What is bloodworm
Beginners who are just getting started with fishing have most likely heard about such bait and can even imagine what it looks like, but not everyone understands the source of its origin. A bloodworm is the larva of a long-lasting mosquito. You can find it on the muddy bottom of a reservoir with no or very weak current, in places overgrown with dense vegetation. Organic debris serves as food for bloodworms.
This larva is obtained by washing the bottom using a special sieve. The process is carried out all year round, but winter is considered the most favorable period. The overwhelming majority of people interested in fishing do not look for bloodworms on their own, but simply buy them in a specialized store.
Principles of proper storage of bloodworms
To keep bloodworms alive for a long time, several conditions must be met:
- the environment for its maintenance must be moist;
- It is mandatory to observe the temperature regime: from 0 to +10 degrees;
- Regular removal of dead larvae is required, since otherwise the living bloodworm will die if it stays with the dead one for a long time;
- moisture exchange and maintenance of cleanliness are necessary, that is, the water in the container for its maintenance must be periodically changed, and the container itself must be washed.
Let's take a brief look at the life cycle of the longhorn mosquito. Adults lay eggs in the spring. In the summer, larvae emerge from them - the same bloodworms. With the onset of winter, they burrow into the silt and remain there in this form until spring, when they first pupate and then transform into adults.
How to properly store bloodworms at home
There are a huge variety of options for storing larvae at home. In this case, no special devices are needed. Let's take a closer look at the most popular methods.
Newspaper
To preserve bloodworms using newspaper, you need to use three sheets: the first is dry, a wet one is placed on it, then the bait is poured out in a thin layer and then a dry sheet again. The resulting “sandwich” is wrapped in a roll or folded into an envelope and placed in the refrigerator. The newspaper is changed daily, and the dead part of the larvae is removed.
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Textile
The bait is laid out on a damp cotton or woolen rag. It is important not to allow excess moisture, otherwise you may lose the bait. The fabric is rinsed every day, first with hot, then cold water, after which it is used again for storage. This method allows you to maintain the life of bloodworms for up to 10 days.
Nylon stocking
A piece of women's tights or a sock made of the same material is also suitable for storage. A bloodworm is placed inside and a knot is tied on top. The resulting structure is placed inside the toilet tank, so that it does not interfere with the drain and fill mechanisms.
The good thing about this method is that, without much effort, the bait receives a fresh portion of clean, cool water, which washes away the products of their vital activity. This, in turn, allows you to sort through dead larvae every 2-3 days.
Bowl with water
When wondering how best to store bloodworms, you need to pay attention to this method. Any shallow container that holds clean water will do. The bait is poured onto the bottom in a thin layer. The water is changed daily. It is important to observe the temperature regime, avoiding sudden changes between old and fresh liquid, otherwise most of the bloodworms will be lost.
Mothworm
This term refers to a small flat box made of plastic, wood or foam. Foam rubber moistened with water is placed at its bottom, then a small amount of bloodworms is poured out. The box is located at the bottom of the refrigerator. The bait will keep for about a month and does not require frequent wetting or sampling.
Freezing
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The bait can also be stored frozen. The maximum period is 3 months. After thawing, the larva is suitable for mixing with bait or direct fishing, but the process must be started immediately.
Potato
An original option is to use a potato, which is cut in half. In one part, the middle is cleaned, where the bait is then poured. The second half is placed on top, the structure is held together with matches or toothpicks. The potatoes will have to be washed daily and unsuitable larvae selected.
How to save bloodworms
Bloodworm is one of the most catchy fishing baits on a hook. This universal bait is used for fishing in winter and summer, but has one serious drawback. Being in uncomfortable conditions, bloodworms die and quickly deteriorate, which sharply worsens the fish’s bite. However, the experience of fishermen shows that this minus of bait can be minimized by proper storage. After all, you can keep bloodworms alive both before fishing and for a long time after it.
Sorting bloodworms
When figuring out how to preserve bloodworms longer, one cannot help but notice that almost every method requires regular sorting of the bait. You can perform the task manually only if there are very few larvae.
For more convenient separation, a mesh with a cell of about 2 mm is used. A cat litter box is great for these purposes. The essence of the technique is to fill the lower container with water so that it lightly covers the mesh. The bloodworms poured to the top will crawl into the water after about 30 minutes, and all the dead individuals will remain on top.
