Looking for some wax worms...

Looking for some advice! I am a youth minister who takes kids fishing all the time, and I want to start tipping my jigs with some wax worms (unless there is something else that will work better), but have never used them before. I know there has to be a way to buy them a lot cheaper in bulk, and an easy way to keep them in "wax worm form" alive, for easy and cheaper access.
Any help would be greatly appreciated. I have tried to talk to our only baitshop owner, and he will sell them at what he normally gets.
And, one other question...why waxworms over mealworms...or would mealworms work as well?

Any help would be great! Hope this isn't a stupid question...I've just never used live with crappie (besides my favorite ruby reds).

So, thanks in advance...and I would buy from someone here if you can get them bulk cheap!

Mrwillis

Check out jada bait we use to buy spikes from there they keep a lot longer than wax worms never had problems catching gills with them

Mr W .... have you looked into buying in bulk from Grubco ?? ( Grubco :: Welcome :: Mealworms for blurbirds, crickets for reptiles, mealworms for sale )

They have instructions on keeping & caring for them, and you can also check on the "Live Bait" forum for instructions on how members do it.

Waxworms are a moth larvae ... so keeping them "alive" AND in "wax worm form" would require slowing down the larvae to moth transformation. Or, it may require raising your own from a brood stock in order to have a steady supply.

I can't comment with any authority on why waxworms over mealworms (or vice versa) because I haven't used either one, to any degree in my Crappie fishing, to have enough knowledge/experience to make that call.

... cp :kewl

Mealworms are easy to grow your own, but you'll have to start them this summer....too late now for winter fishing.

wax worms are ok but butter worms are much, much better: Butter Worms for fish, reptiles and fishing

Rev,

I keep wax worms alive just by keeping them in a small refrigerator in my garage. They will keep about five weeks that way. Always ready to go fishing. Are you teaching them how to tie jigs or to make their own soft plastic lures? Visit the DIY forums http://www.crappie.com/crappie/jig-t...-making-forum/ and see how easy it is to do. I am an Assistant pastor at a small church and we started Positive Young People programming there. One of the attractants was fishing with something you made for yourself.

If they are tying their own lures then shoot me a PM and I will share some of my fly tying materials with you. These are some threads you may want to check out. Easy projects for your youth group.

How to make a quick Jelly Jig
http://www.crappie.com/crappie/jig-t...le-jig-photos/

Slide show on how to tie a basic jig
http://www.crappie.com/crappie/jig-t...ig-plus-video/

A beginners page and drawings of rig setups
http://www.crappie.com/crappie/main-...ups-beginners/


Supplies to make soft plastic baits
http://www.crappie.com/crappie/diy-s...15406-supplys/

How to solder a teardrop ice or freshwater jig
http://www.crappie.com/crappie/jig-t...ideo-included/

Attachment 192239

Jada baits. Best place. The price you see is the price you pay. No shipping charged
I ice fish and we get about 2,000 a year from them and also spikes(maggots)

I have always bought my waxies and spikes from Vados bait. They ship fast and have always been excellent. I have kept tubs of waxies alive in my basement from Thanksgiving until April before by just making sure I remove the dead ones and put a little oatmeal in the tubs.