Where to dig worms for fishing: red worm and its varieties

Feeding with worms

The worm is a universal fishing assistant.
It is used not only as bait, but also in the preparation of feeding, when it acts as a base and flavoring agent. For example, you can boil peas, pearl barley or corn and add chopped worms to them. Thanks to this, the fish will find the bait faster even in muddy water, which guarantees a rich catch. Live worms are also used in another way. Cut a piece of turf with grass measuring 30x30 centimeters, place it in a small net like a string bag and sprinkle a handful of worms on top. Leave them for a few minutes to burrow into the ground. Carefully lower the bag into the water at your fishing spot. Greenery attracts fish, and crawling worms will interest them. But since there are few of them and they are not chosen often, the fish will not get full ahead of time and will not lose interest in the bait.

Why is a worm good for fishing?

It wriggles - when hooked it is very mobile and therefore attracts the inhabitants of the water area, even in muddy water, even from afar.
It is nutritious - the worm is rich in protein, the fish knows this and therefore wants to eat it, so it bites on it, forgetting about the danger.
It is universal - this bait goes well with other baits; you can even fish with it using potatoes or peas, making an original sandwich.
It is available - a worm for fishing can be stored for a relatively long time or even bred, you can even buy it, it will be available all year round.

Among other things, it is also a classic animal component for bait. Having good supplies of chopped worms for fishing, you can add only it to the bait, in the amount of 20-25% of the total mass, and have no doubt that even spoiled carp will be interested and will swim to the point you need. Although, of course, its combination with other animal components, for example, with maggots and bloodworms, is also interesting, effective and has the right to be actively used.

Today there are a lot of types of worms suitable for fishing: these are earthworms, dung worms, earthworms, meadow worms, marsh worms, and a whole range of others.

Since all species have similar properties, bream and carp will respond eagerly to each.

Habitats and fishing methods

Body length varies from 2 cm to several meters (in some species). The height of local representatives reaches about 15 cm. It received its name due to its ability to crawl out of holes to the surface during rain. In fishing, it is used as bait for peaceful species, although predators do not disdain it: perch, pike perch, catfish.

Earthworms can be found on all continents except Antarctica. The favorite habitat is oily soil with a high percentage of moisture. This species is rare in sandy and clayey soils; it is more attracted to black soil.

In dry weather, finding representatives of oligochaetes is problematic. They go deep underground or hide in the roots of vegetation, under the shade of trees, where direct rays of the sun do not reach the ground. In the heat, you can make a generous spill of soil, thereby simulating rain - the crawl will definitely appear on the surface, but in the late afternoon.

If the average air temperature does not exceed 20-25°C, worms can be dug with a shovel. You should start your search in grass vegetation, since its roots retain moisture well.

Everyone decides for themselves where to dig up worms for fishing, but the best way to catch them is to hunt at night with a flashlight. Catching crawlers is done after rain in the dark. This requires a little lighting and sleight of hand.

To learn more:

Features of fishing with spoon spoons: pros and cons

Crawlers are tenacious worms, but the storage area should be prepared before you collect them. The bait is placed in a loose container with leaves and a small amount of soil. It should be kept in a cool place, for example, in the lower compartments of the refrigerator. If these rules are followed, the worm does not lose viability for a month.

Hooking methods

Exactly how fishing crawlers, and any other worms, are placed on a hook depends both on the individual preferences of each individual angler, and on the characteristics and nutritional preferences of the target fish.

Often the worm is looped onto the hook, starting from the head end, and a piece about 1 centimeter long is left hanging. In this case, the bait turns out to be voluminous, although according to some anglers, it looks unnatural on the bottom. Other fishermen pierce the worm only once, closer to the head or to the middle of the body. So at the bottom it behaves more naturally, although an increase in the number of idle hooks may be observed.

Important! You should not try to hide the hook tip inside the worm - you will hardly be able to get more bites, but you are guaranteed to have more unsuccessful hooks, since the bait will simply slip out of the fish’s mouth.

When using small crawlers, they are simply put on the hook almost completely, bringing the sting closer to the end of the tail. In the same way, large worms are sometimes placed on large-sized hooks.

If the main object of fishing is a fish famous for its ability to quietly pull the bait from the hook (for example, roach or dace), then it would be appropriate to leave as small a hanging end as possible - this way the number of crawls stolen with impunity will be minimal.

