Why nightcrawlers aren't used in the winter?

[mr_jman]

It may be a dumb question, but I figured I would ask it anyway. I still see them at stores throughout the winter, but I've never used them Ice Fishing and my guess is fish don't target night crawlers during the winter so they aren't used.

Is there a reason they aren't used in the winter? Maybe they are by some people? If there so productive in the summer, why do we use wax worms and minnows and completely ignore using crawlers for ice fishing?

It was a slow day of fishing the other day and this question popped into my mind, so I figured I'd get a few answers...

[Borch]

They'll catch fish. I've caught sunfish, crappies and trout on them in the winter. I haven't used them for years though.

[wlmrs]

I tried nightcrawlers last week through the ice and I caught sunnies and crappies.So they are effective in the winter as well as the other seasons too.

[Catcherman]

The above two posts partially answer your questions - they will catch fish - but to try to answer another of your questions, why they traditionally aren't used, I would guess that it's because worms burrow into the mud, like leeches, in the winter. They're not common forage for fish feeding in the winter. But again, like the posters above have stated, just because they aren't normal winter forage doesn't mean fish won't eat them.

[52#FLATHEAD]

Trout ate them last weekend.

[TurnUpTheFishing]

I dont use them in the winter for several reasons. messy to cut/tear up into pieces, its more convenient to just grab one and waxie or larva. Also, those small plastic containers hold lots of waxies and you can easily fit a few in pockets.

[aanderud]

I think the biggest reason they aren't used as much in the winter is that a) people can't catch their own (many people won't buy crawlers) and most bait stores don't actually carry them in the winter.

 Originally Posted By: Catcherman

I would guess that it's because worms burrow into the mud, like leeches, in the winter. They're not common forage for fish feeding in the winter. But again, like the posters above have stated, just because they aren't normal winter forage doesn't mean fish won't eat them.

Are night crawlers normal summer forage? I mean, I imagine a FEW of them will actually wash into a body of water and could be eaten by fish... But I know I've never seen anything that looks like a night crawler with a large spinner and 3 colored hooks on it swimming around 4 miles offshore on Mille Lacs, but I've caught plenty of 'eyes using that setup on the mud flats!

[LaXCarp]

I've done aquatic plant surveys across Wisconsin the last couple summers. I was also unsure if worms actually used water for habitat. When I encountered a sandy/muck area, and I raked a some plants that brought their roots and sediment with them, there would often being a bunch of worms tangled in with them. I must say I was surprised a bit too.

[sodajerk]

A buddy of mine has been using the smaller trout worms (like crawlers, just much smaller) and has caught perch, gills and sunnies on them this winter.

[DomW]

Same deal for leeches, I suppose. I was just thinking the other day that the action of a leech would be great through theice.

[TurnUpTheFishing]

Dont leeches ball up in cold water?

[mtreno]

kept some leechs around years ago to see how they would work. its just to cold and they curl into a hard ball - even in the water.

[Bob/Mn]

I tried crawlers once on Mille Lacs and the walleyes would come in and sniff the bait but would not take. On the other hand the fish would suck in a minnow.

We were fishing in 12 food of water and could see the action.

In the summer crawlers worked well at times. I believe it has to do with the action and texture of the bait.