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Nightcrawler questions
#11029610
08/09/15 12:04 AM
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Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,286
SlowDown
OP
Extreme Angler
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OP
Extreme Angler
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,286 |
When a regular container of 18 or 24 nightcrawlers are kept in the frig., how long will they last?
If kept for several weeks, do I need to feed them some cornmeal to keep them healthy and fat. add water, or do anything?
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Re: Nightcrawler questions
[Re: SlowDown]
#11029796
08/09/15 01:49 AM
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 75,736
banker-always fishing
Pumpkin Head
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Pumpkin Head
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 75,736 |
I have had em in the refrigerator for three to four weeks numerous times over the years and never had any problems. I also never fed em. On the average though a carton of worms last me a day. I usually go through five cartons a week.
IGFA World Record Rio Grande Cichlid. Lake Dunlap. John 3:16 Sinner's Prayer. God forgive me a sinner. I accept Jesus Christ as my Savior !
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Re: Nightcrawler questions
[Re: SlowDown]
#11029871
08/09/15 02:32 AM
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Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,286
SlowDown
OP
Extreme Angler
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OP
Extreme Angler
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,286 |
Thanks for the reply Banker. Going through five cartons a week, you definitely don't have to be concerned about how long they will last. Recently, I've been cutting night crawlers into pieces before I leave the house and keeping them in a little corn meal, like we discussed in another thread. I try to take no more than I'll use, don't want any left over. I take a carton of super worms along in case I run out. The super worms stay alive and I can take them back home and keep them indefinitely as far as I know. Doing it this way, a carton will normally last several weeks since I fish for sunfish no more than one or two times a week.
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Re: Nightcrawler questions
[Re: SlowDown]
#11029915
08/09/15 03:02 AM
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 75,736
banker-always fishing
Pumpkin Head
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Pumpkin Head
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 75,736 |
I always carry two containers while I fish. I also have some artificial baits in case the bite is non stop and I will switch to a Berkley Trout Worm. I keep my fresh worms in a playmate ice cooler covered with an Coleman Ice Cube. You must keep the worms cool all the time. That keeps em alive and fresh for the next trip. I have five Coleman Ice Cubes and they have more than paid for themselves.
IGFA World Record Rio Grande Cichlid. Lake Dunlap. John 3:16 Sinner's Prayer. God forgive me a sinner. I accept Jesus Christ as my Savior !
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Re: Nightcrawler questions
[Re: SlowDown]
#11030254
08/09/15 02:08 PM
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Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,286
SlowDown
OP
Extreme Angler
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OP
Extreme Angler
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,286 |
When I was only fishing with my buddy in his boat, I always kept them in a cooler also. Now that I'm fishing in a float tube, i have limited space, so resorted to the night crawler chunks on meal tip, plus a container of super worms, in the tube pocket. Glad the tip about cutting up worms and placing the chunks in a small, pocket size container with a little cornmeal was posted. Has made it easy for me to use night crawlers in the tube without needing ice. This forum has helped me a great deal, and you have been one of the helpful contributors.
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Re: Nightcrawler questions
[Re: SlowDown]
#11030301
08/09/15 02:38 PM
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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,975
Smithaven
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,975 |
I do not use ice or a cooler for nightcrawlers. I only stay out a few hours in the early morning and I usually have a few worms left. They keep for weeks in the bottom drawer of the refrigerator. The white foam cartons keep longer than the Walmart cups. I think the worms are bigger and healthier too.
. Seventy five years of chasing the elusive sunfish.
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Re: Nightcrawler questions
[Re: Smithaven]
#11030354
08/09/15 03:11 PM
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 75,736
banker-always fishing
Pumpkin Head
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Pumpkin Head
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 75,736 |
The worms in the foam containers are put out by Magic Bait and you are right "Smithaven" they do keep longer and seem healthier also than the ones in the cartons and other brands. Just my two cents. Side Note: There are a couple of other brands that use the foam cartons and it seems to me that their worms are in pretty poor condition. Magic Baits are the best.
IGFA World Record Rio Grande Cichlid. Lake Dunlap. John 3:16 Sinner's Prayer. God forgive me a sinner. I accept Jesus Christ as my Savior !
