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Old 12-13-2015, 07:33 PM
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Default Wire Worms for Whitefish - All You Ever Wanted to Know - Updated for 2021/2022

For those of you who are thinking about getting into or making a few different W/W's patterns, this may be of interest. It's a rewarding hobby when you make a few and they actually catch fish and lots of different fish, including big fish.

I stopped at Michaels the craft store in R/D to get some wire and glass beads to make a few different W/W patterns. I caught one Walleye and the Burb the other day on RR23 using the 4 yellow/1 red, and another walleye on the brass/dark bead all on a #8 hook. As previously mentioned, seen lots of Whites but none would come in for a closer look ... maybe that Sylvan Gator had something to do with it!

Thought I would try a few color combos in the spirit of the Holiday season and plan to field test them tomorrow on RR23. If none of these produce, then the Candy Kane wraps come out.


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Bright and Colorful like XMass Lights




Two of my Most Productive Patterns




Assortment of My Creations & some Store Bought


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Old 12-13-2015, 07:51 PM
Dom4 Dom4 is offline
 
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Thanks for the awesome post i make my own wireworms and not only is it fun but really rewarding when you catch a fish on one that you made.
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Old 12-13-2015, 08:38 PM
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Those WWs with fuzz mixed in have done me well in the past!
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Old 12-13-2015, 09:11 PM
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You should consider selling them on the side. I know I'd pick up a few.
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Old 12-13-2015, 09:38 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jhutter View Post
You should consider selling them on the side. I know I'd pick up a few.
Unfortunately, it's more of a hobby than a business, it's inexpensive & not difficult, the reward is when one of your creations consistently produces fish.

I don't have a problem sharing past experiences, the second pic of the two W/W have really produced a number of Whites, note the bead is on the hook end, that seams to make all the difference, then it's a matter of what line, knot and position they sit when you fish them.

I should add, I fish two W/W's on one rod about 10-12" apart, for Gull I put the brightest colored one on the bottom, it's easier to see when sight fishing over weeds. When things are slow, use a flashy-flutter jigging spoon with a W/W about 12" above the spoon, the flash brings them in, lower the rod, they inhale the W/W.

Something to consider, if your not already making your own W/W's.

.
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Last edited by Zip-in-Z; 12-13-2015 at 09:52 PM.
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Old 12-13-2015, 11:40 PM
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Mhmm whitefish candy.
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Old 12-14-2015, 10:22 PM
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Thanks for the post Zip. Good info.
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Old 12-15-2015, 02:36 PM
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Very nice!
If I was a fish I would pick from the 4th row (left to right) they look
buggy.
Uhm good.



Dark and nastie!
Lol as a side note kind of look like draggon fly or damsel fly nymphs.

It all comes down to size I guess. But for sure the middle row has the looks.
You got the looks, you got the looks, (Prentice song).

Seriously thanks for the pictures Zip.
Hope this motavates others to try to make there own flies and jigs.

As the winter sets in here I'm gonna try to tie up some of my own and
have made contact with a friend from up the road to get together and do
some ice fishing this winter to fend off cabin fever myself come Jan 1st.

Were making plans to work a few local ponds in Feb.



Thanks for the info. and pics. helps get things started.

Last edited by Bonescreek; 12-15-2015 at 02:56 PM.
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Old 12-18-2015, 09:24 PM
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Got a few P/M’s asking a number of good questions. For those who are thinking about getting into making your own w/w’s, I found that Michael's the craft supply store carry a wide assortment of wire and beads, at reasonable prices. You may also want to check out stores that have a dedicated fly fishing section, they have a variety of supplies, materials and high end hooks that can be used in making w/w, even different colors of paint.

I bought a fly tying vice, but don’t use it, found a long pair of locking forceps works better, as per photo, these are all the tools you need. When you make your own you can experiment and modify your w/w’s to improve your success, either by using different colored beads or smaller hooks add some hair or feathers, it’s limitless.

At times smaller presentations seem to improve your success, I’ve had a number of Whites try to inhale a small barrel swivel that I use between my 10 lb braid and 6 lb floro, I’ve made a few miniature black w/w that work on those slow days.

This past week on Gull, the Whites sure liked the Brass/White or Brass/Yellow then on another day they ignored them and the Brass/Red was the most popular. Modified my presentations and added a second bead to the hook end, that should make a difference on the weekend.

Fishing tip …

Drop a small amount of crushed egg shells down your hole when fishing it helps identify the bottom in murky conditions or deeper water, it’s something a fellow mentioned that he did when we were fishin together on RR23 the other day, it works!

Don’t be afraid to tip a w/w with a maggot or two, I noticed a few Whites would swim up to the w/w and start to blow kisses at it then turn away. After adding the maggot they were more interested and took a swipe at the w/w, I believe it helped.

Would be interested to see some of your most popular w/w … post a pic.

Cheers


Z-z

Tools of the Trade.



Supplies - Beads from Michael's - Hooks from Bass Pro Fly Dept.


Super Hot Combo




Egg Shells Down the Hole.
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Old 12-18-2015, 09:46 PM
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Forgot to mention, it's extremely important that you tie your w/w's on so they sit on a horizontal flat line, that will make the difference between catching a white vs sitting there and wondering why they won't hit it.