Muckworm

This is the most delicious worm for fish and experienced fishermen prefer to fish with it. Dung worms are short and thick, making them easy to put on a hook. You can distinguish a dung worm by its color and habitat. The dung worm is red, sometimes mixed with yellow. If you crush it, it releases a yellowish liquid with a pronounced odor. These worms are found in rotting manure or under abandoned hay, as well as in old greenhouses. The main thing is that the soil is not too wet or too dry. Fish of the carp family are excellent at biting on this worm.

Earthworm.

It is larger than the dung worm and its color is gray like dust. Sometimes it has a hint of pink. Excellent for bottom fishing. Fish do not bite on it so readily and fishermen do not really like to use it. You can get it in the garden, where you dig up worms for fishing. Very often, when digging up a garden, you can stumble upon these worms. These worms hide in the ground at a depth that depends on the air temperature. The lower it is, the closer to the surface the worm is.

Subleaf.

This worm is bright red in color, sometimes tinged with purple. Such a worm is very easy to get; just go to the forest or other planting and look under the fallen, rotten leaves. They live right underneath it. These worms are quite large in size, but they are rarely used for fishing. This worm stops moving once it is hooked and loses its popularity with the fish.

Crawling out.

This is a very large worm. It can be about a centimeter thick and up to 30 long. It is very difficult to get such a worm, because their burrows go very deep and it is very difficult to dig it out. But you can take it with cunning. You need to go to the well-trodden paths in the garden or park and take a closer look. Seeing piles of earth and moving them, you can see round holes. This is the habitat of the crawl. Now you need to wait until nightfall and come to the place. By shining a flashlight on the “houses” you can see that the worm is lying nearby. You need to carefully grab it with three fingers and pull it out, otherwise it can deftly crawl into the ground. This worm is great for catching big fish.

Green worm.

Found in a specific area. In swamp hummocks, watery meadows, oily soil, near reeds. Digging for such a worm is troublesome, because it is easiest to get it in the spring, when it is not hot. In summer it can burrow into the ground up to three meters. Excellent for catching medium and large fish. Does not freeze on the hook and is not torn by small fish.

Water underleaf.

Just like an ordinary subleaf, it lives under the foliage. Only in aquatic plants. Can be found on water lilies or lilies. Carp and rudd bite well on it, because it is their natural food and favorite treat.

Zheleznyak.

Excellent bait for predatory fish. Lives in clay soil, for example, on the banks of rivers. Such a worm needs to be prepared, kept in moss for several days so that it acquires a lighter color and gets rid of the unpleasant odor.

In general, most worms love moisture and coolness, so you need to look for them in places that meet these conditions. It is easier to dig up worms in summer and spring, but more difficult in late autumn and winter. Therefore, if it was not possible to prepare worms for cold times, then you need to go to compost or manure heaps and. The ground there is moist and warm, which makes it an excellent wintering place for the worm.

Where the worms live is where you need to dig. It would seem that everything is simple and how to dig up worms is not a difficult task. But there are some tricks and signs that will help you find such places.

Different types of worms live in different places and we will try to help you in your search.

This is the most appetizing worm for almost all types of fish and experienced fishermen choose it for fishing. The dung worm is distinguished by a short and thick body; they fit very well on a hook. It also differs in color and habitat. As a rule, dung worms are bright red in color, often mixed with yellowish. When it is crushed, a yellow liquid with a specific odor appears. They live in rotting manure or under stacks of hay. Very often they can be found in abandoned greenhouses. The main condition is that the soil should not be very wet or very dry. Crucian carp and crucian carp bite well on this worm.

It is larger compared to dung. It also varies in color and is usually grayish, like dust. Often with an admixture of pinkish. Best suited for bottom fishing. It is not as popular among fishermen as the dung fish. Probably everyone knows how to dig for this type of worm. You can just do it in a garden, or any other plot of land, and therefore the question of where to dig up worms for fishing is not as difficult as it seems to many. Often when digging up a garden you can find worms of this species. They live in the ground at a depth depending on the ambient temperature.

This species is distinguished by its striking scarlet color, sometimes even purple. This species is not at all difficult to obtain, you just need to go into the forest. It’s better to look for them under rotting leaves. They usually live right underneath them. This species is distinguished by its rather large size, but is rarely used for fishing. This worm stops moving when it is threaded onto a hook and is unattractive to fish.

