HOW TO STORE WORMS

You’ve put in the effort digging ...now read how to keep them

Great tips for keeping your bait fresh.

There is something incredibly satisfying about catching fish on baits that you’ve put time and effort into preparing. While digging for them is possibly the most strenuous part of bait preparation, storing the baits until your fishing session can be the most challenging.

Of all the worms, ragworms are probably the easiest to keep, being relatively hassle-free, and they don’t require as much attention as other types.

Fridge temperature is very important, but often domestic fridges are far too cold. Ideally, your fridge should be around 8°C, but if it’s below this you’ll find your worms start fizzing and popping – a tell-tale sign that they are on their way out.

Once your fridge is at its correct temperature, you can start storing worms. You’ll need a storage vessel. Many tackle shops use mushroom trays lined with newspaper because they are stackable and allow for air circulation. Newspaper-lined cat litter trays also work, but they don’t stack quite so well.

Whatever you choose, ensure they are well lined with plenty of newspaper to absorb the moisture. Leaving them soggy is another quick method to turn them into mush.

STORAGE MATERIAL

The substrate in which you plan to keep your worms is the most important factor of all. Not only can it determine the longevity of your worms, but also its effectiveness. There are quite a few different materials in which to keep worms, so I’ll start with the ones you definitely shouldn’t use.

Seaweed is terrible because it doesn’t absorb moisture and begins to break down as soon as it leaves the sea. The rotting weed only leads to the quick decay of ragworms.

Soil or garden peat isn’t good either. It is unnatural for the worms and starts to kill them as soon as they are placed in it. They can last a few days, but the quality of bait is incredibly poor. By avoiding these two you can’t go too far wrong.

There are two commonly used materials to store ragworms, and one is far superior to the other. You’ll have probably purchased worms in vermiculite – it’s the silvery, grey stuff. Vermiculite has many commercial uses, such as insulation and soil conditioner, but it certainly wasn’t intended for keeping worms. It dries them very quickly, so is only a suitable option if you will be using the worms within a few days.

The very best storage material is sea peat. This is peat formed from marine plants, and can be found in sheltered estuaries after storms. It’s a natural marine product and, more often than not, actually mixed into the ground where you dig for your ragworms in the first place.

Worms can live in sea peat for up to three weeks if you keep it damp and change the newspaper. The peat toughens the ragworms and helps develop a strong scent, while keeping them lively.