Table of Contents
- Why Threading Nightcrawlers is Key for Trout Trolling Success
- Essential Gear for Rigging the Perfect Nightcrawler
- Step-by-Step: Preparing and Threading Your Nightcrawler
- Maximizing Attraction: Pairing Your Worm with Flashers and Dodgers
- Trolling Speeds and Techniques for Big Trout
- Book Your Guided Trout Fishing Adventure at Collins Lake
Watch the video: “Proper Way to Thread a Nightcrawler for Trout Trolling” by Cal Kellogg on the Cal Kellogg channel.
If you’ve ever trolled a worm that looked perfect on deck but turned into a dead stick behind the boat, this guide is for you. Cal Kellogg’s on-the-water tutorial removes the guesswork and shows how to thread and rig a nightcrawler so it spins, flashes, and gets crushed by hungry trout.
What you’ll learn
- Why a specialized hook bend makes a threaded nightcrawler rotate in the water
- Exactly how much worm to keep—and why the head section matters
- The simple threader-to-hook transfer that prevents short strikes
- When to run the worm “naked” and when to add Turbo Flashers or a Mini Willow Leaf Dodger
- Trolling speeds that consistently trigger strikes
Why Threading Nightcrawlers is Key for Trout Trolling Success Trout will eat a non-spinning worm, but Cal’s experience at Collins Lake shows they hit a rotating, properly threaded nightcrawler far more often. The “roll” signals vulnerability and makes the bait easier to home in on as it tracks behind the boat. A well-threaded worm eliminates the tail-nibbles and short strikes that happen when you leave a dangling tip behind the hook.
Pro tip Before you ever drop lines, dip the rig beside the boat and watch. You’re looking for a steady, tight rotation on the worm—not a wobble or a lazy spin. A quick visual prevents a wasted pass. magnetic embroidery hoops
The Appeal of Nightcrawlers for Trout Full-size nightcrawlers bring scent, taste, and a natural profile—all of which matter in cold water when fish are selective. Cal likes a lively, fat worm as his starting point; the key is what you keep and how you thread it so the hook can do its job.
Understanding the 'Slow Death' Advantage The Mustad Slow Death Hook looks fairly standard until you turn it. The built-in bend is what forces a threaded piece of worm to spin as you troll. That rotation is the whole game: it draws attention, invites a bite, and gives the fish a better target so hookups jump.
Watch out Leaving a tag end of worm behind the hook invites short strikes. Cal considers that a common mistake—keep the hook tip at the very end of the worm.
Essential Gear for Rigging the Perfect Nightcrawler Cal boils it down to four essentials: a worm threader, a Mustad Slow Death Hook (#1 or #2), a leader, and a tub of full-size nightcrawlers. From there, success comes down to preparing the right length of worm and transferring it cleanly onto the hook. embroidery machine for beginners
The Mustad Slow Death Hook Explained Turn the hook sideways and you’ll see the characteristic bend. That gentle curve is not cosmetic—it’s engineered to roll the worm. Without that, you’re likely dragging a straight bait that won’t draw as many strikes.
Choosing Your Leader Material Cal rigs a 22-inch section of fluorocarbon leader material between the hook and his connection point. He favors 8–10 lb test because fluorocarbon is nearly invisible underwater while still being strong enough to handle big trout. It’s not that lighter leaders won’t catch—Cal just doesn’t want to undergun a surprise 8–12 pounder.
Quick check Leader length: about 22 inches. Test rating: 8–10 lb fluorocarbon. Knot: Palomar to the hook, overhand loop at the top for attachment.
The Indispensable Worm Threader A worm threader is a hollow tube on a handle. The hollow core lets you seat the hook point into the tube later, creating a smooth path so the worm slides directly onto the hook without tearing or twisting. That simple detail is why this tool is indispensable for clean, reliable rigging.
Step-by-Step: Preparing and Threading Your Nightcrawler This is where the rotation is won or lost. Follow Cal’s sequence and you’ll avoid most of the common mistakes. magnetic embroidery hoop
Selecting the Right Worm Section
- Pick a full-size, lively nightcrawler.
- Identify the ends: the flat, flabby tail versus the pointy, muscular head.
- Keep about 1.5–2 inches from the head end; discard the tail. The firmer head section rolls better and resists tearing.
Watch out Too much worm can dampen rotation. Keep your piece in that 1.5–2 inch range for the most reliable spin.
Mastering the Threading Technique
- Insert the threader into the broken end where you snapped the worm.
- Guide the tool straight through the worm so the tip exits from the head.
