08/16/2026
Have you ever “cooked” your worms? 👀🎣
The Slider crew has over the years when necessary!
And no…we’re not talking about dinner. 😂 There’s an old-school reason behind “cooking” plastic worms, and sometimes it’s just what you have to do.
Anybody else ever done this? And more importantly—do you know why we did it?
Crooked Worms - Charlie Brewer
— This advice seems to be about as old as plastic worms themselves. The funny thing is, it’s just as applicable today as it was back then - and still a pet peeve of mine. Here’s Charlie Brewer from 50 years ago (1973) on how to straighten plastic worms. —
⚠️ If you are a worm fisherman, don't use crooked plastic worms. This is my opinion, of course…From many years experience, for my kind of fishing, the plastic worm must be straight as a poker. It must be kept dressed tight and straight against the lead head. It must slide through the water, or along the bottom, as straight as an arrow. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR FISH APPEAL.
✅ Simply put the crooked plastic worms in a pan of water and bring the water to a boil. This will usually straighten them out as straight as an arrow. Or, get the water to boiling, and then drop the crooked worms into the boiling water. In about ten seconds, or a little longer, they will straighten out.
✅ If you just want the worms straight, don't over-boil. Over-boiling will also make the worms softer, and this is good if so desired, but over-boiling will also make them sticky and mushy.
✅ My advice is to take two or three worms and experiment with them. This way, you will get familiar with just what happens to the worms at different degrees of boiling. Once you learn just how to do it, and just what to expect, then you can boil great numbers of worms at one time.
✅ The longer I boil them, the softer they get… I usually take them out of the pan with a fork, or egg-turner. Then, I lay them straight on a paper-towel to dry. After drying, I lay them straight in my worm box. They are ready for use, if kept straight.
✅ To take the sticky feel off of the plastic worms, l've mixed them in a little mineral oil. For odor, usually mix a few drops of anise-oil in with the mineral oil.
📸 Fishing Facts, 1975
