How to use crawlers without having a mess: I was wondering if anyone wanted to share any tips on using crawlers without making a mess. If I took them out of the soil rinsed them and...

Tom Wasz

I was wondering if anyone wanted to share any tips on using crawlers without making a mess. If I took them out of the soil rinsed them and put them in a container with water would they last, and would I want to put ice in with them or just keep them cold.

Grizzly 17 Loc: South central Pa

Tom Wasz wrote:

I was wondering if anyone wanted to share any tips on using crawlers without making a mess. If I took them out of the soil rinsed them and put them in a container with water would they last, and would I want to put ice in with them or just keep them cold.

I'm guessing they still have what is called worm bedding.

I used it yrs ago when I collected nightcrawlers.
Basically ground up paper.
Add a enough water to keep it moist.

Graywulff Loc: Cortez,Co.

Tom Wasz wrote:

I was wondering if anyone wanted to share any tips on using crawlers without making a mess. If I took them out of the soil rinsed them and put them in a container with water would they last, and would I want to put ice in with them or just keep them cold.

If you put them in water they will drown. Bigger mess and of no good use. Can’t use nightcrawlers or any other worms that I know of without the dirt. That’s what keeps them alive. Don’t put them directly in ice they will die, just keep them covered and keep them cool. Enjoy getting dirty it’s fun.

Whitey Loc: Southeast ohio

Coco coir when you go fishing then put them back in coco coir an dirt an hredded newspaper. Make sure it's wet but not soaked with water. I use a bigger container an feed them melon rine 👍

jimbofisherman Loc: Edgewater Florida

Use scented power worms . Works just as good if not better. No mess at all. One worm will catch multiple fish.

Bcmech1 Loc: Clinton Wisconsin

Tom Wasz wrote:

I was wondering if anyone wanted to share any tips on using crawlers without making a mess. If I took them out of the soil rinsed them and put them in a container with water would they last, and would I want to put ice in with them or just keep them cold.

Get a plastic bowl, like a cheap version of Tupperware a couple sizes larger than the worm container and keep crawlers in original packaging and put the whole thing in plastic bowl, no lid on plastic, to keep dirt from making a mess. As far as your hands, there's plenty of water to rinse them off. Take an old towel with you is you want to dry hands.

woodguru Loc: El Dorado Ca

Tom Wasz wrote:

I was wondering if anyone wanted to share any tips on using crawlers without making a mess. If I took them out of the soil rinsed them and put them in a container with water would they last, and would I want to put ice in with them or just keep them cold.

Get your wife/fishing partner to hook em with the other half when they do their own with half a crawler...

"Hey, can I get you to put the other half on my hook while your hands are messed up" works well.

Randyhartford Loc: Lawrence, Kansas

Grizzly 17 wrote:

I'm guessing they still have what is called worm bedding.

I used it yrs ago when I collected nightcrawlers.
Basically ground up paper.
Add a enough water to keep it moist.

I agree with Butch, above. The worm “bedding” that I’ve used from BPS, Cabela’s, and Wal-mart has “worm food” in it and will keep them alive and healthy for many months if kept moist and cool. Great for worm farms… 👍

Papa D Loc: Mantweeka, Ca

Rinse and put in with soaked and rung-out shredded paper bag. Add an ice cube if it's hot.

NJ219bands Loc: New Jersey

Wear rubber gloves.

Papa D Loc: Mantweeka, Ca

NJ219bands wrote:

Wear rubber gloves.

Just make sure you take them with you when you leave!

jepolt Loc: North East Ohio

This stuff is great. Walmart or Cabelas. It’s sma light color grey. No stains no black dirt and it has worm food in it. Keeps your works smiling all day long. 😀

seesalt Loc: Pisgah Forest, NC

Tom Wasz wrote:

I was wondering if anyone wanted to share any tips on using crawlers without making a mess. If I took them out of the soil rinsed them and put them in a container with water would they last, and would I want to put ice in with them or just keep them cold.

Wow, glad I didn't worry about that growing up. Probably wouldn't have caught any fish. That was half the fun, especially showing my dad that I could handle them and bait my own hook.

DVTracker Loc: Harrisburg, PA.

Tom Wasz wrote:

I was wondering if anyone wanted to share any tips on using crawlers without making a mess. If I took them out of the soil rinsed them and put them in a container with water would they last, and would I want to put ice in with them or just keep them cold.

Buss Bedding is what I did use years ago and a worm box when I picked them myself. I put a damp rag, the size of the inside of the box, on top of the bedding and kept it in a cool area.

Now I buy nightcrawlers, 18 come in a plastic container with Buss Bedding or something close to it, already in the container. I usually buy a few containers at a time and store them in my refrigerator that is set at 37 degrees. I have had crawlers in my refrigerator for up to a month, they would have lasted longer I do believe, but I used them up and purchased more.

Note: If you put them in your refrigerator that everyone uses you will hear about it.

Andy B Loc: East Springfield PA

Tom Wasz wrote:

I was wondering if anyone wanted to share any tips on using crawlers without making a mess. If I took them out of the soil rinsed them and put them in a container with water would they last, and would I want to put ice in with them or just keep them cold.

No tips on not making a mess sorry. I buy mine 3-4 dozen at a time and keep them in original containers in my small dedicated fridge in my fishing room. Every time I go out the bottom of my yac is a mess either with worm bedding or very black dirt depending on where I purchase them . I'm not worried about a mess and hose and scrub the floor after every trip. I use a small metal tin which gets upset at times depending on the bigger fishes attitude. I'm very limited on floor space once in the yac. When I pick them in the spring I use large coffee containers with shredded paper and feed the a little corn meal, keep them in the fridge. I use about a third of a crawler at a time and cut them with my thumbnail. Some guys put them in a container with water while fishing to have clean crawlers then back in the original containers to go home. Everyone has their own way of doing things while fishing. Do what makes you happy. Go fishn' 🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🇺🇲🇺🇲