How to Catch Worms for Fishing

Worms wriggle alluringly, attracting fish to your hook. The most important thing about catching worms is to keep them alive.

Things You'll Need

• Waterproof container with a lid, for example a yogurt container
• Dirt
• Worms
• Something to dig with: trowel, spade or spoon
• Ice, optional
• Refrigerator, optional

Instructions

1. Think like a worm. Find soil that is fluffy and damp.The worm chews through it with its mouth. If you can't move the dirt with your fingers, the worm probably can't get through it.

2. If you do not have access to a back yard or vacant lot to dig in, maybe you can dig by the river or lake where you will be fishing.

3. Dig. You can use your hands, especially in a compost pile or pile of leaves. Most of the time it is easier to use a small trowel or even a sturdy spoon.

4. If you have a spade, you can use it to turn up a large clod of earth. Break the earth up with your hands to find the worms inside.

5. Put your earthworms into the container with cool, moist soil. Keep the container cool.

6. If you dig worms before your fishing trip, you can put them in the refrigerator. If they have plenty of soil they can stay there for a couple of weeks.

Tips & Warnings

• To catch huge worms that will astound your friends, go out at night to find night crawlers, which can be up to 14 inches long.

• Worms like wet soil, but they also need air. That's why they come out of the ground after a big rain when the ground is soaked.

• It is a good idea to keep your container of worms in a cooler when fishing.

• Fish with worms in fresh water, not in the ocean.

• Do not let your container sit in a hot car, or even outside on a hot day. Your worms will die. They will smell terrible and the fish will not bite them.

• If you find two worms stuck together, they're busy. Good sports leave them alone.

• Be careful if you use something to dig with. You don't want to cut your earthworms. Don't pull too hard, either, or they will snap in half.

• Check with the person in charge of the refrigerator before putting worms in the refrigerator.

Resources

• Wikipedia article about nightcrawlers