Size, San Juan Worm

[goose54cdd]

I don't recall ever hearing an answer for this: "How long do you tie (what is the length) of San Juan Worms?

 

[Bamboozle]

Since I never fished on the San Juan and don't have any trips planned, I tie mine the same size as the little earthworms I see all over my driveway after a heavy rainstorm...

About 1" - 1-1/4" long.

 

[nfrechet]

shank length in the back and shank length in front

use whatever lengths you want. no tying commandment in tying them

 

[hooker-of-men]

I would never fish with them!













(around 2 inches)

 

[nfrechet]

 

[Solitariolupo]

Size of the shank or 2 in back 1 in the front.

 

[goose54cdd]

Thanks. I've never seen or heard these proportions. I've certainly fished them.

 

[shakey]

I tye them the width of the card that the chenille is wound on

 

[dc410]

I tye them the width of the card that the chenille is wound onView attachment 1641250160

Great idea, Shakey! That’s definitely tying with efficiency.

 

[goose54cdd]

I tye them the width of the card that the chenille is wound onView attachment 1641250160

Great idea!

 

[shakey]

I can’t claim to have come up with the idea myself, I saw it on a fly tying video

 

[goose54cdd]

I can’t claim to have come up with the idea myself, I saw it on a fly tying video

You never claimed it was your idea, but I'm glad you passed it on to us. I've been tying and fishing flies for at least 45 years and I don't ever recall a suggested length to the worms. Thanks to All!

 

[Solitariolupo]

You don’t have to tie just straight can put a small loop in it. Like it was with the hook thru.

 

[PennKev]

I don't recall ever hearing an answer for this: "How long do you tie (what is the length) of San Juan Worms?

You ultimately want the worms to be the length that the fish want to eat regardless of hook size/style.

I've settled on using heavy curved caddis hooks (or egg hooks) for san juans so that I can use a hook that is small in relation to the finished size of the worm while having a generous hook gap.

To more directly answer your question, I tie my worms long. Usually #10 or #8 with said caddis hooks and pushing 2" in total length using medium ultra chenille. I usually fish them in less than clear water and the fish are fine with a bigger worm. You can always trim them down on the water. If you also have a lighter with you, you can taper the ends of chenille worms and have the same effect as a worm fresh off the vice.

There are a variety of worm chenilles available and a variety of diameters so worms of any length can be proportionally thick. If you want to go tiny you can do that, if you want to go realy big there are chenilles for that also.

 

[goose54cdd]

You ultimately want the worms to be the length that the fish want to eat regardless of hook size/style.

I've settled on using heavy curved caddis hooks (or egg hooks) for san juans so that I can use a hook that is small in relation to the finished size of the worm while having a generous hook gap.

To more directly answer your question, I tie my worms long. Usually #10 or #8 with said caddis hooks and pushing 2" in total length using medium ultra chenille. I usually fish them in less than clear water and the fish are fine with a bigger worm. You can always trim them down on the water. If you also have a lighter with you, you can taper the ends of chenille worms and have the same effect as a worm fresh off the vice.

There are a variety of worm chenilles available and a variety of diameters so worms of any length can be proportionally thick. If you want to go tiny you can do that, if you want to go realy big there are chenilles for that also.

Thanks. I've always used vernille, I guess it's the small size. I've used different style hooks over the years, but I've settled on caddis hooks too. Shades of Pink and red seem to work the best for me, how about you? Like you I've had more success in stained water. Rainbows, that seem to like any bright color, eat them the best.

 

[PennKev]

Shades of pink and red in general. I tend to go more red then pink but both have their times.