What does it mean to “work a worm in reverse?”

To work a worm in reverse is to take a standard size bait worm and insert a basic 1/32 ounce nail weight into the tail. The nail weights typically used with soft jerk baits are ideal. The worm goes onto an offset hook and casts out with the fishing line. As it reaches the bottom, begin retrieving the line with short, precise jerking motions. As the worm in reverse begins to move up towards the surface, the nail weight in the tail creates a swimming motion in the bait. From here, the bait gives off the illusion of a crayfish when it is scared. Almost instantly, the bass are attracted to this motion. They often prey on crayfish. When one is scared, the target is even that much easier to attack. On the opposite end of the spectrum is the popular Texas rig method. Here, bait pushes onto the hook in a typical forward facing motion. This simply means that the head is the first portion of the bait to move onto the hook. In most cases with bait, the head is the only part of the bait to attach to a hook. It is only with the “work a worm in reverse” method above that the entire piece of bait makes its way onto the hook. The placement of the bait on the hook is one-quarter inch until only the eye portion of the hook remains in the bait. Turn the hook until it embeds in the bait without coming all the way through the bait. Whether using the traditional Texas rig method or “worm in reverse” method, each has a desirable success rate.