James RickardKeeping and raising worms
July 21st 2011 02:09
If worms are you bait of choice, it seems like it's nearly impossible to find any before you go fishing unless you go to a bait shop. On the other hand, it's not that difficult to grow your own and have them all season.
A few tricks of the trade are common to all worms and one of the most obvious is the soil. You don't want the dirt to be too dry but, you don't want it too moist either. If you notice your worms on top of the soil, it may be too wet. A good rule of thumb is to grab a handful of soil and make a fist. If the soil clumps, you're probably okay or, at least, on the right track. Each colony of worms will be different so, some trial and error will probably be in order. But, remember, you don't want to drown your worms.
Feeding your worms is probably the easiest part of this task. For short term storage, you don't have to worry about food at all. On the other hand, if you're going to be storing worms for more than a week, you're going to have to feed them.
Canadian Night Crawlers can go for as long as six months without feeding under the right conditions. That means fresh dirt and the proper moisture. Canadians derive nutrients from the soil they consume and don't require feeding. However, as time goes by more and more waste matter accumulates in the soil and there is less for them to consume. The downside to these giants is that they are not very tolerant of temperatures of 70 degrees Fahrenheit. that's why you see them stored in refrigerators at bait shops.
African or European Night Crawlers, more tolerant of high temperatures. feed on grasses, large clover leaves, or lettuce leaves. Despite what you may hear, this menu is also good for Canadians. If you choose to serve lettuce, remember to remove any chemical residue by washing. Remember, many municipalities add chlorine or other chemicals to their water supply and these can harm or kill your night crawlers. Rain or well water is always a good bet as is distilled water but you have to spend a little money if you choose distilled.
Another important piece of advice is to use some sort of non-organic plate for your worm food, Some people say you can just throw the food into the worms and forget it. That is true for the most part but organic matter decaying in the soil can get pretty rank in warm weather. AND it's a breeding ground for diseases that can kill your worms!
Canadian Night Crawlers can go for as long as six months without feeding under the right conditions. That means fresh dirt and the proper moisture. Canadians derive nutrients from the soil they consume and don't require feeding. However, as time goes by more and more waste matter accumulates in the soil and there is less for them to consume. The downside to these giants is that they are not very tolerant of temperatures of 70 degrees Fahrenheit. that's why you see them stored in refrigerators at bait shops.
African or European Night Crawlers, more tolerant of high temperatures. feed on grasses, large clover leaves, or lettuce leaves. Despite what you may hear, this menu is also good for Canadians. If you choose to serve lettuce, remember to remove any chemical residue by washing. Remember, many municipalities add chlorine or other chemicals to their water supply and these can harm or kill your night crawlers. Rain or well water is always a good bet as is distilled water but you have to spend a little money if you choose distilled.
Another important piece of advice is to use some sort of non-organic plate for your worm food, Some people say you can just throw the food into the worms and forget it. That is true for the most part but organic matter decaying in the soil can get pretty rank in warm weather. AND it's a breeding ground for diseases that can kill your worms!
So you're interested but don't know how to store your worms? Commercial worm bedding is available but that can get expensive. Good old fashioned dirt is your best bet. Try to use soil from rural areas because it will probably contain less chemicals such as weed and insect killers and try to get dirt away from roads because various chemicals and oils can leech into the soil from the road. Peet moss is very popular and the "hair" from coconut shells is growing in popularity. If you get a little too much water in your soil you can add a little saw dust but, make sure the saw dust comes from untreated lumber.
So, is raising your own worms worth it? Let see--you'll always have fish bait, people with birds or lizards will suddenly become your friend, and if you give up on your worms, they make a great natural fertilizer.
Remember to take the hooks outta yer pocket before ya sit down!
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