[epic]

I know there was a minnow post about keeping minnows alive, I thought a post about keeping other baits alive would be good. Today my girlfriend found a container of worms in the fridge and most of them were dead and a little (according to her alot) stinky. Thus I decided I'd make this post as I'd like to start buying bait in bulk to save a little bit of money and wondered if anyone raised worms or other baits. Here are some of my techniques:
The minnows post is here:http://www.coloradofisherman.com/forum/index.php?topic=49.0
Worms: Usually I have a bait box that I put worms in that has bedding and I keep them in the bottom of the fridge (soon I'll buy a small fridge for the garage but ubntil then she'll have to put up with it). Also if I break off pieces of worms I try to keep them out of the box when it goes back into storage. It seems to me when one or two worms die the rest follow fast.
Crawdads: I have a fish tank with an aerator and rocky bottom with a bunch of larger rocks for them to chill in and they seem to stay alive until its time to go fishing.
Also taking a cooler fishing with me to keep the bait in at the lake/river seems to help since the sun can get pretty hot occasionally.

 

[koni]

I have posted before about having my own worm farm. I broke the bottom glass out of a 20 gallon fish tank, attached it to a piece of board, put down a layer of window screen in the bottom of it, then filled it with layers of worm bedding and flat cardboard. I still have worms alive from last year and they live in the cold basement, i toss them some coffee grounds and vegetable scraps once in a while and they are doing great. I do have to make sure the soil doesn't go too dry or stays too wet, which is why i put the screen in the bottom of the tank, for drainage. They are doing great. I did the same thing last year that you do with crawdads, kept them in a fish tank with rocks and an aerator...cleaned the water ever two to 3 days and they stayed alive. They are amazing little creatures.

 

[NeWcS]

Man-o-Man. Ever leave your worms in your car by accedent in the summer. Get in your car and man-o-man. Can you say dead body!!!!


-Jay

 

[Jason in Aurora]

I hear that Jay! I "lost" a container in a little crevace of the trunk once. Couldn't figure out for the life of me what the stench was. For about a week I'd get in the car after it sat in the parking lot at 90+ degrees all day and have to open the windows/ doors and wait 5+ minutes before I could stand to get in. Lesson learned.

 

[Nawanda]

   Wally World has these neat  Nylon Coolers,  you know,  for regular lunches & drings.  They've a nice white plastic liner.  I use the permanent "blue ice" things on the bottom. 

   Put in some newspaper and dampen to appropriate level.  It is best to use DISTILLED WATER,  as  chlorine is not good for worms/minnows. 

   Dump in the Nightcrawlers,   and cover again with some damp/wet newspaper.  Don't over-do the water.

     If you cover this with a jacket or other cloth during the hot sunny days,  it will really keep your  worms fresh.  (If you get a bright red one... it will help remind you to take it out of the car and dump in the garden etc.   The whole outfit is basically permanent.

PS: I bought my first cooler and froze the blue ice about....thirty years ago. I've never had to re-freeze it, and it still is keeping the worms cold. Honest. I wouldn't stretch the facts just to impress anyone.

 

[hunterfishercamper]

I used to raise meal worms. I put them in some oatmeal with about a 1/4" slice of potato. They'd live forever. Eventually they turn into these maggot colored things and then into beetles. Pick off the dead beetles and change the oatmeal everyonce in a while adn you'll have no problem. The beetles arent great for fishing (or atleast that i have found) but the maggot things are awesome for ice fishing for rainbows. I also raise my worms. I dump them into the garden and bury them with dirt. The night before i go fishing i water teh yard and catch them. Works good and you dont have to do any work. Except water.

 

[Oats]

Small bait fish can't handle huge temperature changes. I haven't found a great way to solve this problem but if anyone else has let me know.

 

[koni]

I use regular tap water on my worm farm...you just have to fill up a jug of it and let it sit for 24 hrs before using it.

 

[Kadiya]

you guys just throw leeches in the tank? Can you keep the minnows in there with them too? I thought that leeches attach to any animal and suck it's blood, so wouldn't they hurt other fresh water fish in the tank?

Thanks!

 

[Guest]

BAIT leeches do not suck blood.

They eat decaying fish and dead animal matter, mostly.


I wonder...regarding MINNOWS..did anyone ever hear of coving an aquarium in foil or black film and using only a black light?

That is how my friend who is a guide at Beaver Lake, Arkansas keeps his bait healthy...he states that the minnows and ESPECIALLY shad, are very highstrung, and die mroe from STRESS than anything...

Careful though...one of his teenage son's friends saw the setup in the garage and reported him to the D.A.R.E. cop at school, and they came and searched his garage with a warrant...luckily keeping your minnows fresh is not agianst the law.

 

[James]

Jay, I've had the worm/car thing happen. I swore it would never happen again...but it did.     Epic, I used to have to hide the worms in the fridge. I'd empty a 12 pack except for the last 3 cans, put the worms in, and then fill it w/ the other cans.    She lets me have a spot on the bottom shelf now though.    Does anyone use Hellgrammites for bait? If so, any secrets? There's no way I'm going to be allowed to keep them in the house!

 

[1eyered]

I wonder...regarding MINNOWS..did anyone ever hear of coving an aquarium in foil or black film and using only a black light?

I've covered aquariums in foil and used special lights before. Hehehe... J/K.. Ok, maybe not. Heheheehe.

 

[epic]

I wonder...regarding MINNOWS..did anyone ever hear of coving an aquarium in foil or black film and using only a black light?

I've covered aquariums in foil and used special lights before. Hehehe... J/K.. Ok, maybe not. Heheheehe.

..... Insert comment about Bob Marley here.....

 

[James]

It explains the red eye.  8) JK. Hey 1eyered, where did you get the hair jigs? I just ordered some from BPS, but they're on back-order.    I've looked @ Wal-Mart, and Sportsman's, but they didn't have anything decent. 

 

[1eyered]

It explains the red eye.  8) JK. Hey 1eyered, where did you get the hair jigs? I just ordered some from BPS, but they're on back-order.    I've looked @ Wal-Mart, and Sportsman's, but they didn't have anything decent. 

My good friend.....

I knew this question would pop up.

The only place I know where you'll find a good variety hair jigs and micro marabou jigs is online. The ones I got were saved from the Bonny marina from previous trips from previous years. They're basically marabou crappie jigs, but ultra small. I can barely even cast them without a bubble or a weighted bobber. Quite pricey at Bonny marina though, of course. About 95 cents a piece. I've seen some that came close (quality-wise) at Sportsman's but the color selection wasn't too great when it comes to variety. The red bodied, yellow tailed and yellow jig headed ones I've got were from Sportsman's though. About fifty cents a piece. Went there the other day and all they have left were big huge ones, that I find no use for. Well, maybe a place like Pueblo or something.

 

[Zman]

..... Insert comment about Bob Marley here.....

I've never eaten minnow brownies...

 

[dante]

...and they don't stay lit, either!

 

[Guest]

"I've covered aquariums in foil and used special lights before. Hehehe... J/K.. Ok, maybe not. Heheheehe."

Somehow I had a premonition you might respond to that one !

 

[Kadiya]

BAIT leeches do not suck blood.

They eat decaying fish and dead animal matter, mostly.

Oh... ok then why do they try to suck on your finger (bf's finger I should say, no way I'm touching them, I prefer worms and minnows) when you reach in and grab 'em?

 

[Zman]

They use the sucker to anchor on rocks or whatever they are on...their head (mouth) is the other end...