Abstract: A fishing leader is threaded through a worm or worm-like bait as follows. In one form, an elongated, narrow diameter tool is inserted at an entrance point near one end of the bait and pushed longitudinally through the bait until it exits near the other end of the bait. The end of the leader opposite the fish hook is attached to the tool, and the tool is withdrawn from the bait, which pulls the leader through the bait with the hook near the exit point and the end of the leader opposite the hook, through the entrance point where it can be connected to fishing line. In the other form of the tool, the end of the leader opposite the hook is first attached to the tool and then the tool and the leader are pushed through the worm in the opposite direction until the fish hook is near the entrance point of the tool and the other end of the leader is out of the exit point of the tool. The tool is then withdrawn from the worm leaving the leader in place.