The crawl is quite large in size. And often its thickness reaches one cm, and its length up to thirty cm. It is not easy to obtain such a specimen, since their burrows are located at great depths. But savvy fishermen have come up with one good way. You just need to find well-trodden garden or park paths and take a good look. Noticing the earthen piles and moving them a little, you can see round-shaped holes, they reveal the places in which crawlers live. All that remains is to wait for nightfall and come to this place. By shining a flashlight on the piles, you can see that the worm is nearby. You need to carefully but quickly grab it with three fingers; if you hesitate, it will have time to crawl into its hole. This type of worm is better than others when fishing for large fish.

You will not find this species either in the city or in the garden. Few people know where to dig for worms of this species. They are found, as a rule, in swamps, constantly damp lawns, in oily soil, near reeds. Finding and digging up these worms is quite a troublesome task. It is easier to do this in the spring, before the heat sets in. In the summer season, it burrows into the ground to a depth of 3 meters. Fish of different sizes bite well on it. It behaves actively on the hook and does not break with small fish.

Tips and tricks

If in the summer you can dig up worms directly before going fishing, then few people know how to preserve the worms in the winter so that they are mobile and attractive to fish.

We will give some simple but quite effective recommendations, the application of which in practice will increase the catch several times, even when other fishermen return home empty-handed.

Extraction of worms using potassium permanganate

The first method of extraction using a solution of potassium permanganate is to dilute potassium permanganate granules with water in the approximate proportion:

Water – 10 liters
Potassium permanganate 0.5 tea boat

The resulting solution should be poured into a watering can and thoroughly wet the area where worms could potentially live. Literally within 5 minutes the worms begin to crawl out of the ground on their own and you just need to collect them in a prepared storage container. A solution of potassium permanganate will not harm the soil in any way, in some sense it will even be useful as a fertilizer. It is advisable to rinse the worms obtained in this way in water and place them in a container with clean soil for further storage.

How to preserve worms for fishing longer?

The considered methods of storing an animal make it possible to obtain a healthy individual that is attractive to fish for various periods of time (from several days to several months).

If the storage method is chosen, and there is a need to use the bait after a longer period, then a few tips from professionals will help solve this problem.

A few secrets:

the mixture must be stirred regularly
, separating it from the general group of dead. Their secretions are capable of destroying the rest in a short time;
When storing near a pond
or in field conditions, it is necessary to maintain humidity at about 50%. A strong overflow in the heat will simply cook our little inhabitants of the earth, and the fish really don’t like it;
It is better not to feed the creature
than to overwhelm it with food. In addition, plant residues (except roots) cannot be ground;
This type of animal has a negative attitude towards citrus fruits
, alcohol, spicy and salty foods. These types of foods kill them;
The earthworm will respond well to medium acid soil
from a flower shop along with leaves (70% soil, 30 leaves). A wooden box with this composition will serve as a refuge for a long time both on the street and at home;
To prevent the creatures from crawling out of the open container,
its edges must be treated with damp soap. Even such a small amount of alkali will block their path;
to avoid the appearance of midges or ants
in the open air, the entrance to the storage is covered with cardboard or gauze;
The optimal temperature for long-term storage
is from 10 to 15 degrees. Therefore, a cellar or basement is suitable; some fierce fishermen use a refrigerator, which is also not prohibited.

Types of worms for fishing

This natural bait of natural origin has several advantages - ease of search, ability to quickly attach to the hook. Appearance, behavior and size depend on the species - the crawler, for example, is characterized by medium dimensions and is often found not only in the ground, but also on a hard surface after rain.

All types are suitable for fishing, but the most productive results were shown by the following:

Large earthen or crawl. It belongs to the category of large ringed ones, the maximum size is up to 25 cm with a thickness of up to 9 mm. The earthworm is active when pressure changes and precipitation occurs. The crawler may not appear completely on the surface; when the soil shakes, it hides back. It does not live long in hot weather; it is necessary to store the crawlies in moist soil. They exhibit prolonged activity on the hook.
Dung. Habitat: accumulations of organic matter, manure. The best place to dig up worms for fishing relatively quickly is on farm territories, old sheaves of hay and straw. Smaller in size than the species described above, it prefers to form colonies, which is convenient for quickly collecting bait. Features - the presence of a specific odor; dung worms should be stored in moist soil in an airtight container. They have high mobility.
For the Australian earthworm, special living conditions must be created. They are not found in the middle latitudes of Russia; they reproduce only under artificial conditions. If the breeding rules are followed, they quickly gain the desired length and weight and can remain in a sealed container for a long time without reducing activity.

Crawlers are more often chosen - worms are found in any soil and are easy to dig up. They quickly breed at home. There is also an alternative - silicone worms. Unlike living ones, they can be used repeatedly; there is no need to create special storage conditions. Artificial worms are sold in specialized stores or made independently. It is recommended to buy factory-made silicone worms, as they are much more durable than homemade ones and have a specific aroma.

