What is one of the best live baits for fishing?
Earthworms are a favorite for novice and experienced fishermen alike. There are hundreds of species of earthworms and among them the compost worms or red wigglers are one of the most popular worms for fishing. Sometimes people are confused because many worms for fishing are larvae of moths, butterflies, flies or beetles, and any other invertebrate small creatures without legs, but earthworms seem to be a favorite for various species of fish.
Although earthworms do not eat meat and dairy, the amazing thing is the worm body has approximately 70% protein content and low fat content of less than 10%. Worm protein can also be used for animal feed.
If we talk about the role of worms in society, the first thought will be associated with fishing purposes and increasing soil fertility. Red wigglers are also a good choice for fishing because they are surface dwellers (epigeic). The natural home of red wigglers is just below the surface in plant litter, kitchen waste, farm waste and other organic waste, so it will be easy to find them. The common large-size earthworms such as nightcrawlers and dew worms are deep burrower (anecic) and they do not readily breed in the regular shallow worm farm bins.
One of the scientific names of the red wiggler species is Eisenia fetida. Together with other common species Eisenia andrei and Eisenia hortensis, they have a particular smell called fetid that attracts fish. Fetid is an unpleasant smell for other animals. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary the meaning of “fetid” is having a heavy offensive smell. The fetid smell is secreted as a yellow pungent liquid from the posterior of the red wiggler’s body. Fetid is produced when they are trying to escape from predators and this is presumably an antipredator adaptation. Sticking a fishing hook into their body causes immediate secretion.
Red wigglers, also known as trout worms, are a small earthworm (5-8cm) used for fishing trout, bluegill, perch, crappie and many other medium-size fish. They are commonly used as live bait for beginners because they can survive in extreme temperatures (0-35°C) and are therefore more suitable for fresh and saltwater fishing compared to the larger-size earthworms.
The photo above was taken at the lake nearby Columbia River Gorge, Oregon in Spring 2015.
Keeping the leftover worms for the next fishing trip can be achieved in three simple steps. Build a worm bed and fill it with a good moist compost. Fill the bed with the right species of red wigglers, ensure adequate oxygen supply through the drilled holes, and at a room temperature for the worms to reproduce. Feed the worms with kitchen (green) waste, paper (brown) waste or other organic waste available and harvest them regularly when you are ready for the next fishing trip.
Using red wigglers as live fishing bait is very cost-effective and an excellent learning experience for young people and adults. To prepare for fishing using your own red wigglers is as easy as 123. Please visit http://www.burnabyredwigglers.com to purchase the right species of red wigglers for fishing and composting.
– Bintoro Gunadi
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