- Do not pop the tube out the side, and do not aim for a tag end to dangle—both reduce hookups and invite short strikes.
Pro tip Maintain gentle, even pressure as you thread so the worm doesn’t kink on the tool. A straight path on the threader becomes a straight, balanced spin in the water. magnetic embroidery frames
Transferring to the Hook Safely
- Seat the hook point into the hollow end of the threader.
- Apply light tension to the leader to keep it straight.
- Slide the worm smoothly off the threader and onto the hook until the hook sits right at the end of the worm.
- Remove the threader and stow it where you won’t lose it overboard.
Quick check
- Hook tip ends right at the worm’s end (no dangling tail).
- The body looks straight and snug on the bend.
- In the water, the worm spins consistently.
Maximizing Attraction: Pairing Your Worm with Flashers and Dodgers You can troll a threaded worm “naked” and catch trout—Cal does it often. But when fish spread out or water color changes, an attractor can pull eyes (and noses) to your bait without killing the fight. magnetic embroidery hoop for brother
The Stealthy Turbo Flasher Cal prefers his Turbo Flasher for a low-drag setup that still brings serious flash and vibration. Because it doesn’t pull like traditional cowbell flashers, you feel the fish and enjoy the fight more. Ensure the blades spin freely and the rig tracks true as you pull it through the water.
The Versatile Mini Willow Leaf Dodger When conditions call for it, Cal runs a Mini Willow Leaf Dodger ahead of the worm. He’s seen consistent success with larger trout using this pairing. A practical rule he mentions: run the worm roughly 20–30 inches behind the blade for a natural draw-in and close.
Optimizing Leader Length for Attractors You don’t need the worm tight to the attractor. The attractor’s job is to draw fish into the neighborhood with flash and vibration; the worm’s job is to close the deal with scent, taste, and that enticing rotation.
From the comments One viewer suggested trying a soft-plastic worm alternative (Berkley Killer Krawler) on the same Slow Death hook in place of a natural nightcrawler. While Cal focuses on natural bait in the video, experimenting with similar profiles can be a useful test if regulations and local fish preferences align. brother embroidery machine
Trolling Speeds and Techniques for Big Trout Cal’s favorite speed for worm trolling is 1.8 mph, with a broader operating window of about 1.5–2.2 mph. The speed sweet spot can vary with season, water temperature, and how your rig is tracking. The worm should rotate cleanly—not whip or stall.
Watch out Dragging heavy, traditional cowbell flashers can deaden the fight of anything but the biggest fish. If you love the battle, keep drag low with a Turbo Flasher or a smaller dodger.
Finding the Sweet Spot: Trolling Speed
- Start at 1.8 mph and watch the worm beside the boat.
- Adjust up or down in small increments if rotation looks lazy (speed up) or erratic (slow down).
- Recheck the spin after any weed pick-up or lure change.
Why Proper Rotation Matters Rotation increases detection and helps trout commit. It also places the hook at the business end of the presentation, so when a fish nips, it meets steel, not a trailing tag end. Even on days when trout would hit a non-rotating worm, the consistent roll tilts the odds your way.
Pro tip If your spin looks inconsistent, re-check the worm length. Trim back toward the 1.5–2 inch head section and realign on the hook’s bend. Small changes here often fix big problems. dime magnetic hoop
Book Your Guided Trout Fishing Adventure at Collins Lake If you want to shortcut the learning curve, Cal runs trips on the FHS pontoon boat at Collins Lake. You’ll see the rigging steps on the water, with live checks for spin and speed, and the kind of minor adjustments that turn lookers into biters.
Learn from the Pros Watching a worm roll correctly at boat-side—and seeing how subtle leader adjustments change its behavior—is the kind of hands-on lesson that sticks.
Experience Big Trout Firsthand From “Fish on!” to net, it’s a complete system: precise rigging, smart attractor pairing, and speed discipline. Put it together and your odds improve in real time. brother hoops
Troubleshooting at a Glance
- Short strikes? Remove any dangling worm; keep the hook right at the end.
- No spin? Re-thread the worm straight through the head and verify on the Slow Death bend.
- Too much drag? Swap heavy flashers for a Turbo Flasher or a small dodger.
- Shy fish? Fluorocarbon leader (8–10 lb) helps keep your rig invisible.
Final Cast Thread with purpose, check the spin, and troll at a steady 1.8 mph starting point. Add stealthy flash only as needed. It’s a straightforward system that Cal has leaned on to catch countless Collins Lake trout—and it’s one you can replicate on your home water.