Nightcrawlers consistently catch fish. No other bait holds the same record and sometimes that is all that will catch them. They aren't the answer to every fishing need, but can be your best choice if you are not sure what to use.
Catching nightcrawlers is not really that hard, it just takes a little time and patience. Wait until it has rained a pretty good storm and go out at night and collect them. Gear should be a small pail or other light container, a flashlight (head mounted is best), soft soled shoes, a rag to wipe your hands and a rain jacket if needed. Start looking for lawns that haven't been treated with chemicals. Some parks are great but remember to check regulations on how late you can be in the park. Look for a neighbor's house that doesn't get mowed often and get permission to hunt on it.
It's now time to hunt them. Use a flashlight with a red lens or red film taped over the lens as nightcrawlers are sensitive to light and a white light can make them disappear. Slowly begin your search at the edge of the yard. This can be the hardest part of nightcrawler hunting. Keep in a bent or crouched position and slowly work your way across the lawn. This can be hard on your back, so stretch every once in awhile. Work the light across the ground and look for the shinning bodies of the worms.
One end of the worm is usually in a hole in the ground and the rest of them is stretched out above ground. Reach down and grab the worm as close to the hole as possible. Don't crush the worm, a gentle firm grip is needed. Also don't stretch the worm out as this can damage the worm and it can die quickly from this. Don't keep any overstretched or damaged nightcrawlers, they will die and can cause you to lose all the other worms you collected.
Keep your hands dry and as slime free as possible because it makes them easier to catch when you have dry hands. You may have seen the electrode worm catching devices but they can damage them internally and they will die quicker.
Once you have collected a nice bunch of worms you will need to keep them alive until you use them. There are many foam worm keepers on the market and any one of them should work well. Use a high quality worm bedding and follow the directions on the package for the correct amount of water to use. Set the container up one or two days prior to adding your first set of worms. Keep the container in a refrigerator because nightcrawlers are sensitive to heat and could die when becoming over heated.
Add your worms to the container and check it several hours later. All the healthy worms should have gone into the bedding and the sick and injured ones will be on top. Discard them to preserve the life of your other worms. Feed them once in awhile. They don't need much food and don't use coffee grounds. Use corn meal or other ground meals in small quantities or a commercially prepared worm food.
You should now be set up with your own worm bed and will always have bait ready when you need it. Remember to add more nightcrawlers, but don't exceed what your bed can handle.
You can get more fishing tips at http://www.fishingtipsabcs.blogspot.com so come on by and soon you will be landing that big one!
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