Storage

For long-term storage of worms, you need to mix black soil with sand and moss. The worms are laid out on a layer of moss. After some time, healthy individuals will burrow into the ground, while weak ones will remain on the surface. It is necessary to get rid of the latter, since this directly determines how many healthy worms can survive, since carrion creates a smell that is detrimental to healthy individuals.

You cannot store worms in tin containers - tin imparts an unnatural smell to the bait, which scares away the fish.

If you have no choice, you can use plastic containers if they do not produce a noticeable chemical odor. A good storage option is glass containers.

In this case, its fragility must be taken into account. The optimal container option is one made from boards

Whatever material is used, the container must be equipped with holes for air intake.

6.Worm storage

for storage, it is better to place it in a container with algae, after first washing the worm in sea water;
a good place for long-term storage is a spacious wooden box or box with a lid and air holes, into which you need to pour sand mixed with coal and sprinkle seaweed on top;
for short-term storage, you can wrap it in a newspaper package moistened with sea water;
To store bait for no more than 5 days, a bundle of newspaper placed in the refrigerator is suitable. Periodically you need to sort through the worms, removing dead individuals. As soon as the package becomes damp, it should be replaced.

Worms for fishing

Worms for fishing can be obtained in three ways:

Dig up.
Buy.
Dilute.

The first method is always good if fishing is not the main activity and there are places nearby where you can dig up worms. Each worm has its own habitat, but the general recommendation is damp places with humus and cool temperatures. In dry soil or in the sun, worms are not found or go deep underground.

Earthworms live in beds, rich, rich soil, and can be dug up or collected while working in the garden.
The dung worm is a good bait and lives in the humus of manure. It is convenient to dig with a pitchfork.
Crawling out. You can catch them at night, illuminated with a flashlight, or collect them after rain, when they crawl out of flooded burrows. A large worm that is excellent for catching large and predatory fish.
Subleaf. Lives under fallen leaves, just lift them and collect worms.
There are also many different types of worms that are found directly next to bodies of water in the shade of trees.
There are also those that live directly in the ground under water.

Where to dig

The areas where worms dig should be respected. After the job is done, you need to clean up after yourself by filling up the holes. You can't dig in the same place all the time. Or you need to take care of your worm place. Pour water and slops there. Then the worms will breed there and you don’t have to worry about them disappearing.

The sale of worms for fishing is also widespread. Typically, earthworms, dung worms and green worms are sold. The cost of worms varies, but on average it starts from 100 rubles per glass. There can be about 50-100 individuals in a glass. Earthworms are the most inexpensive because they are not too strong and the fish quickly take them off the hook and chew them.

The best option would be red dung worms or the “new thing” of recent years – green ones. These are the most durable and tenacious worms. They can be used even after fish have been caught with them. They twitch on the hook for a long time. When purchasing, you need to make sure that the worms for fishing feel good; half-dead and dead worms are not good bait.

People who live by fishing and do it all year round prefer to grow their own bait. It's not too difficult. There are several methods, depending on where the cultivation takes place.

But the basic rules are similar:

Container for breeding - preferably a wooden box.
Food for worms is waste of plant origin.
Sufficient humidity and temperature.
Low acidity.
Worms of the same species are raised in one house.

Some people say that worms die if they are cut, but this is not true. But still, it is better to put cut worms separately from whole ones and use them first. Different worms have different storage facilities. Waste products for some are death for others.

It is best to put worms in a wooden box with air flow or a canvas bag. Remember to moisturize and keep out of sunlight. The ball of worms must be untangled, otherwise they will die. The soil for storing worms should be the same in which they lived. Don't skimp on land.

Before catching worms, you need to prepare them by placing moss in the container where they are stored. This improves the smell of the worms and makes them more enticing to fish. Metal jars impart a repulsive odor to worms. And glass can be broken and cut. A real fisherman has one permanent container for storing worms and does not pollute fishing areas with plastic and cans.

Where to dig for worms?

To find the most wormy places in the area, you need to be a little observant and pay attention to the birds. But still, where can you dig up worms? Where there are concentrations of rooks, there will probably be worms. If you don’t have time to study the situation, use general knowledge about the habitats of these creatures. Worms love damp, shady places; they can easily be found under a layer of last year's leaves, in various moist holes and ditches, along drying up streams and temporary river beds . Decaying wood and nettle roots are also an attractive combination for worms. To more effectively find and pull worms out of a manure pile, use a regular farm fork. Collecting worms in the garden can be done in parallel with planting work or while weeding the beds.

