Catalpa worms?

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Originally Posted by NIMROD

Faster to start limbs (root) using root tone and potting them over using seeds. There are 3 types and best IMO is the Umbrella Catalpa tree . Stays small and easier to collect worms . They tend to have lots of leaves to feed the worms too

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Give some instruction on your method of doing this. Thx

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Originally Posted by GWDawg1

Give some instruction on your method of doing this. Thx

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Works best early spring when buds (leaves appear to pop ) Cut a thumb sized limb on an angle with sharp knife . Wet and dip in root tone , then push several inches into wet soil or potting mix . Keep watered and leaves should appear . Let it grow long enough to establish roots before transplanting .

:yikes

I've never caught a crappie on them. But the cat's and bluegills tear them up! Hands down the best/easiest bait ever. I have 5 acres with 2-3 dozen Southern Catalpa trees, 2 years ago was the first time that I had worms??? dunno why. I can harvest several dozen in 10 minutes when they start dropping. Anyone near me who wants to try them,shoot me a pm and I will gladly hook you up. If I recall it was mid-June when they really started to drop. Made for an unforgettable 4th of July trip. Stay safe.

Great bait. Some people prefer to turn the worm inside out to get to the fish attracting juices and scent.

I have never tried it, but I will, as soon as I have a good harvest. I have been told that you can put live worms in a large Ziploc, along with fresh leaves from the tree, and freeze. When ready to use, thaw and they will still be alive. Please don't shoot the messenger!

I've heard of that. Kinda like freezing tomatoes, when you pull a package in early spring plant some of the seeds for the garden.

I have put up as many as 6,000 in 3 days, all from about 8 trees. I put up 2,300 over one weekend last year. I have not planted the "umbrella", there is a Northern and a Southern species, I prefer the Southern. We often get two cycles of worms per year June / Sept, with the Sept cycle being less than the June. There are other influences, drought or extremely wet springs, fire ants and Armadillos can get at the pupating larva in the ground thus reducing the moth yield for a given year. I have read and noticed some old large trees do not produce, the thought being that the leaves are not as palatable as smaller, younger tree leaves.
Put out some 15 noodles one night in April, catalpa worms on top (3 ft) hooks and 3 to 5 inch bluegills on bottom hooks (10 ft). Caught 3 Channel cat, 5, 14, and 31 lbs, 50 lbs on three hooks, all shallow hooks baited with catalpa worms. Lost one noodle for a while, friend found it up lake several days later with the bottom drop missing, very strong line tied to large barrel swivel with draw knot, so maybe one bite on bream, hope whoever got it had kids to feed. I have caught catfish up to 15 lbs on catalpa worms, the 31 is the largest so far on them. Even though I use them a lot on trotlines and tight lining I was pleasantly surprised with the noodles. We caught a couple hundred catfish tight lining with catalpa worms last year in Texas, current seemed to be the key. if there was current present we could catch limits, (25 per day and min 12 inches in Texas), about every time we went, which was often. Great fun and great for kids.

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Originally Posted by fishbaskett

I have put up as many as 6,000 in 3 days, all from about 8 trees. I put up 2,300 over one weekend last year. I have not planted the "umbrella", there is a Northern and a Southern species, I prefer the Southern. We often get two cycles of worms per year June / Sept, with the Sept cycle being less than the June. There are other influences, drought or extremely wet springs, fire ants and Armadillos can get at the pupating larva in the ground thus reducing the moth yield for a given year. I have read and noticed some old large trees do not produce, the thought being that the leaves are not as palatable as smaller, younger tree leaves.
Put out some 15 noodles one night in April, catalpa worms on top (3 ft) hooks and 3 to 5 inch bluegills on bottom hooks (10 ft). Caught 3 Channel cat, 5, 14, and 31 lbs, 50 lbs on three hooks, all shallow hooks baited with catalpa worms. Lost one noodle for a while, friend found it up lake several days later with the bottom drop missing, very strong line tied to large barrel swivel with draw knot, so maybe one bite on bream, hope whoever got it had kids to feed. I have caught catfish up to 15 lbs on catalpa worms, the 31 is the largest so far on them. Even though I use them a lot on trotlines and tight lining I was pleasantly surprised with the noodles. We caught a couple hundred catfish tight lining with catalpa worms last year in Texas, current seemed to be the key. if there was current present we could catch limits, (25 per day and min 12 inches in Texas), about every time we went, which was often. Great fun and great for kids.

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. How do you put them up?

We have several trees on our farm and most of the time we have two worm hatches per year. sure would like to keep some for gill fishing later in the year when they are out of season, thanks for any help