Methods for storing bloodworms
Long-legged mosquito larvae are one of the most popular live baits, and in winter - almost the only one. Usually this attachment is stocked up ahead of time, counting on several trips. Therefore, bloodworms purchased or obtained independently must be kept alive for several weeks.
To store bloodworms at home for a long time, you need to take into account some features:
- The larvae die from their own secretions.
- They die from contact with dead individuals.
- Bloodworms do not tolerate prolonged exposure to air or exposure to sunlight.
Inventive anglers have come up with many different ways to store this bait.
Using potatoes, you can store bloodworms in the refrigerator for a long time. All you need to do is cut the potato into two parts and then use a spoon to scoop out the inside. Make a kind of potato box, such as shown in the picture.
How to store bloodworms in the summer when fishing in the heat
In summer, it is quite difficult to achieve satisfactory conditions for keeping bloodworms. Heat negatively affects the condition of the larvae, which quickly die and lose their appearance attractive to fish. However, there is a method that will help in this situation. It is based on the ability of water to perform a cooling function when it evaporates.
So, the bait is wrapped in a dampened piece of rag and placed in a metal container. Holes are first drilled or punched in the lid. The container is located in the shade and in the wind. Evaporating moisture together with wind blowing will cool the bloodworm to a comfortable temperature. It is important to moisturize the fabric in time and monitor the sun.
A kind of thermos made from a paint bucket is also used. The walls are lined with isofol. Before fishing, ice is frozen and then placed on the bottom. The bait is placed on top in a damp cloth.
In a circle
Many fishermen prefer to store larvae in a metal mug. To do this, you will need to make a small box yourself from a mesh (a metal one is best), the mesh cell should be approximately 2 by 2 millimeters. For convenience, you can take a classic mug made of aluminum or metal and drill small holes in it.
For convenience, you can attach a handle to the resulting basket. Now the basket with the larvae is placed in a container with a larger volume. You should end up with something similar to the picture provided above. This is one of the optimal solutions that allows you to keep the larvae mobile and alive.
This is one of the easiest ways to understand how to store bloodworms at home. It is necessary to remove dead larvae from the container and change the liquid every few days. Do not forget about feeding the larvae; for this you need to add a teaspoon of sugar or tea leaves to the water once a week. It is best to place such a container on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator or windowsill.
The bloodworm will be mobile and alive for 60 to 120 days. With proper care of the larvae.
With this method, large bloodworms will become more active and acquire a brighter color. Dried larvae in a bloodworm can be sprinkled with starch, this way you can keep your bait more mobile throughout the day of fishing. But further storage of the bloodworm is not possible, the maximum it can live for is 2 days.
What is the best way to store bloodworms in winter?
In winter, bloodworms made of foam or wood are used. The bloodworms laid out in such boxes are placed in the inner pocket of the jacket, where there will be an optimal temperature for it. Before placing in the box, the larvae are dried on a sheet of newspaper for 15 minutes.
Another good thing about this method is that large representatives become more active and acquire bright colors. Sprinkling the bait with starch will ensure that it remains mobile throughout the fishing day. It should be remembered that in such conditions the larvae can survive no more than two days.
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Transport and keep alive in winter
To preserve bloodworms while fishing in winter you need:
- Prepare a moth container for it - a foam or wooden box. As a last resort, metal, but lined on the inside without gaps with foam plastic with a thickness of at least 8 mm (this way the thermal insulation properties are preserved.
- Dry the bloodworm! Putting it in a box wet means ruining the bait. Not having time to get to the fishing spot. Lightly dried bloodworms can be sprinkled with a small amount of starch, this will make it more active and it will acquire a brighter color.
- Do not keep the box with bloodworms in the cold - it is better to put it in an insulated outer zippered jacket pocket.
- Collect enough bloodworms so that they are completely consumed within two days (after drying, they will not live longer anyway).
Everything will be easier if you kept the bloodworms in a damp cloth before the trip. Then it’s enough just to put this rag in the blood drawer, and also store it in the outer insulated and zippered pocket. This way the bloodworm will live for more than two days, but still check the bait regularly. By throwing away dead specimens in time, they will decompose and kill the rest.