It is extremely simple to create comfortable conditions for worms in a certain place convenient for you. Spread old rags on a heap with compost or rotted manure, periodically moisten the top, and after a few days, under the rags you can collect the first “harvest”, which will be enough for fishing.

Where to dig worms for fishing

Muckworm

Earthworm.

Subleaf.

Crawling out.

Green worm.

Water underleaf.

Zheleznyak.

In general, most worms love moisture and coolness, so you need to look for them in places that meet these conditions. It is easier to dig up worms in summer and spring, but more difficult in late autumn and winter. Therefore, if it was not possible to prepare worms for cold times, then you need to go to compost or manure heaps and dig in the depths. The ground there is moist and warm, which makes it an excellent wintering place for the worm.

How to get a crawl

The crawler is considered the largest worm used as bait in fishing. Its length can reach 30 cm, thickness – 9 mm. The body of the worm is covered with mucus, which protects it from drying out and promotes rapid movement. Hunting for a crawl has its own characteristics. In order to find this worm, you need to walk along park or garden paths. If you notice piles of earth while walking, carefully move them. Round holes plugged with leaves will indicate the home of the worms. It is useless to dig the crawl; its passages run very deep. Come to this place when it gets dark. Shine a flashlight on the area adjacent to the hole. The crawlers, as a rule, lie near the entrance to the burrow, with the tail part of the body lowered into it. Carefully approach the “prey”, grab it with three fingers and pull the worm out of the hole. The crawler is an ideal bait for catching large fish.

How often to water worms

The worm pit should be watered generously. Excess moisture will drain through the drainage holes. Watering is done at every feeding. If the room temperature is high, you should water more often.

You can check the quality of soil moisture in a simple way - squeeze a handful of the top layer in your fist. If water comes through your fingers, there is enough moisture.

The water should be settled (at least 3 days), at room temperature.

Breeding worms is a simple process. Following simple rules will allow you to avoid typical beginner mistakes and get a truly working home vermifarm.

Worms - animal bait

All baits can be divided into two groups: animal and plant. Animals include worms, insects, grubs and other animal baits. Let's talk in more detail about worms and their use in fishing. There are certain types of worms:

Earthworms are the most common bait for fishing. When using earthworms, you need to take into account, approximately, what kind of fish you are going to catch, in what body of water, and the size of the hook. The most common mistake anglers make when using earthworms is using a thin, small worm on a large hook. In this case, the bait is not natural and does not attract fish to this bait. Fish bite best on an earthworm that lives near this particular body of water, so it is preferable to collect worms from the bank of the river where you want to fish.

Dung worm is the best bait for fishing. These worms are found in manure (but not dry manure), in half-rotten plant debris, rotting straw, in greenhouses, greenhouses and other digested organic waste. They are stored in wooden boxes, in cans, which are filled with the medium in which dung worms previously lived.

When fishing, a dung worm must be baited from the head, thick end, and then the hook is inserted a second time into the body of the worm closer to the tail. This arrangement of the worm on the hook preserves the natural appearance of the worm and attracts prey to the bait. When catching large fish, three or four dung worms are taken on the hook at once. The hook pierces all baits through the middle of the body. If the bait is made to catch small fish, then you can even take a piece of a worm. Near a pond, it is advisable to keep the worms in a dark place, to protect them from overheating and drying out of the substrate.

Recently, many fishing stores have been offering California worms for fishing. This is essentially a type of the same dung worm called the “Red California worm.” These worms are specially bred for agricultural needs. In the process of life, the red Californian worm produces vermicompost, which is valued as a fertilizer. And the red Californian worm is valued by fishermen as an excellent bait. It is slightly larger than a regular dung worm and has a pungent odor that attracts fish. Excellent for fishing for large fish, and when catching small fish you can attach part of the worm. California worm is usually sold in Styrofoam containers. This is very convenient when transporting over long distances and allows the worm to stay alive longer.

A crawler is a very large worm. Large fish usually bite on the crawl. This worm is located at great depths of the earth. It usually comes to the surface when it rains and warm weather. When crawling to the surface, they make small burrows through which they are found. Crawlers can be found when the soil is moist and they come to the surface at night. You need to find them quietly, silently, because they do not come out of their burrows completely and hide at the slightest rustle. Crawlings are stored in canvas bags filled with moistened soil.