As previously mentioned I fish two w/w on each rod, tied approx. 10" apart, normally set-up about 1 foot off the bottom.


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Old 12-19-2015, 04:32 AM
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thx zip. great info.
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Old 12-19-2015, 06:43 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Zip-in-Z View Post

Forgot to mention, it's extremely important that you tie your w/w's on so they sit on a horizontal flat line, that will make the difference between catching a white vs sitting there and wondering why they won't hit it.

As previously mentioned I fish two w/w on each rod, tied approx. 10" apart, normally set-up about 1 foot off the bottom.


Z-z


I find that with the hook pointing up that I get more/ better hook sets in the upper lip of the fish.
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Old 12-24-2015, 01:09 PM
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Default Great Posts

I do enjoy your informative posts. Such an improvement over the hero pix from zipper lip lake that are so common.
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Old 12-24-2015, 01:44 PM
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Great post ZnZ

I have some tied up on small 90 degree jig hooks(bare hook no lead). See if I can get a few pics of them.
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Old 12-24-2015, 02:34 PM
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Just made these up today, going out on the 28th to try them out.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg IMG_20151224_143147.jpg (20.2 KB, 1028 views)
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Old 12-26-2015, 08:47 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnB View Post
Just made these up today, going out on the 28th to try them out.
Those look like some awesome creations, I had a similar color on last week and the Whites went for that color vs the bright or brass colors. As well, I have used some of those same hooks in your pic, they work great for the bottom W/W on a tandem rig.

Tks for sharing, wish you all the success.


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Old 12-26-2015, 11:26 PM
Amateur Hunter Amateur Hunter is offline
 
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Thanks for sharing guys.
Have a great season
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Old 12-27-2015, 02:58 PM
Macdrizzle Macdrizzle is offline
 
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Can you explain what you do with the eggshells?
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Old 12-27-2015, 03:09 PM
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Hey thx for all the info Zip, that's a great selection of worms. I noticed you have some curved hooks in the box, but it seems your new ties are all on a straight shank hooks. Do you find the straight design works better for whites?

D
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Old 12-27-2015, 03:28 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Zip-in-Z View Post
Egg Shells Down the Hole.
Be careful with that one. There are a few old threads about that. F&W determined that it was in fact illegal.
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Old 12-29-2015, 02:13 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Zip-in-Z View Post

Forgot to mention, it's extremely important that you tie your w/w's on so they sit on a horizontal flat line, that will make the difference between catching a white vs sitting there and wondering why they won't hit it.

As previously mentioned I fish two w/w on each rod, tied approx. 10" apart, normally set-up about 1 foot off the bottom.


Z-z


How do you get them to sit horizontaly
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Old 12-29-2015, 02:33 PM
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You just use long nose pliers to wrap the wire around the hook? The wire does not come loose? It stays tight? How do you start the wire off on the hook so it does not spin round and round as you try to wrap the wire on?

You do good work
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  #23  
Old 12-31-2015, 08:10 PM
Amateur Hunter Amateur Hunter is offline
 
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Default Wire Worm

Hi Zip,
What size beading wire do you use 20-Gauge or ?
And what size beads?
Thanks,
Vel
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Old 12-31-2015, 08:20 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ghostguy6 View Post
Be careful with that one. There are a few old threads about that. F&W determined that it was in fact illegal.
Did they say why?????
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Old 12-31-2015, 08:25 PM
huntsfurfish huntsfurfish is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wcbarker View Post
Did they say why?????
Best to do a search on the old threads.
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Old 12-31-2015, 08:31 PM
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Heres one of them:

http://www.outdoorsmenforum.ca/showt...ghlight=shells
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Old 12-31-2015, 08:59 PM
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Another awesome wire for wire worms I have used since a kid is house telephone wire. Twists tight and all the colors you need.
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Old 11-25-2016, 07:05 PM
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Thought I would dust off this old thread with an update it for the 2016/17 ice season.

Scrounged some 100 strand underground telephone wire when they ripped up Lakeshore Drive. Decided to put some to good use & made a few different Candy Kane W/W combo’s in the spirit of the season. I’ve had some good success with big Whites on the Yellow/Orange will be interesting to see how these other colors produce.

The Brass with 2 dark beads at the hook end is one of my top producers on Sylvan & Gull. With the double wrap of brass wire, the hook sinks quickly & sits horizontal when it's tied properly.

As previously mentioned, if your thinkin of getting into making your own Wire Worms do it this year, it's rewarding catching Whites on home made creations.

I'm considering using colored feathers or fur in some of my creations, anyone here using these in your W/W's with any success ?

Enjoy the pic's.


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Hot W/W Pattern



Good fishin ....

.
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Old 11-25-2016, 08:29 PM
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Thanks for the great post.
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Old 11-25-2016, 08:56 PM
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Thanks Z-z for the good informative post. I do my own wireworms and get my supplies from wallmart. Slightly cheaper than Michaels.
What kind of knot you tie in order to keep the hook horizontally.
Thanks in advance
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