Catawba Worms

i have a large tree in my neighbor yard . haven`t seen a worm but 1 year in the last 20 years and that was last year the top was eaten up pretty good 2 weeks ago now don`t see any guess the birds ate them . i do have a few sprouts around my yard next to a fence and the house that started 2 years ago and was eaten up last year now non this year .there was several crops last year just watching to see if they are any this year on the young sprouts .going to root some more and keep them cut so i can reach the top .

I grew up Nockin Togga worms for Summer money. All gone now ag. Pesticides . were every where.

We usually had lots till drought and Fire Ants. Kinda odd they just showed up last couple weeks here. Kinda late but atleast they may be coming back.

Blanch your worms and freeze them in water. My dad has worms that in his freezer that we're picked and blanched 10 years ago. I can thaw them out and they look like they were picked yesterday. They stay on the hook alot better as well.

very interesting pintail ! i wonder if a guy could freeze crawlers? i had a box of crawlers in the basement one year well into ice season. i took some out to tip my jig with and the bass loved them. i had a guy walk over and ask what i was using. when i said crawlers he grumbled bs and walked off, like i was lying to him. lol

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Originally Posted by river scum

very interesting pintail ! i wonder if a guy could freeze crawlers? i had a box of crawlers in the basement one year well into ice season. i took some out to tip my jig with and the bass loved them. i had a guy walk over and ask what i was using. when i said crawlers he grumbled bs and walked off, like i was lying to him. lol

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I'm sure you could freeze night crawlers as long as they are in water... I would recommend blanching your catapala worms for sure. My dad has 3 trees in his backyard that still has worms now. Its been a really weird year for worms. If you do blanch them, make sure you have a pan of cool water so you can transfer them in there after you finish boiling them. 3-5 minutes in the boiling water and let them cool down in cold water, freeze them in water and 10 years later, you'll still have good bait.

At 3-5 minutes you are beyond blanching- those worms are cooked! Do the whisker fish still love them with no green juices oozing out?

LOL! Im serious. It takes anywhere from 3-5 minutes to boil your worms. As long a they don't turn brown, they are fine. I think catfish like them better blanched as opposed to live from the tree. That's just my opinion.

PT- this is great news and I know that my wife will be thrilled to see Catalpa Worms boiling on the stove as they prepare to join their brothers and sisters in the freezer alongside the crappie heads I keep for Mr. Blue Whiskers bait. Yes, no question one of us married well back in 1975!

Which one??