Fishing a worm hatch leads to a successful trout catch

Every spring, around the time of the new moon, something called the worm hatch occurs. 

 

However, it is not really a “hatch.” It is a spawning cycle for small marine worms. It makes for good fishing, especially early in the morning or late in the evening.

 

If you look into the water and see a bunch of one-inch worms swimming wildly about in the water, you are in a worm hatch. This can be really good or really bad for fishing. 

 

Redfish and trout gorge on the tiny worms. Get to the hatch early and fishing will be nonstop. Get there late and the fish are full and no longer feeding.

 

When fishing a hatch, it is important to match your lure to the size and shape of the worms.  Redfish and trout are so focused on the one-inch worms they will rarely eat a lure that does not mimic the tiny marine worms.

 

Thankfully, a Z-Man Finesse TRD on a 1/10th ounce NedLockZ jig does a good job of imitating marine worms, especially if you cut a bit off the lure to have it match the size of worms you see in the water.  

 

Cast the lure into the hatch and let it sink. More times than not, a redfish or trout will eat it as it falls. Once the lure hits the bottom, lift the rod tip and let the lure fall again. 

 

Worm hatch action is either red hot or dead cold.  

 

On Friday evening, Brody, the amazing fish-finding and stock-trading dog, and I stumbled upon a worm hatch. Trout were feasting upon the hapless little worms. I trimmed about an inch off the back of a Finesse TRD and cast it to the hatch area. For about 20 minutes, the action was nonstop. As the trout got full, the bite slowed down and then stopped.

 

If you venture out in search of a worm hatch, be ready with a smaller lure and bring bug spray.  Lots of bug spray. Trout and redfish are not the only things biting. The gnats are awful.