Live Earthworm Traps & Gathering

earthworm image by ril from <a href='http://www.fotolia.com'>Fotolia.com</a>

Earthworms are a traditional form of fishing bait and are used to catch anything from trout to catfish. Anglers often buy inexpensive earthworms at a bait shop; however, catching your own worms is free and quick. If you have children, they may enjoy heading outdoors to search for and capture live bait for a day spent at the lake fishing.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

Handsaw
36-inch wood post or tree branch
1 egg carton
Damp, shredded newspaper

Step 1

Find an area with damp soil; wooded areas often prevent sunlight from drying out the soil and usually work well for this activity.

Step 2

Drive the wood post 8 inches into the earth. Make sure it is steady and will not wobble under pressure.

Step 3

Run the blade of the saw along the top of the post. The intention here is not to cut the post but to send a vibration through the earth. If there are earthworms in the soil, they will start pushing out from underneath.

Step 4

Create a bed of shredded newspaper along the bottom of the egg carton. Pick up the worms and store them in the egg carton until you are ready to use them.

Tips & Warnings

Wear protective gloves while sawing the wood.

If you have a compost pile in your back yard, use a shovel to softly turn the compost. There is a good chance that there are many earthworms living in the pile.

If you are storing the earthworms for longer than one day, place them in a cool location to increase their chance of survivability.

Hunting for earthworms after a rain will provide increased results.

Article Written By Jacob Hendriks

Jacob Hendriks' work has appeared in "The Western Front," "The Planet Magazine" and Trails.com. He graduated from Western Washington University with a major in international business management and a minor in Community Health. Hendriks' passion for sports nutrition and fitness, combined with experience as a personal trainer, has led him to pursue health-oriented journalism.

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