Worms are cheap and versatile fishing bait used to catch fish since ancient times. Over time, fishermen started using plastic bait and even electronic lures to catch fish, but many anglers still use live worms to catch fish. If you haven’t used live bait before, you’re probably wondering where I can buy worms for fishing.
Live fishing worms are commonly used as bait and are readily available. You can buy fishing worms at your local fishing store or order fishing worms online. Another way to purchase worms is to find someone who grows worms and has a worm farm to purchase live fishing bait straight from the source.
Fishing worms are relatively easy to find, and they are generally reasonably priced. Read on to learn which worms are best for fishing and how to grow bait worms at home.
Where Can I Find Worms for Fishing?
Live worms for fishing are commonly used as bait and are readily available throughout the year. If you haven’t used live bait before, you’re probably wondering where to buy worms for fishing and which type of worms is best.
Here’s where you can find live fishing worms for your next fishing trip:
Fishing Store
No matter where you live, your local fish store should sell some type of fishing bait worms. Live worms have been used as fish bait long before plastic and electronic lures.
However, the biggest problem is that many stores don’t sell different species of live worms, and your local store may not have the ones you need. If that’s the case, try another local fishing store, or check the fishing stores in the nearby town.
Online
Another way you can buy worms for bait fishing is to order them online. The biggest issue with getting your bait worms online is that they may end up dead before being delivered to your home.
If you don’t spend extra money on a priority delivery, chances are that the worms will die during the transport, meaning you won’t have live or fresh bait.
Another potential problem is that most countries have strict import regulations for live animals. The best way to avoid potential issues is to only order live worms from your country.
Grow Your Own
Growing compost worms at home will ensure that you always have a fresh supply at hand. The great thing about growing worms for fishing is that they can get rid of food leftovers.
By eating your kitchen scraps, bait fishing worms will get rid of household trash odor and help you keep your home clean. Setting up a worm bin is easy and will offer a steady supply of fresh worms for every fishing trip.
What Types of Worms Are Used in Fishing?
There are many different types of worms, some of which are better for catching fish than others. The type of fresh live bait worm you choose will determine whether you’ll have a productive fishing trip or go home empty-handed.
The best worms for bait fishing are:
Canadian Nightcrawler
Canadian nightcrawler (Lumbricus Terrestris) may be the most commonly sold live fish bait in the world. Canadian nightcrawlers are larger than European nightcrawlers and red wiggler worms.
These worms are farmed in Canada and then shipped to bait stores across the United States. Canadian nightcrawlers aren’t easy to raise in captivity. If you decide to use these worms as bait, you’ll have to purchase them online or from a fishing store.
Canadian nightcrawlers are sensitive to temperature changes and high temperatures, and they need to be refrigerated. Keeping these worms cool is possible for a one-day fishing trip, but it can prove challenging on longer trips.
Nightcrawlers appear very docile, when kept in unsuitable conditions, and won’t wiggle or move on the hook. A sick-looking worm doesn’t look attractive to fish and makes poor bait.
European Nightcrawler
The European nightcrawler (Eisenia Hortensis) is an excellent fishing worm that is easy to raise in a controlled environment. European nightcrawlers grow as thick as Canadian nightcrawlers but aren’t as long. However, some can grow 8 to 9 inches long and be as thick as a pencil.
These fishing worms can survive temperature changes and don’t need special refrigerated storage. European nightcrawlers last very long on the hook and can be used for freshwater and saltwater fishing.
Because European nightcrawlers can grow very large, you can choose between a smaller and larger specimen, depending on the type of fish you want to catch. Either way, you’d be impressed with how quickly these worms get fish to bite.
Besides being a great fishing worm, the European nightcrawler is an excellent compost worm. These worms are easy to raise at home but are a little more sensitive to acidic conditions and vibration than other types of worms.
Red Wiggler
Red wiggler worms, also called red worms or tiger worms, are one of the most commonly used fishing worms. There are two types of red wiggler worms – Eisenia fetida and Eisenia Andrei.
These two types of worms are so similar that they can only be distinguished with scientific analysis. While Eisenia Fetida is the more common type, there’s no real way for you to determine which type of red wiggler worm you have.
The biggest problem with fishing with Eisenia Fetida red worms is that they have the ability to release pungent liquid that discourages fish from biting.
As their name suggests, red wigglers are very active on the hook, making them attractive to different types of fish. These worms are very resistant, and their ability to withstand temperature changes allows them to survive in both cold and warm conditions.
Red wigglers are an excellent choice for multi-day fishing trips as they will remain active even if you don’t have an appropriate place to store them. Avoid storing red wiggler worms in direct sunlight, and they will stay alive for a long time.
How to Grow Worms for Fishing
Raising fishing worms at home is easy. Besides ensuring a steady supply of fresh worms for fishing, you’ll also have an eco-friendly way to get rid of food leftovers.
Composting worms are easy to set up and maintain – you only need a worm bin and around 250 worms in good health to start. Choose European nightcrawlers, as they are easiest to raise, and make excellent fish bait.
When it comes to setting up a worm bin, you can purchase one or make it yourself. For raising worms, use a plastic bin with small holes for air and drainage. The bin must have a lid because worms prefer living in dark and moist conditions.
Put the bedding inside the bin and place the worms on top. They’ll dig in and stay buried most of the time. Feed the worms three to four times a week using kitchen scraps like potato peels, pieces of carrots, or vegetable rinds.
With time, your worm bin will start to fill up with a dark substance that looks like dirt but is, in fact, worm poop. Remove worm castings from the bin two to four times a year and use them as a fertilizer for plants.
How to Store Live Worms
Different types of fishing worms have different storage requirements. While some worms, like Canadian nightcrawlers, need to be refrigerated, others can withstand a wide temperature range.
Using a Styrofoam box is ideal for storing worms on fishing trips. Styrofoam has insulating properties and can maintain temperature for quite some time. If the worms you’re using need to be refrigerated, store them in a Styrofoam cooler.
Once you reach your fishing spot, keep the storage box away from direct sunlight, and don’t keep it open for too long. If the living conditions aren’t to their liking, the worms won’t be as active as before. And if the worms don’t wiggle, they won’t be the best bait for fish.
Conclusion
Live worms are a popular and effective bait used for catching a variety of fish species. Worms come in many different sizes and colors, and some are better as fishing baits than others.
The most commonly used types of fishing worms are European nightcrawlers, Canadian nightcrawlers, and red wigglers. As live baits, each of these worms has advantages and disadvantages.
The great thing about using worms as bait is that they are relatively cheap and readily available. Check out your local fishing store to see what types of worms they sell. If you decide to order worm baits online, pay for a priority delivery or risk receiving dead or sick-looking worms.