Long-term storage in a tightly closed container leads to the death of the worms due to lack of air and metal oxidation. Worms should be stored in wooden boxes or canvas bags. A little soil with humus is poured into the box and worms are placed on top. The soil in the box in which the worms live should be watered with meat broth. This way, the worms will live quietly in the box and await their fate.

Species and habitats

First, let's break down the myths about representatives of the Vermes clan. The main myth: there are dung worms, earthworms, red worms, gray worms, white worms, mud worms, and then there are earthworms. Wrong. All of the above (in fact, there are more of them) are the conventional names of species that are combined into one family - Lumbricidae. That's what they call earthworms. They are included in the Type Annelata, the order of higher oligochaetes (oligochaetes) - these are the representatives that are used for fishing.

1 – tetrahedral, 2 – foul-smelling, 3 – allopophora, 4 – reddish, and 5 – crawling.

Almost every species lives in a specific environment, and it may suit the preferences of individual fish. We will give the names conditional.

Dung

To search for this representative, you should go to places that resemble a village or village. We need to find the manure heaps that the local population creates when cleaning out cowsheds. Here you will find two types of worms living in such heaps:

rain stinking;
red dung;
California red.

The California worm was specifically bred with the desired result in mind. It multiplies very quickly, so you can even stumble upon such clusters

The second myth: fetid means it smells bad - the fish won’t bite. Wrong judgment, because fish are afraid of an unnatural, hostile smell. And such ringed representatives have long been familiar to them. A strong smell, on the contrary, has a good effect on attracting the inhabitants of reservoirs, so rural fishermen almost always fish with a foul-smelling worm.

Californian is the result of artificial crossing. These animals were specially bred in the USA for agriculture, so that they could withstand all conditions and do the main work - loosening and enriching the soil on plantations, fields, and greenhouses. Since then, it lives almost everywhere, and this worm is also widespread in our country. You may have encountered worms in manure that have a reddish front and a paler back.

These three species live in the ground, but they wait for people to dump manure before they infest the pile. The red dung is completely colored to match. These same species are also found in normal environments, but manure is their main delicacy.

Crawling out

The most common worm in any area where there are trees, soil, grass and bushes. It was the crawl that gave rise to the spread of the myth about earthworms. The name speaks for itself - it crawls out when it rains. They can also be found by digging shallowly near the roots of bushes and trees or by tearing off turf. By the way, crawls can reach 30 or even 40 centimeters!

Storage conditions

How and where to store worms for fishing at home? It is necessary to create an environment for them that is as close as possible to the natural one for a particular variety of invertebrates, and take care of feeding them.

To ensure that the storage of worms for fishing lasts as long as possible, they are fed with crushed eggshells or chalk at least once every 2 weeks. The calcium contained in these foods contributes to their longevity

It is very important that the moisture level of the soil in which the wards are located is not below 70%. In places where underground inhabitants live, it is important to comply with sanitary standards

To do this, dead individuals are regularly removed, taking into account that only in normal environmental conditions will invertebrates be able to live and even reproduce. If the “stock” increases, you need to transplant some of the worms into another container or release them in the park to increase the living space of the rest of the bait.

Worms need oxygen, so you should frequently loosen the soil in the area where they are located. At the same time, it should not be over-moistened so that air circulation is normal.

In any case, you need to store worms for fishing in a cool place. Therefore, in a country house the cellar is considered the best place for them.

Storing worms in a pit

In warm weather, it is most convenient to store worms in a hole. If there is a cellar or basement, a recess is dug in it, at least 50 cm in depth and up to 60 cm in diameter. After this, the recess is covered with a mesh with very small cells (a mosquito net will do). Then the substrate is poured into the hole in the amount necessary for about 200 worms to live, and they are settled in a new habitat.

In such conditions, storing worms for fishing in the summer will be as convenient as possible. But in dry weather, the substrate will have to be moistened frequently so that the bait does not die. Even in winter, life in the cellar will be comfortable for worms, since the earth in it does not freeze.

Proper storage conditions for worms allow them to remain viable for quite a long time, if a normal level of soil moisture is provided and they are constantly fed.

How to keep worms in a box

You can store worms for fishing in winter for a long time in a wooden box. Such containers can be purchased in a store, or you can make them yourself

It is very important that the container does not close tightly and has dimensions corresponding to the number of inhabitants

The walls and bottom of the box are lined with gauze and sprayed with water. Then soft soil mixed with rotten leaves or similar decaying organic matter is poured into the container and populated with inhabitants.

