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The definitive guide on raising 4 different kinds of bait worms
This is my first posting on this site, so I thought i'd bolt out the gate and be helpful to you guys. I've been raising my own bait for 4 years, made some mistakes along the way, and learned alot in the process. Now i've got too many worms! Not a bad problem to have if you love brim and perch fishing like I do.
Supplies needed:
Bedding: Peat moss, black kow composted manure, and shredded newspaper. Will explain the ratios needed for each worm type
Before using peat moss in any mix, soak with water for several days. Before mixing, make sure it has the moisture level of a wrung out sponge.
Feed: Chicken egg layer crumbles, mixed with rabbit pellets, 50/50. I get the best size and the most worm reproduction with this mix. Can be had at tractor supply for cheap, and will last you many years.
Lightly sprinkle the surface of the bed with feed and water it. Only feed what the worms can eat in several days, so the food does not get moldy. This applies to all worm species.
Containers to raise worms: Ziploc weathershield tote and any other kind of tote, depending on species
Pitchfork to aerate worm beds. Turn your compost once a month to prevent compaction.
Dolomite lime to add grit to worm bed every month(dont use any other kind of lime, it can kill your worms!!!!!)
Add this once per month to add grit for the worms and balance the PH
Plastic garbage bags, cut in half
Put this over your bed after you feed, worms like to eat in moist conditions.
Cheap LED lamp, keeps your worms from running away at night
Agriculture plant mister, to water your worms 1x per week at feeding time.
Types of worms that can be raised in bulk(note, standard garden worms cannot be raised this way. They are soil dwellers. What you need are worms that can live in compost. These breeds are all composting worms)
Note: It's best to just raise each species individually. If you mix them, one might outcompete the other due to different reproductive rates.
African Nightcrawlers- A tropical worm, extremely prolific, but also escape artists. Have to kept at 60 degrees and above to ensure that they will continue breeding. Great bait worm for catfish or bass. The smaller ones make good perch or bluegill bait. The skin is kind of soft on these, though. The only way to raise them is in a ziploc weathershield tote. This tote has a foam gasket in the lid, that keeps them from crawling out. These guys love to escape, so the weathershield tote is mandatory. I drill air holes in the middle of the lid, so when they try to crawl across the top of the lid, they fall down before they can reach these air holes.
Best bedding mix: Peatmoss and black kow 50/50
Red wigglers: Can tolerate temperatures down to 40 degrees or so, but breed best at 60 degrees and above. Extremely prolific. Amazing bait for bream, perch, and trout. Can be raised in any tote, as long as a light is on at night to prevent escapes.
Best bedding mix: Peatmoss and black kow 50/50
Louisiana Swamp Worm: My favorite bait worm. This is a variation of a red wiggler, is more yellow in color as an adult. It's also the fastest breeding worm i've ever seen. It has an extremely strong odor that white perch can't get enough of. Every where I go, it's a cooler full of perch with swamp worms. Also a killer bream bait.
European nightcrawlers:
A tough skinned worm, but slow breeder. Only produces four offspring per month. Best all around bait for most species of fish. It's bigger than red wigglers and swamp worms, but smaller than african nightcrawlers.
Likes most breeds, 60 and above is the best temperature for reproduction.
Best bedding mix: Peat moss and shredded newspaper. 75/25
Best place to keep your worm farms in a controlled environment, such as a spare room or outbuilding. None of these species can handle freezing temps or temps over 90 degrees.
Bin maintanence: Feed/water worms once per week. Rotate soil and add dolomite lime once per month.
Every 6 months, you will have to take some of the bedding out as it is converted to castings. This is a rich, black soil that is the best compost around. Your garden will be the envy of the neighborhood. I just put the feed on once side, most of the worms will migrate there. Then i remove the mostly empty side and put it in the garden. Then you can add some fresh bedding.
Population management: If you find you have a bunch of really small worms, then its time to take those worms and start a new bin. Keep in growing and dividing, the sky is the limit on most composting worms. Just don't let it grow to a millionhttps://www.ncangler.com/forums/imag...b3/biggrin.gif
When you get your starter stock, its best to not fish with them for a month. That way they have a chance to lay eggs and populate your bin.
Please see below for pictures of my setups.
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