keeping maggots

[fish-wva]

does anyone keep maggots at home for fishing? if so how do you do it

[Baxter1]

I usually have a couple snuff cans full in the fridge,they keep for awhile.

[Fishn N Wishn]

the biat store I order mind from tells me to treat them just like I do my meal worms.Keep in refrigator.

[deathb4disco]

does anyone keep maggots at home for fishing? if so how do you do it

If you order maggots, they will come with directions on how to care for them. I'll summarize.

When you first get the maggots, you need to change their bedding. Maggots secrete ammonia and the bedding often has a strong ammonia smell. Just change the bedding, and it's gone. I use corn meal, but sawdust, bran, etc. will work.

Also, let them "breathe" for a few hours after you open the package. They usually come in a ziplock bag, and the lack of oxygen makes them go into a dormant stage. They "wake up" pretty fast, though.

You need to keep maggots in the fridge at just above freezing, right around 34 degrees. I have heard different theories on whether to keep them in a covered container or an open container. For the first week or so, I keep mine in an open container. I tend to keep older maggots in a covered container with small holes in it for them to breathe. The biggest problem I've found in keeping them is that they will dry out. The covered container helps keep the moisture in lets and them live a little longer.

[Tony from Oak Point]

They come naturally in my earthworm bin, at least the big soldier fly larva. Only thing special I do is use them when they are young.

[Illinoisgiller]

This year ice fishing, I had a snuff can full freeze solid on me. I kept them froze and used them on the next outing. They thaw quickly in the water.
Not sure how this will relate to the warm water season yet as they turn dark pretty quickly when dead in warm weather. I found the bite to be just as good with fresh thawed dead ones as live.
I'll be experimenting more with this concept when the spring bite picks up some.
Our local ones are3 up to near $10.00 a tub now.Mike

[deathb4disco]

I found the bite to be just as good with fresh thawed dead ones as live. Our local ones are3 up to near $10.00 a tub now.Mike

Dead ones do work well. In England, people often use dead maggots for bottom fishing. The dead ones won't wriggle into the silt.

Depending on how many I order, they're $8-$10 per thousand. That's a lot of bang for your buck, though.

[Illinoisgiller]

Gee wizz, I need to pay more attention to the thread question-- Sorry
The frozen ones I am playing with are wax worms not maggots. I don't honestly think there would be a difference in the outcome though
You stand informed-lol Mike

[jaxsprat]

Oh those are the things you fish with???? when I first glanced at the Post title I thought maybe your were talking some about some of my relatives

[Bluegilll]

Oh those are the things you fish with???? when I first glanced at the Post title I thought maybe your were talking some about some of my relatives

:D :D :D way too funny.Yours & mine also :D