Better bream bait...earthworms or mealworms?

I live in the Southern US and grew up using earthworms and crickets for catching bream. I'm not that familiar with mealworms, but just looking at the images, they seem to be a cleaner(easier) bait for handing and hooking. Anyone have experience with both and how do they compare in the warm Southern climate for catching bream?

Thanks!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by clay slayer

I'm not that familiar with mealworms ... they seem to be a cleaner(easier) bait for handing and hooking.

---

They are. I use earthworms only as a last resort and haven't used crickets in twenty years.

Grub baits (maggots/wax worms/mealworms) are the best, IMO.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by clay slayer

I live in the Southern US and grew up using earthworms and crickets for catching bream. I'm not that familiar with mealworms, but just looking at the images, they seem to be a cleaner(easier) bait for handing and hooking. Anyone have experience with both and how do they compare in the warm Southern climate for catching bream?

Thanks!

---

The best thing about Mealworms is the fact that they are super easy to raise (oats and carrots) go to youtube and find out.

Thanks for the info. I was thinking about starting an earthworm bed, but now I think I will give mealworms a try.

We always use nightcrawlers cause they are easy to find here every summer under leaves. We always catch plenty but they are nasty putting on the hook!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by NIMROD

We always use nightcrawlers cause they are easy to find here every summer under leaves. We always catch plenty but they are nasty putting on the hook!

---

HA !! you wuss :biggrin

You want "nasty" .... try digging up some green worms on a river bank, then putting THEM on a hook :yikes

They'll not only slime you, but the slime is thicker and more of it than on a nightcrawler or earthworm ... and it STINKS to high heaven, too. Best have some Lava soap or lye soap handy, and a bristle brush or 100 grit sandpaper, to clean your hands after handling them :Rofl

... cp :kewl

My first choice will always be a wax worm because I can keep them in the garage refrigerator for up to six weeks. My second choice will be the red wiggler because they breed easily when fed shredded newspaper, yellow corn meal or coffee grounds and are always ready whenever I want to go fishing. Yes, I keep them in the cool garage too.

Meal worms work great and are very easy to raise yourself

Well I'm heading to a spot after work that looks like it should hold crappie and gills. I've got a container of wax worms (rather than my preferred red worms for gills) so we'll see how I do.

Well, one hit on a jig tipped with a wax worm (smallmouth, not bream or crappie), followed by a bunch of snags and lost tackle. Rather frustrating day overall, and not much to show for it :dono

oh well, maybe next spring.