Crawlers should be stored in a mixture of soil and grass substrate, and for dung beetles, humus and organic animal waste are added to the ground.

You need to feed your pets once a week, and a constant level of substrate moisture is required.

A breeding ground for worms can be:

banana peel;
dried tea leaves;
soaked paper (except newspaper);
peeling vegetables;
leftover stale cottage cheese.

Storage in an apartment

The conditions in which worms should be stored for fishing at home should not be too different from those at the countryside. But in this case, you will need to prepare a plastic or enamel container with a lid for them. It is also possible to use boxes, buckets, and pots that are definitely not planned to be used on the farm.

The selected container is filled with a moistened soil substrate with the addition of peat, rotted leaves or hay, after which the worms are introduced into it. The soil will need to be moistened regularly, and its inhabitants will need constant feeding.

But you shouldn’t give the bait the opportunity to spread throughout the apartment either, so they find a compromise solution. Many small holes are made in the plastic cover for air access. You can also cover the container with a rag (gauze) or other similar material.

The bait should be stored in the dampest place in the apartment with a low temperature. Storing worms in the refrigerator is also possible, as long as it doesn't bother the rest of the family.

In cool weather conditions, it is possible to store worms on the balcony or pantry.

It is possible to organize a normal environment for worms to live in an improvised terrarium, for which an old aquarium is well suited. Soil mixed with peat is poured into the container and the inhabitants are released. The larger the volume of the home, the longer its inhabitants will live.

You can store the bait in a canvas bag filled with damp soil substrate, which was taken directly from the place where the worms were dug up. It is placed in the lower part of the refrigerator and the condition of the pets is periodically checked, while moistening the soil.

Where to find a worm for fishing

Well, we figured out how to put a worm on a hook, all that remains is to find out where to get this worm. There are several answers - buy, dig, collect. It’s not clear, I agree, I’ll explain everything further.

Some fishermen do not even suspect that a worm for fishing can be bought at any fishing store. This is very convenient, because in the city it is very difficult to get this universal bait, which can be used to catch almost any fish. Moreover, any worms are sold there, from the most unusual to the familiar dung and crawling worms. What worms are suitable for us for fishing? Let's talk about two of my favorite, and therefore most effective, worms:

muckworm;
crawl out.

These worms simply have some incredible magnetism for fish. Yes, there are also earthworms and earthworms, but only dung worms and earthworms are recommended by me. Believe me, these two types of worms are ideal for fishing and if you don’t bite on them, then fishing with other types will be unsuccessful in advance.

So, a dung worm can be dug up, and a crawling worm can be collected. Or, of course, buy it. I will tell you where and how to collect crawling and dig dung worms.

Where to dig for dung worms

Well, even from the name it’s clear that they dig for dung worms in manure. But there are no less dung worms in garbage pits. Yes, if you live in a city, it is not easy to find such places. It’s worth looking in villages and private houses.

If you go fishing in the countryside, then there you will definitely find where to dig up a dozen or two worms for fishing. Look for garbage pits or piles of manure near houses and yards. Well, as a last resort, ask local residents for access to a garbage pit.

If you have your own place where you dig for worms, treat it carefully. After digging up manure or soil from a garbage pit, be sure to return everything back to the hole. If you throw manure in different directions, the worms will disappear very quickly and it will become more difficult for you to get them. Collect them in a jar, preferably glass or metal (tin cans). When fishing, store in the shade, leaving holes for fresh air.

If the worms remain after fishing and are still alive, it is advisable to return them back to the manure or garbage pit. Let them multiply and produce new worms, with the help of which you can go on your next fishing trips.

How to collect crawlies

A crawler is a thick, long worm that many people confuse with an earthworm because it crawls to the surface of the earth after rain. It will not be possible to dig up a crawl, since their burrows lead very deep underground and at the slightest noise they dive into them and the only way to get them out of there is with an excavator. How to collect them?

In the evening, especially on days when it has rained or for several days after rain, when the ground is still wet, crawlers appear from their burrows. Night is the best time to catch them.

The whole difficulty lies in the fact that crawlers always leave their tail in the hole and, in case of danger, disappear into it in half a second. You need to sneak up on them very carefully. Remember, the crawl does not see you, it only feels. Approach slowly to the crawl you notice, crouch down, slowly bring your hand as close to it as possible and grab it.

A very important point - you need to grab as close to his hole as possible, this way you increase your chances of success. Once you grab the crawler, don’t rush to pull it, as you risk tearing it. Grab it and pull it lightly. If it doesn’t stretch, you should just wait until the worm weakens.

