Home|
Advice|
Tips

Five worm fishing tips for catching on commercials

From hookbait to feed, here’s how to get the most from worms on commercials.

by Jonathan Longden |

Updated on25th February 2026 at 11.16am

There are few baits more natural than a worm, and on a commercial they’re one of the most reliable ways to get bites. They will catch everything from skimmers and F1s to proper carp, but worms are not a bait you can just throw in and hope for the best. Get the hooking, chopping and feeding right and they can transform a swim. Here are five tips to help you get more from them.

USE WORMS ON COMMERCIALS WITH THE BEST FISHING POLES.

Hooking for carp, and hooking for bites

On commercials I hook worms in two different ways, depending on what I want to catch. If I’m targeting carp, I like a whole worm nicked lightly through the head. If it’s curling and masking the hook, I’ll give it a quick couple of slaps on the surface first so it straightens up. It makes a great target bait and it tends to stay on better when small fish peck at it.

If I’m looking for skimmers, ide, barbel, or just quick bites to get the swim going, I’ll cut the worm in half and hook it through the middle. That opens it up and lets the juices leak out.

CHECK OF THESE 5 MUST HAVE CARP POLE RIGS.

When redworms outscore dendras

Dendras are the obvious choice on commercials and they’re a brilliant hookbait, but redworms are deadly when skimmers or bream are in the mix. They’re small, neat and easy for fish to take, and they often get you bites when bigger worms feel like too much.

To mount them, hook the first redworm and slide it up the shank, then hook a second so it sits nearer the bend, leaving the hook point clear. Redworms are soft and it’s easy to mask the point if you load up too many.

REDWORMS ARE GREAT FOR BREAM CATCH THEM USING THE BEST MEDIUM FEEDER RODS.

Chop to suit the fish

Chopped worm is one of the best baits you can feed on a commercial, but the chop needs to match the fish you’re targeting. If you’re trying to pull carp into the swim, a rough chop is ideal. Bigger pieces sit on the deck and keep them grubbing around.

For skimmers and F1s, chop finer. Smaller pieces leak scent faster, spread through the swim, and help you hold fish without overfeeding them. Done right, it’s an attractor as much as it is feed.

IN THIS ARTICLE DISCOVER HOW TO FISH CHOPPED WORMS ON COMMERCIALS.

Use the soil to create a cloud

If you’re chopping worms, don’t throw away the soil they come in. That fine, dark soil is perfect when you want attraction without piling in loads of bait. Riddle it to take out any lumps, chop your worms, then add the fine soil back in. It carries the smell and, fed with a small pot, creates a lingering cloud that draws fish.

Add casters and it becomes even better, especially for carp and F1s that are happy to come up in the water. You’re not just feeding the bottom; you’re pulling fish up in the water column and getting them competing.

IN THIS EXPERT GUIDE LEARN HOW TO CATCH F1'S SHALLOW WITH ANDY BENNETT.

Go bigger down the edge

If you’re fishing the margins and you want the bigger carp, don’t be afraid of a big bait. One dendra can work, but two is better, and three whole worms on a size 12 is a proper mouthful. Smaller fish struggle to deal with it, but a double-figure carp will gulp it down confidently particularly over groundbait or micros.

BIG BAITS DOWN THE EDGE ARE BEST FISHED WITH ONE OF THE BEST MARGIN FISHING POLES.

Just so you know, we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this website - read why you should trust us