| If you have a lawn, or some grass or access to | | | | too fast or too hard you will rip them in half. |
| a patch of green, you have a nightcrawler farm. | | | | Down in that hole is a buch of cillia and a big |
| All through the fishing season night crawlers are | | | | paddle tail holding it in. A crawler will survive if it |
| an indispensable bait to the fisherman. Even | | | | breaks, so they will forfeit half a body if they |
| though very few fish swim through the earth, | | | | think they are going to lose their fight. |
| they all recognize a worm and will happily gobble it | | | | If all is quiet, occasionally you get this creepy |
| up or at least give it a taste. | | | | realization that there are crawlers all around you. |
| Fishermen here in Maine usually pay $2.30 to $3.50 | | | | you can literally hear them like a slimy rustling of |
| for a dozen crawlers of average size. Why? | | | | wet spaghetti. Occasionally they will move a leaf |
| because they catch fish. Most fishermen also don't | | | | or a stick. If you wave the light around too much, |
| take the time to pick them or keep them. | | | | many will pull back into their hole. It's a little |
| With a little bit of effort, you can have plenty of | | | | unnerving to realize you are surrounded by big fat |
| big fat crawlers all season long. | | | | worms. Then you get excited imagining what kind |
| Most likely someone in your home drinks coffee. | | | | of large mouth bass or catfish would swallow up a |
| With this and a patch of lawn you are ready to | | | | 12" crawler. |
| start picking worms and crawlers. If you have | | | | Before long you will have a pound or so of |
| kids, give them a bucket and re-write your | | | | crawlers and be completely ready for fishing the |
| lemonade stand to read "Crawler stand" its | | | | next day, or setting up your crawler stand. I |
| surprising how many fishermen are probably living | | | | Picked up an old rubbermaid tub for a few bucks, |
| in your neighborhood. More amazing is how many | | | | tossed in a few spade fulls of rich loose topsoil |
| will prefer to buy bait from your kids. | | | | and some more coffee grounds. Followed by my |
| Keep collecting your coffee grounds in a can. | | | | crawlers. |
| Every time you brew a pot, just dump the grinds | | | | Worms and crawlers are very easy to keep. feed |
| in. Once every couple of days spread your | | | | them your coffee left overs, corn meal, lawn |
| grounds out in a 10 x 10' or so area on your lawn. | | | | clippings or even newspaper. Worm food can be |
| This won't hurt anything and will feed the lawn. If | | | | bought from many places that sell fishing supplies |
| you forget to rake a few leaves in this spot... well | | | | or sporting goods. Worms will also enjoy other |
| thats all the better. Early in the spring, after the | | | | biodegradables. Too much salad or left over |
| thaw, night crawlers are hungry. You will find | | | | brussel sprouts though, and it will mold or rot |
| them all summer long though, so don't stop after | | | | before the crawlers get through it all. Turning the |
| the spring. If its possible, keep your target hunting | | | | soil on occasion will help as well. There should be a |
| ground in a place on your lawn that tends to hold | | | | few little air holes in the top of your lid. Obviously |
| more water than other areas. | | | | too small for them to crawl out. Most won't |
| Pick a night after a bit of rain during the day, grab | | | | bother the crawl the sides anyway. |
| your bucket and head out to your patch a couple | | | | Very little attention is required to keep crawlers |
| of hours after dark. You have to walk quietly. Tip | | | | happy and healthy. Life in a cool cellar will suit |
| toe even. The slightest thump or heavy step will | | | | them just fine. With very little effort you can |
| make the night crawlers pull back into their hole | | | | have crawlers for fishing or selling year-round. |
| with surprising speed. | | | | Even in ice fishing season you will find fish seeking |
| Shine your flash light on the grass and watch for | | | | these tastey fellows out. |
| a creepy crawly shiny crawler. You need to aim | | | | It truly is amazing how big some night crawlers |
| and grab quickly. Crawlers are light sensitive. This | | | | get. in excess of 12 inches in some cases. Even |
| means once you have one in your light, don't | | | | getting to 1/4+ inch thick. I'm sure they get |
| move it. Usually after you move the light off they | | | | bigger when fed and kept fat and happy. I have |
| will pull back in. Worms are full of instinct and darn | | | | just never really kept one that long. |
| fast when they think they might get caught. | | | | So if you like to fish, or want to give your kids a |
| sometimes its hard to tell the front from the | | | | new project. Let them set up shop at your next |
| back. The more fleshy color is toward the rear, | | | | yard sale. Set them in motion, when their |
| darker color toward the head. When in doubt, just | | | | done...take them fishing. |
| grab the middle. Before long, finger and thumb will | | | | They say when a person is fishing, they aren't |
| be pecking the ground like a quick little Robin. | | | | always trying to fish for fish. When you take your |
| Once you get hold of one, slowly keep pressure, | | | | kids fishing,you're doing something much better. |
| easily pulling the crawler out of his hole. If you pull | | | | |