74],{},"let the worm dead drift"," with the current. The split shot bumps the bottom; the worm rides slightly above it, swimming. When the line stops or moves sideways, set the hook firmly — trout often inhale a worm and you have a small window before they spit it.",{"title":77,"searchDepth":78,"depth":78,"links":79},"",2,[],"technique","Check regulations first. Many trout streams are catch-and-release or fly-only. Worm fishing is fully legal on most general-regulation water, but state and stretch rules vary — confirm before you cast.","1",[84],"bait","md",[87,88,89,90,91],"split-shot","tippet","drag","dead-drift","hookset","A live nightcrawler is the deadliest small-stream bait there is. The trick is hooking it so it acts alive in the current, not dead at the end of a line.",{},true,"\u002Flearn\u002Fcards\u002Fworm-rigging-for-trout","2026-05-18","140",[],[100,101,102],"the-drift-rig","the-catfish-bottom-rig","the-dead-drift",{"title":5,"description":81},"published","learn\u002Fcards\u002Fworm-rigging-for-trout","first-cast","SZr9Imbs6J0HRQFHXJ-BrB-DYPc3MY7i1Uzo9gBrhcU"]