keeping bait fresh

[daren]

hello everyone i was wondering if anyone had any tips on how to keep rag worm fresh i have tried loads of things from putting it on wet paper to keeping i well wrapped up in the fridge in dry paper but whatever i do it seems to go soggy or ends up in loads of small bits any tips please also i have frozen crab but only seem to catch in the river with it is it worth using it in the sea at this time of year or should i keep it until later in the year

[johnf]

A tray in the fridge with the worms just covered with sea water seems to do well, as long as you change the water regularly. MartyE can keep ragworm for so long using this method he has pet names for them!.

[daren]

thanks for that johnf i will give that a try did you have a good newyear mate
lets hope it works and i finally get the big one eh

[Marty.E.]

Daren, Johnf mentioned that you can keep your worms alive in a shallow tray. This will only work if you have dug them fresh yourself. I find that shop bought worms are best kept in vermiculite rather than the peat that some shops sell them in. Put them in a plasic dish in the fridge at about 6c- 8c and they should keep about 7 to 10 days. Check them every day and give them a bit of shake. Remove the dead worms. The longer you keep the worms you will find that their bodily fluid becomes green and the worms aren't that good as a bait so it's best to buy enough for a session so they are always fresh ( depending on the shop that sold you them ).
Cheers
Marty

[YoursTruly]

John, can only repeat most of what Marty says.
If you buy them from certain shops they will be difficult to keep no matter what you do with them.
if buying your bait ask if it is fresh (i know sometimes the tackle dealer will say whatever he needs to get a sale, however not all are like that), you can soon tell by looking at it if it fresh or not.
How long are you planning on keeping it anyway?

[daren]

thanks

thanks for that marty but can you tell me what is vermiculite and where can i get some someone told me to wash the peat off the worms with seawater will this help aswell

[daren]

thanks

would only be keeping for no more than three to four days i find it harder to keep them in the summer thank for all the help and advice this site is the best i have found on the internet

[YoursTruly]

Darren, you should be able to keep ragworm and lugworm for 3 or 4 days without the need for water, if the bait is fresh enough when you get it simply keep it cool, does'nt even need to be kept in a fridge this weather. Cool shed or garage.

[daren]

thanks for all your help i will give all your sugestions a try and pick the one i think works best for me once again cheers for all your help

[KeithB]

If you have somewhere to put one it's worth getting your own bait fridge, I picked one up at Miller Auctions in Byker for about £25, it looked brand new when I got it, been in my shed for a couple of years now.

[daren]

cheers keith i have invest in one cos our lass goes off it when i put my bait in the bottom drawer of the fridge women eh get all fussy over a few worms i keep telling her they wont eat much ha ha
cheers mate

[BAZZACODBASHA]

Daren, I couldn't agree more with KeithB. A second hand fridge is a must. (Try and get one with a fairly large freezer section for your crabs etc). If you can get one, and you dig your own ragworms, then sort them out and only put fully intact worms in your water trays. Any broken or even slightly damaged ones should be put into Vermiculite in a container and put in the 'chiller' part of your fridge. I don't realy know what vermiculite is used for, but it must have something to do with gardening as you can buy it at most garden centers. (Shaw's of Cramlington definitely stock it 'cos that's where I buy mine.).costs about £2.00 a bag, but it lasts a while.
Just one last word Daren, if you want to keep your tanked worms as long as possible, then change your water every day WITHOUT FAIL.even if the water still looks clear; and obviously remove any dead worms. If any become damaged, but are still alive, then move them into your vermiculite container.
If possible keep a stock of sea water in the fridge so that when you change the water it will be at the same temperature.
All this might sound a bit of a slavver, but if you take a bit of time and care your tanked worms will keep for many WEEKS. whist your worms in the vermiculite should still keep for a few days.......so obviously use these up first on your next fishing trip..............
GOOD LUCK....................................

BAZZACODBASHA

[Mogthemackem]

Frozen crab's rubbish Daren. You can just give them to me and I'll make sure they're discarded properly lol.

Frozen crab's an excellent bait mate but it's mostly catching in the rivers at moment as that's where most of the fish are. Best keeping your crab for a good easterly of neasterly.

[gazzawill]

vermiculite is used in gardening for many uses maily it absorbs water and releases it when needed b&q sell it iff your ever stuck in grdes fine medium or large the medium grade is mostley used for worms
iff you know a plumber or bricky on council they can get you a massive bag for a few pints lol as they use it to pack around household fires
hope this helps

[Topfly]

Darren if you have got a fridge .buy an airator from an aquatic shop drill a hole through the side of the fridge and push the clear plastic pipe through and attatch the air brick and put it in the bottom of your tank/bucket. you can keep your rag for 6 weeks without changing the water ,lugworm ,however tend to get a bit washed out the longer you keep them. tight lines.