Ragworm for bass

[daveyboy]

Folks, when using ragworm for bass (standard shop bought size worms) has anybody got any ideas on whether to use just one worm or whether to slide a few up and make a bigger bait? I normally use a baiting needle which is maybe too neat as when I put more than one worm it's just a long bait going up the snood. I suppose I could make it a pennell rig but I'm wondering would it be better to squish them up and maybe use some bait elastic to get the juices bursting out of the worms more? I'm fishing shallow sandy beaches where there are flats too but I just want to focus on the bass so don't mind missing out on flats by using bigger baits if that gives me better odds on the bass. That said I've seen good bass caught on flapper rigs with just one worm and small size 2 hooks so does using a single big bait increase the odds much do ye think?

[ecleary]

I dig my own rag and I find the biggest worms seem to get the most takes from bass. For some reason I don't get same interest when building up the size with multiple smaller worms. If you can dig your own you'll probably get bigger worms; I haven't had that much success with worms bought in shops. That's just my experience.

[daveyboy]

Cheers for the reply. That's interesting as I've heard before to try and get bigger rag for bass

[mickser]

The trick with ragworm is to hook them about 1/2 in below the head this does not kill them and leaves them wriggling about for longer and leave a little tail aswell.
mickser

[ste c]

Shop bought ragworm are perfect for bass i dig all my own bait an tend to leave the very big worms have had more success on normal size worms for bass

[daveyboy]

The trick with ragworm is to hook them about 1/2 in below the head this does not kill them and leaves them wriggling about for longer and leave a little tail aswell.
mickser

Good tip. Maybe a rag threaded up and a head hooked one below would be a good combo

[daveyboy]

Shop bought ragworm are perfect for bass i dig all my own bait an tend to leave the very big worms have had more success on normal size worms for bass

Nice one Ste ...would you load a few up the line when targetting bass or just stick to one normal size worm?

[ste c]

Nice one Ste ...would you load a few up the line when targetting bass or just stick to one normal size worm?[/quote]

1 rag is plenty on small hooks but if im in an estuary for bass its all peeler crab an dont be afraid to use a big half a crab or big crab baits in general

[daveyboy]

Nice one Ste ...would you load a few up the line when targetting bass or just stick to one normal size worm?

1 rag is plenty on small hooks but if im in an estuary for bass its all peeler crab an dont be afraid to use a big half a crab or big crab baits in general[/quote]

Sound, apparently rag is the killer bait out my way off the beaches (north co dublin) so maybe a simple two hook flapper with 1 rag per hook is the right job. Cheers Ste

[Eoghan]

Personally I like a big bait for Bass. More scent the better. If you have plenty and want to increase your chances I would use 2/3 avg sized ones. That's just my own opinion. If you are worried about the bait going too far up the snood then use a pennel rig and put the last rag on the 2nd hook with the first 2 rag on the first and slid up to the 2nd hook.

You will catch them on 1 rag or lug for sure esp if there are plenty about but if its quiet then the above can make a difference.

[daveyboy]

Sound man Eoghan. You still doing your trips to Kerry? Havent seen a report from you from down there in a while. Used to enjoy them!

[ste c]

1 up 1 down rig is what i use or running ledgers i find lug alot better for bass in general iv caught alot of them on rag dont get me wrong but most of my bigger bass were on lug or crab baits

[Eoghan]

Sound man Eoghan. You still doing your trips to Kerry? Haven't seen a report from you from down there in a while. Used to enjoy them!

No mate, haven't been to Kerry in about 2 years now. The catch rate got worse every year to the point where we were getting 1 bass in 4 days approx.
The nail in the coffin for me was sitting on Brandon pier on a sunny saturday afternoon packed with ppl. A van drove up and two lads go out and threw a net into a small boat. They headed over to Cloghane estuary and were back netless about 30 mins later. When i asked one of the locals about the lads I was told "i would say nothing of you'll have your legs broken". So I thought fk the lot of ye. We were going there 3 or 4 times a year, for about 20 years, spending good money and all locally but it gets to the point where ye ask yourself are ye here for fishing or for the scenery. Its a shame as I love the place and I called a few of the locals friends. Still really miss the place.

