Worm Bin for Bait?

[InquiringMind]

I fished only a few times as a kid and I'm looking to start next spring.

I already have a worm bin going for compost, but I'm wondering if I can use it to grow my own bait. Has anyone had any experience doing this? If so, do red wrigglers make for good bait or do I need to start a second bin with night crawlers?

[fritz_monroe]

I don't do a lot of fishing, but I know I've seen red wigglers sold in those bait vending machines.

[d3nni5]

Wiggles are a good trout bait.   I like them for any pan fish.  Crawlers are good for the above and bigger fish like walleyes,  large mouth and cat.   I will check a worm at just about anything.   Grow them and give it a try.

[SnoHam13]

ayup , keeping a bait bin is a great idea
the bi product is awesome for the indoor plants
and ya just never know wen the time to go fishing will hit you

SnoHam13

[InquiringMind]

Sweet, I'll just keep on keepin' on with the red wrigglers. It would be easy enough to buy some night crawlers and set up a second bin. Might as well have the variety and second option.

[christphrmurray]

Nightcrawler's might not compost as fast as red Wiggler's do but should be OK that's how people raise them for the fishing store grow them.

[mxitman]

I've got the red wigglers, I use a 30 gallon rubbermaid type tote... been going for 5 years now, I have more worms than I know what do with. I keep the lid propped up during the summer and many of the worms try to escape only to realize they are in the middle of the chicken run I use them all the time for trout fishing. They are a bit smaller and tougher to hook but they sure wiggle allot. I give them to the neighbors kids too who go fishing all the time.

[InquiringMind]

I've got the red wigglers, I use a 30 gallon rubbermaid type tote... been going for 5 years now, I have more worms than I know what do with.

Have you tried packaging and selling them? I'm stuck in the city for a little while yet, but once I have land, I'm thinking of running a farm stand. Could be a market.

I keep the lid propped up during the summer and many of the worms try to escape only to realize they are in the middle of the chicken run

You might want to prop it open even more or put it in the shade. We've had a bin going for a couple of years, and the only times they've tried to escape are (1) too hot, (2) too little ventilation, or (3) too wet (top came off in a rain storm once). Then again, if yours has been going strong for 5 years, this is probably a moot point.

[spud]

I used to use a thousand or more night crawlers per season and they were kept in a frig just for it. They liked shallow bedding about three inch deep and cool temps about 50 degrees. Can't really raise those cause they take a very long time to reach maturity. Never tried keeping them in compost thou, don't know if it would work.  There are some good books out their on it.  They were picked in spring after heavy rain and could not be injured or they would die and ruin bedding and start a bad circle of stinky death.

Red wigglers are very easy, flow thru bins are nice, I have a fifty gallon drum in basement along with a rectangle bin for them too. They are great for panfish and trout.

[katunk]

Mealy worms are good bait too, plus chickens love 'em as treats. Here's a how to link:

http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/how-to-raise-mealworms

I got my mealy worms at pet smart (apparently lizards and snakes love 'em too)

Regards

[Bosham]

Mealy worms are good bait too, plus chickens love 'em as treats. Here's a how to link:

http://www.backyardchickens.com/lastcas/how-to-raise-mealworms

I got my mealy worms at pet smart (apparently lizards and snakes love 'em too)

Regards

I've caught loads of Aussie Bass with them before and Yellow Belly (usually with the worm suspended under a float OR tossed out with a light trace & sinker).

I've also caught Carp on them and Bream and Flathead and Catfish (eel & fork tail) and Eels and tortoises; accidental or course.

And a mate of mine loves using them on Trout in the streams near Ebor.

So they do work. But I haven't really tried them on whiting yet. When using earthworms I tend to prefer the chunky ones that you dig out of the garden as opposed to the compost variety.