We advise you to read: Catching perch with lard. Summer, autumn, winter
Transportation of bloodworms
When transporting bloodworms, it is important to ensure the correct temperature conditions. It is ideal to store bloodworms on the road in an improvised thermos. A plastic bucket with a lid is suitable for this. The inside of the container is covered with isofol with a foil side. The material can be purchased at any hardware store. Before fishing, the water that will go into the thermos is frozen in advance; larvae wrapped in damp canvas and ice in a container are also placed there. The thermos should be kept away from direct sunlight. Bloodworms will be perfectly preserved in a mini-refrigerator like this throughout the day.
Bloodworm as bait
So, when you decide to go winter fishing, you should think about having good bait. In fishing stores or in private advertisements you can always find points of sale of bloodworms.
They are usually packaged in a regular matchbox. A couple of these boxes, at most, are enough to do plenty of ice fishing and return home with a solid catch.
By the way, when purchasing, pay attention to the size of the bloodworm. If necessary, you can buy a large one for bait, and use a small one (limannik) as bait.
The purpose of storing bloodworms before fishing is to preserve their vigorous and lively state. The fact is that fish react extremely sensitively to moving worms in the water, which create vibrations in the water.
Bloodworms for aquarium fish
Storing live bloodworms to feed aquarium fish is not much different from a similar procedure for fishing. You can use any of the above methods. Before feeding, it is advisable to disinfect the bloodworms. A manganese solution is well suited for this.
Some aquarists prefer to purchase bloodworms or jigs for a week, thus solving the issue of storing them. Purchased larvae can be stored in a blood bottle in the refrigerator or in a regular jar of water. You can also feed bloodworms to aquarium frogs.
Freezing bloodworms for a long time
Frozen bloodworms are ideal as bait; you can store them in the refrigerator for as long as you like. It is used as an additive to bait during winter fishing, less often in summer. Frozen bloodworms are often fed to aquarium fish. You just need to understand that you won’t be able to constantly defrost and freeze it again; such bloodworms will quickly turn sour. Therefore, when you are planning to freeze bloodworms for a long time, divide it into small portions, so that in the future it will be convenient to take it out in small piles and use it for fishing.
Choosing bloodworms for long-term storage
For long-term storage of bloodworms, you need not only to comply with the storage conditions, but also to choose the right larvae themselves.
First of all, the bloodworm should be large, since it is more resilient to environmental changes. Secondly, it should not be damaged; this depends on how the bloodworm was obtained.
There are two ways to extract bloodworms:
1) Industrial , when sludge from the bottom of a reservoir is sucked through a large pipe and washed with a special sieve. Bloodworms are harvested in large quantities, which is why the bloodworms become wrinkled, damaged and will not be stored for a long time. You can tell that bloodworms were obtained using this method by the presence of dead and crushed larvae in the bloodworms; its color is usually pale.
2) The manual method is most preferable, since bloodworms are washed using the bag method. This is what you should choose for long-term storage. Ideally, you need to wash it yourself, then you will know that these worms were not exposed to strong temperature changes after being removed from the pond.
How to keep bloodworms alive longer when fishing
In addition to the fact that the bloodworm must be preserved before fishing, it must be preserved during the fishing process. However, the rules for storing this bait in the open water season and in winter are different.
Store the main supply of bloodworms in winter in a large bloodworm container in a warm chest or side inner pocket. A small amount of bait needed for fishing is placed in a small bottle secured with an elastic band on the knee or hand.
If it is expected that the container will often be in the cold, it is better to choose a polystyrene box. This material has low thermal conductivity due to porosity and low density. The bloodworm feels better in a wooden or birch bark box, but will freeze much faster.
The procedure is performed as follows:
- Bloodworms are poured from a newspaper or rag into a colander or sieve with a mesh size of 1.5-2.0 mm;
- A container is placed under the sieve;
- A stream of water is directed onto the bait poured into a sieve;
- The water is turned off when it fills the container and the sieve immersed in it;
- Wait for some time, during which live larvae seep through the sieve cells into the container;
- Large and moving larvae that do not fit through the sieve cells are collected by hand;
- Dead larvae are removed.
In summer, when transporting bloodworms, they are placed in a moistened newspaper or cotton cloth and placed in a cooler bag, a container with a plastic bottle of frozen water at the bottom.
At the reservoir, the bait is stored in a container with clean water collected directly from the river or lake. In this case, the container is placed in the shade, and the part of the bait that is caught is poured into a small wide jar and also filled with water.