On the flip side, this has been a way of life in Brandon for years. Some ppl fish there to put food on the table, some for money and various other reasons.
We knew it went on and even knew some of the ppl doing it. I turned a blind eye, rightly or wrongly, for years as the fishing was still ok. Once that started to change then we had to make a tough decision. If they just could comprehend the money that could be brought to the area if the fishing was protected if would far outweigh any few fish in a net would get them.

[daveyboy]

1 up 1 down rig is what i use or running ledgers i find lug alot better for bass in general iv caught alot of them on rag dont get me wrong but most of my bigger bass were on lug or crab baits

Cheers Ste, Hadn't considered a running ledger off the beach. I've tried it in close around gullies in rocky areas and in the estuary but hadn't considered it for the beach. I suppose it has the advantage if fishing close in of being able to feel for bites without the fish feeling resistance.

Funny about the lug, there's plenty of lug casts on the beaches I fish (north co.dublin) but apparently rag works much better. Still I have caught before using lug and head hooked rag. may be the best of both with the extra scent of the lug and the movement of the rag.

[daveyboy]

Sound man Eoghan. You still doing your trips to Kerry? Haven't seen a report from you from down there in a while. Used to enjoy them!

No mate, haven't been to Kerry in about 2 years now. The catch rate got worse every year to the point where we were getting 1 bass in 4 days approx.
The nail in the coffin for me was sitting on Brandon pier on a sunny saturday afternoon packed with ppl. A van drove up and two lads go out and threw a net into a small boat. They headed over to Cloghane estuary and were back netless about 30 mins later. When i asked one of the locals about the lads I was told "i would say nothing of you'll have your legs broken". So I thought fk the lot of ye. We were going there 3 or 4 times a year, for about 20 years, spending good money and all locally but it gets to the point where ye ask yourself are ye here for fishing or for the scenery. Its a shame as I love the place and I called a few of the locals friends. Still really miss the place.

On the flip side, this has been a way of life in Brandon for years. Some ppl fish there to put food on the table, some for money and various other reasons.
We knew it went on and even knew some of the ppl doing it. I turned a blind eye, rightly or wrongly, for years as the fishing was still ok. Once that started to change then we had to make a tough decision. If they just could comprehend the money that could be brought to the area if the fishing was protected if would far outweigh any few fish in a net would get them.

That's a shame alright. People don't like change. I think myself with things like that it's down to the wider community. If they turn a blind eye there's not a lot you can do. Maybe things will turn around for the better in time. Hopefully there's still be enough bass around to kick start a come back if so.

That study on the bass tagging was an eye opener for me. If the fish are coming back to the same spots time after time, it sounds like it would be pretty easy for poaching to wipe them out from a mark altogether for years.

[Al]

North Dublin beaches can't go wrong with shop bought rag and a three hook flapper-one rag per hook on size 4 or 2.

[Roryk11]

I've had more luck with sandeel for bass in North dublin

[daveyboy]

I've had more luck with sandeel for bass in North dublin

That's interesting Rory, frozen ones? Never really tried them on shallow beaches. Only used them down south and west myself.

[Al]

I've had more luck with sandeel for bass in North dublin

That's interesting, to be honest I've never tried them when targeting bass..I know the late Bob Moss used to recommend them for Bass in Kerry, he thought they usually picked out the better stamp of fish.

[daveyboy]

I've had more luck with sandeel for bass in North dublin

That's interesting, to be honest I've never tried them when targeting bass..I know the late Bob Moss used to recommend them for Bass in Kerry, he thought they usually picked out the better stamp of fish.

That's what occurred to me too Al. When I started out beach fishing and was asking folk about baits for the east coast, most lads would dismiss sandeel for bass and suggest it as a bait for dogs mainly or maybe small ones for sea trout so I've never considered it. Would be dead handy to head out for a quick session with bit of bait from the freezer have to say...