How to Make Worm Harnesses

Many anglers find that the easiest way to come up with a worm harness is to buy one. For convenience purposes, this is generally considered the way to go. Others who want to save money or simply like a challenge take pride in making and trying out their own worm harnesses. The process can be slow-going at first, but with a little practice making your own worm harnesses will become second nature.

Things You'll Need

  • Monofilament fishing line
  • Scissors
  • 2 long-shank hooks or other hooks for live bait
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Instructions

    • 1

      Gather your materials and place them in front of you on a table or workbench. Cut a 5-foot piece of monofilament line from the spool. Hold the shank or bait hook in one hand so that the eyelet is facing your other hand.

    • 2

      Slip 1 to 2 inches of monofilament line through the eye. With your thumb and index finger, hold the line against the shank or straight part of the hook. Slide your thumb and finger up if necessary so that you are holding the line toward the top of the hook, close to its point.

    • 3

      Grab the loose line close to the eyelet with your free hand. Wrap the line around the shank, moving from the eyelet end toward the hooked end. Wrap the line around the shank six to eight times, making sure to keep tension on each wrap as you proceed to the next. If you cannot get the line to wrap around the shank, try pulling the line tighter as you wrap, or place an available finger on the eye as you tie the first wrap.

    • 4

      Slip the line through the eye of the shank in the opposite direction of the original knot. If you began the knot by threading the line upward through the eyelet, thread it down through the eyelet. Tighten the line by pulling it, but do not let the knot loosen. Slide the knot down toward the eyelet.

    • 5

      Slip the second hook over the main line. Slide it down the line so that it's near enough to the first hook that both can be used to pierce the worm. Three inches apart should be sufficient. Knot the second hook as described above.

    • 6

      Form a loop 2 to 3 inches from the free end of the line. Hold the free line next to the main line. Fold both in half to create a large loop. Wrap the smaller loop at the free end through the larger loop twice. Pull to tighten the knot. Cut off any excess line from the free end.