| There are many ways to have nightcrawlers ready to | | | | crawlers on hand for the next fishing trip. That is one |
| go for your next fishing trip. One of the oldest and | | | | way to stock your worm box. The other is to order a |
| most used methods has been a crawler bin at your | | | | batch of worms from a worm farm. Regardless how |
| home. This can be as simple as a 3x3x3 planter box | | | | you decide to start your worm box, putting the unused |
| or even ½ a wine barrel filled with good soil. Try | | | | worms from your trips in will help keep worms ready |
| to stay away from unnatural materials like metal or | | | | to go. |
| plastic, as they can heat up faster than containers | | | | I've heard it said that a ratio acceptable to a happy |
| made from natural materials. If you plan on having your | | | | worm bin is 1 to 4. So let's say that 1/2 pound of |
| box above ground, remember that crawlers prefer the | | | | worms would be happy in a box that was about 2 |
| dark. So don't use transparent materials. | | | | cubic feet. Remember too that worms need a good |
| My grandpa had a box buried in the ground in back of | | | | size surface area for oxygen to get to them. Also, for |
| his house. He had strategically placed it near the house, | | | | goodness sake, don't forget to drill some holes in the |
| in a shadier flowerbed. This method accomplished a | | | | bottom and sides for water drainage. This also is good |
| couple of things. First, it kept the worms in a central | | | | for some air, if your box is above ground. Newspaper |
| location and ready to quickly dig up on his next fishing | | | | ripped in strips helps to protect the worms and keep |
| trip. Second, it insured that the worms would not get | | | | moisture in the ground. |
| too hot in the summer months. And third, the out of the | | | | There are plenty of companies that sell worm bedding |
| way location meant nobody would trip and fall into it. If | | | | and even food supplements. As with any living thing |
| you decide to put your box in the ground, be sure not | | | | you care for, taking a little time to read up on it will |
| to have to soil go all the way to the top or your | | | | insure a successful situation. This also applies to |
| worms will pull a Houdini and escape. | | | | worms. Remember...fish don't like dead worms. Give |
| After each fishing trip, Grandpa would put the unused | | | | them a "box" lunch instead! |
| nightcrawlers into the box. This way he always had | | | | |