Choice of Bait

[Big Paulie]

If you were to buy your bait in bulk which would you pick?

Wax Worms

Maggots

Meal Worms

I'm just thinking it would be nice to keep bait at the house instead of running to the bait shop all the time.

[CPL]

I always buy in bulk just after Thanksgiving. I typically order 2000 spikes, 500 mousees, and 250 wax worms. The spikes and mousees will survive in the fridge (my wife lets me keep them there! Great lady!) all season with very little die-off. The wax worms start to die after a couple of weeks. I've been told that typical refridgerator temperatures (35-40 degrees) are too cold for waxies and that they last longer when kept at 45.

My 0.02

Scott

[CrappieJohn]

Waxies and Eurolarva. One bait that is overlooked and has proven itself over decades is the goldenrod grub of the gall fly. I picked about two hundred galls while deer hunting.

[katoguy]

Tom, my dad used to rave about the goldenrod. He picked them off the goldenrod plant? I can't quite remember the gist of it. I will google when I have a chance, but would appreciate any links or help with the gall fly (how to find them, where, when, etc...).

Thanks, Tom.

[Deitz Dittrich]

Kato-The bulb on a goldenrod plant will hold the fly larve... All you need is a knife to open the bulb.. quite easy to do, but not sure if picking a couple hundred is something I would want to do.. LOL

Eurolarve are the most easy to keep alive in my opinion.. I get those in bulk and keep them on the top shelf of my fridge.. wax worms I keep in the basement.. cool dry place will keep them alive, also change the saw dust they are kept in...

[Matt Johnson]

Maggies (Eurolarva) would be my number one choice. I use those pretty much exclusively throughout the winter months for pannies and perch. Great for tipping jigging spoons, swimming lures, and of course ice flies and jigs. They stay on the hook longer than waxies and they also provide some unique actions. The different options in color are a plus too. And when the demand for down-sizing is emphasized, these Eurolarva definitely do the trick.

[augernaut]

definitely spikes (maggots, eurolarvae, whatever) My number 1 live bait - I do carry waxworms typically, but spikes are the best bait 9 times out of 10 - they also keep much better than waxies for buying in bulk. Keep them as close to 35 degrees as you can, and minimize the warm/cold cycle - warming them up causes them to begin to pupate - they turn hard. What keeps better than spikes? Plastic tails :-)

[hanson]

Eurolarvae!!

I love Eurolarvae!!!

[CrappieJohn]

Kato....

Just drive out into the country and take a hike in any area that has golden rod and you'll find the bulbs (galls) about 25 to 30 inches up. At this time of year they are very visible. I prefer to look where the vegatation is "old growth", not having been tilled for many years. And golden rod likes sun, so old , un-mowed road side ditches adjecent to minimum maintainence roads are prime spots.

When you find the bulbs, look at them to see if birds have pecked into the gall. If there is a hole in the ball, toss it. I just toss the intact balls into a coffee can or two in the garage on the work bench. When I go to the ice, I'll toss a canful in the gear or on the the sled and hit it.

The grub can be extrected as Dietz has offered. The grub it small, but fat and they have got to have an odor to them that the fish love because they are one hot bait and sunfish and crappies chow on them very readily. At times these will outfish any bait.

The best part about this bait is the cost, but availablity is right on the heels of that issue. Many areas will have golden rod growing right next to where you are fishing!

[slick814]

Tom -

How do you keep the goldenrods galls alive? Just keeping them in the bulb in a coffee can? Keep it in the garage or basement, then?

Just curious, because I believe I may have a nice patch to pick through this weekend when I'm up for the last weekend of deer hunting.

[katoguy]

Thanks, Dietz & Tom. I looked up goldenord in my perennial book last night, I may need to plant some so I know exactly what they look like.

[Borch]

As a kid we didn't aslways have money for waxies or minnows. We used the goldenrod grubs almost exclusively. They are very effective. Although not as tough as waxies and smaller. As far as keeping them goes throw them in a coffee can, or a larger container/bag while still in the bulbs. Then cut open what you think you'll use before each trip. They'll keep for long periods in the fridge or garage while in the bulbs.

[Dan Thiem]

When picking Golderod bulbs. Avoid the ones that have a small hole burrowed in the bulb. I think that means some kind of bird already got it. At least that's what I found. When there is a hole in it there usually aint no grub inside it.

[CrappieJohn]

Slick...As Borch has alluded to, you just keep them in a coffee can or ice cream pail. I keep mine in a burlap sack. In nature, these things never seem to mind the cold and will keep fine in the garage all winter. Good baits. Cheap.

[JimmyC]

Hey Tom,

I have collected a bunch of these galls but I am just wondering what is the best way to get to the worms. I was whittling through them with my pocket knife to get to the worm but it takes a long time and I just about cut my thumb off. Just wondering if you had any tips or tricks. Also I am wondering if the worms get any bigger? The ones I have seen are no bigger than a small bead.

Thanks

JimmyC