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Re: Nightcrawler questions
[Re: SlowDown]
#11030456
08/09/15 04:21 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 19,220
Jimbo
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 19,220 |
I had a carton that I bought a couple weeks ago and had kept them in the fridge. Yesterday I made a trip in the morning and upon return I left them out on the back covered patio. This morning hoping for the best I went out and checked and they were all on the top under the lid nice and crisp. They seemed to have died gallantly almost forming an SOS but to no avail! Hoping PETA doesn't read this post!
Just one more cast!
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Re: Nightcrawler questions
[Re: Jimbo]
#11030477
08/09/15 04:33 PM
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 75,736
banker-always fishing
Pumpkin Head
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Pumpkin Head
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 75,736 |
I had a carton that I bought a couple weeks ago and had kept them in the fridge. Yesterday I made a trip in the morning and upon return I left them out on the back covered patio. This morning hoping for the best I went out and checked and they were all on the top under the lid nice and crisp. They seemed to have died gallantly almost forming an SOS but to no avail! Hoping PETA doesn't read this post! And to think I don't feed em as well! Peta will have a field day with me! Side Note: Jim: This Texas Heat even at night will take it's toll on night crawlers. That is way I always keep my worms under a Coleman Ice Cube while I fish! Great example Sir.
IGFA World Record Rio Grande Cichlid. Lake Dunlap. John 3:16 Sinner's Prayer. God forgive me a sinner. I accept Jesus Christ as my Savior !
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Re: Nightcrawler questions
[Re: SlowDown]
#11030485
08/09/15 04:36 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 19,220
Jimbo
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 19,220 |
Yep, they won't last long. I carry a small soft sided cooler with ice and I got back from Calaveras and I had four nice ones for the pan that I had to clean, and I washed out the cooler and forgot the worms on the back porch. Didn't think about them until this morning!....Ooops!
Just one more cast!
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Re: Nightcrawler questions
[Re: SlowDown]
#11030514
08/09/15 04:53 PM
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Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,286
SlowDown
OP
Extreme Angler
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OP
Extreme Angler
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,286 |
Smithaven, the night crawlers at the Walmart I go to are in the tubs/plastic cups. Half of them were dead and decaying the last time I checked them. So, I go to Academy to get them. Their worms are healthy, but they are also in the round cups. I wish someone near me sold them in the square foam boxes.
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Re: Nightcrawler questions
[Re: Jimbo]
#11030518
08/09/15 04:53 PM
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 75,736
banker-always fishing
Pumpkin Head
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Pumpkin Head
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 75,736 |
Yep, they won't last long. I carry a small soft sided cooler with ice and I got back from Calaveras and I had four nice ones for the pan that I had to clean, and I washed out the cooler and forgot the worms on the back porch. Didn't think about them until this morning!....Ooops! I know the feeling quite well Jim! What did you catch at Cally?
IGFA World Record Rio Grande Cichlid. Lake Dunlap. John 3:16 Sinner's Prayer. God forgive me a sinner. I accept Jesus Christ as my Savior !
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Re: Nightcrawler questions
[Re: banker-always fishing]
#11030651
08/09/15 06:05 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 19,220
Jimbo
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 19,220 |
I know the feeling quite well Jim! What did you catch at Cally?
Fished from the bank between the two launches from about 7 am. to 10 using float and drop shot. Started using the drop shot more and it's been working for me with a cricket hook above a split shot weight. caught fish from daylight to about 9 and it started to slow down quite a bit. Most were small 4 to 5 inchers but a lot of them all on worms, and quite a few small Rio's as well. Seems to always be a healthy number of Rio's but I haven't found the big ones yet. Kept four 7 to 8 inch blue gills for the grease.
Just one more cast!
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Re: Nightcrawler questions
[Re: SlowDown]
#11030681
08/09/15 06:19 PM
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 19,054
Laker One
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 19,054 |
Don't use live worms very often. For me it is 95 percent artificial.
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Re: Nightcrawler questions
[Re: SlowDown]
#11030753
08/09/15 06:49 PM
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Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 3,377
crapyetr
TFF Team Angler
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TFF Team Angler
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 3,377 |
i've ben usin' GULP nightcrawlers on a jig and catchin' a bunch of perch, even bass/cat...GULP is good stink
MERCY - not receiving what you deserve GRACE - receiving what you don't deserve America's MESS = God's miracle fixes I'd rather walk with God with no questions answered than to walk thru life without Him and know the answers
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