Crawler Question

[salmotrutta]

Does anyone have experience collecting their own crawlers in the fall?

If so, how late in the season can you collect your own?

I was out the other night after a rain, and they were still out in full force. Frost is just around the corner, is that what stops them?

I'm curious, because if they stop soon, I need to get a winter's worth next rain in case I take up ice fishing this winter!

 

[frozenfire]

Yes...get out there and collect for the winter!
Frost is what stops them. I haven't been out to collect in over 2 months though.
Red light is the best!

 

[salmotrutta]

Thanks for the quick response!

I have heard that red light is best from others too. For now, I only have a white light, so my technique is to:

1) Go out as soon as it starts getting fairly dark, so the worms are not used to 100% darkness yet, and

2) Go out near street lights, where the worms are already used to street lights and car lights every time a car passes by.

Usually, I can get 1 dozen in roughly 10 minutes, after a small rain. Obviously, after a huge rain, I spend more time out but get upwards of 10 dozen.

I am regretting not having gone collecting last Wednesday after that huge rain. Hopefully, we will get another rain like that soon.

 

[roska]

CRAWLER? IS IT A WORM?

THANK YOU

 

[salmotrutta]

Crawler = Night Crawler = Worm

 

[dwarf717]

$3 at the bait vending machines!

 

[salmotrutta]

They are fun to catch!

If you are targeting trout - as I did exclusively for several months this year - you can't go wrong with having a spare supply of dozens of worms.

As soon as it starts to rain, hit the river, drop a crawler, and you are almost guaranteed to entice a bite from even the wariest of steelhead. Not to mention brook trout and brown trout love them equally.

Plus, catching a fish with bait that you caught yourself just feels better.

 

[frozenfire]

They are fun to catch!

If you are targeting trout - as I did exclusively for several months this year - you can't go wrong with having a spare supply of dozens of worms.

As soon as it starts to rain, hit the river, drop a crawler, and you are almost guaranteed to entice a bite from even the wariest of steelhead. Not to mention brook trout and brown trout love them equally.

Plus, catching a fish with bait that you caught yourself just feels better.

Couldn't agree more.

I can get 10 dozen in an hour....someone else can pay $30 LOL

 

[superduperfly]

How big do you guys go with the worms?

I never use live worms, just hate touching them(Yeah i'm a sissy). I usually go with pinkies but have seen the worms work great.

SDF

 

[frozenfire]

How big do you guys go with the worms?

I never use live worms, just hate touching them(Yeah i'm a sissy). I usually go with pinkies but have seen the worms work great.

SDF

I find it varies.
Sometimes they take huge ones that stretch out to 10-12", other times they take small trout sized ones.
Always good to have a variety.