Regarding the flashlights. I have come across a lot of information that to hunt crawlers you need to use only infrared or ultraviolet flashlights. Nothing like this. With the same success, you can use a regular white flashlight or a diode flashlight from your phone. The main thing is to learn to move very quietly.

The most optimal place for collecting crawlings is flower beds and front gardens. In such places there is a minimum of grass, and they are usually watered, which contributes to the evening accumulation of crawlers on the surface of the ground. The crawler can also be found right on the sidewalk, crawling out of its cracks, near the foundations of houses and in the grass. But in the grass it is very difficult to detect and capture a crawler and rarely does hunting for a worm in the grass end in success.

If the weather is dry, there hasn’t been any rain for a long time and the crawlies don’t come out, you can simply pour a few buckets of water on a dry piece of land during the day or evening, and come at night to collect the crawlies.

Introducing the crawl

Well, in the end I wanted to tell you the story of how I met the crawler and why, every time I go fishing, I still try to take this bait with me.

It was in my distant childhood, I don’t even remember how old I was, maybe 10 years old. I went to the village and, naturally, the first thing I did was go fishing. It rained all night, but it didn't bother me. First I ran to the manure heap, dug up worms, put them in a mayonnaise jar, and made holes for air in the lid. Then he began to collect fishing line, hooks, and weights in his backpack. I checked my bamboo fishing rod, which I always used to fish in the village. Everything seems to be in order and you can go in search of fish.

Having almost reached my destination - a small bet at the bottom of the village, I remembered that I had forgotten the mayonnaise jar with worms at home on the porch. My disappointment knew no bounds. But I didn't want to return home. And then a huge worm caught my eye, which crawled out right in the middle of the village road. Well, I thought, at least it’s something. I caught this worm and moved on.

My favorite place at this bet was on the other bank, which could be reached either by going around the dam on the left, or through a small forest that grew along the stream flowing into the bet on the right. But having only one huge worm as bait, I decided to sit on a completely unpromising, as it seemed to me then, place on this shore.

On my small hook, only a centimeter from the caught worm fit, I bait it. I cast and wait for a bite. There are no bites for a long time. I lie, sit, run after geese and do other children's activities. Tired, I decided to sit down and watch the float. Bite!!! I make a sweep and... The hook. Although wait, no, it starts to pull up a little, the “hook” vibrated, moved and began to pull the fishing rod out of my hands! Carp! After 10 minutes of fighting this monster, I was finally able to pull it to shore. Considering the small, cheap hook and thin line, this is truly an achievement. Reading all sorts of fishing books helped, and in particular an article about not forcing things.

But the shore was a small cliff, literally 10-15 centimeters. I, having pulled the fish to the shore-cliff, already imagining how I would come home with this catch and amaze everyone, put the fishing rod on the shore and go to take the fish with my bare hands. Well, naturally, before I even had time to put the fishing rod on the ground, at the slightest relaxation of the fishing line, the carp makes a fatal jerk and with the sound of “bzdyn” goes into its native element.

My hands were shaking for a long time, I was very upset and I completely lost the desire to continue fishing. The carp weighed at least 3 kg. Before that, I caught fish up to 300 grams maximum. Since then, the crawler has been my favorite bait. Although the first experience was unsuccessful.

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Muckworm

This is an excellent treat for many fish. It lives in places where manure and organic matter accumulate, but is not found in dry or very damp areas. Sometimes dung worms appear in abandoned greenhouses. It can be red-brown or red-yellow in color and has transverse stripes. Small in size and very mobile. Found in colonies. It is better to dig with a pitchfork so as not to damage the worm.

It should be stored in closed boxes or jars to prevent the worms from spreading. Living in garbage and humus, the dung worm has a specific smell. Experienced fishermen recommend keeping freshly dug worms in a bowl with moss or clay flavored with cake.

When overheated, dung worms quickly die. To keep them mobile longer, add a little used tea leaves to a jar of soil and mix. You can cut red beets and mix them with soil. In this way, you can maintain the mobility of the worms for another day.

How to dig up a dung worm

The shortest and thinnest of all worms suitable for fishing is the dung beetle. This type of bait is great for catching white bream, roach and other small carp fish. It is easy to distinguish the dung beetle from other worms - its body is colored reddish-yellow, and when you squeeze the worm with your fingers, a yellow liquid with a sharp and very specific odor is released. You can find dung beetles in rotting manure and the greasy soil of abandoned greenhouses. This worm is not found in dry and overly moistened manure.