Bait preservation (help!)

**"My God Cod"** · 17-03-2007, 23:58

Hi all
Going out fishing Wednesday but bait man has let me down and no longer can supply! I have about a half lb of lug that I hope to keep alive till then, all my past attempts have ended in slush! have tried keeping in fresh seawater changed daily. Kept some barely alive for two days once, kept in newspaper changed daily and kept in fridge. Can anyone shed any light on this or offer up some bait numbers for Grimsby/Cleethorpes way who may have fresh bait available.
Regards, P.R man

**bigads** · 18-03-2007, 00:07

Is it blacks or standard lug you have?

If it blows and yellows have you tried salting them?

**"My God Cod"** · 18-03-2007, 00:45

Its standand not black (think its also called marsh worm?) but yes have got some salting which will be ready for Wednesday but I would like fresh if poss. Any ideas on keepiong what I have fresh?

**big guy** · 18-03-2007, 15:20

the main thing you need is a fridge. also a cat litter tray and fresh sea water. put up to 100 worms in a tray, just covers them in sea water (not so they're swimming). put in the fridge, pick out any sand and dead ones and change the water daily. it's best if the fresh water thats going to be used is in the fridge.

are they english worms? my local tackle shop's got some in from holland that keep best in damp newspaper. so you have the tray, damp paper (dampened with sea water), worms, damp paper. and also in the fridge.

**"My God Cod"** · 18-03-2007, 15:58

Hi big guy
Am told they are from spurn head? I did just as you said with some last week but they mushed the next day even though it was fresh sea water and the worms and water were in the fridge. At mo they are in a fresh change of newspaper on the bottom shelf of the fridge, but still 3 days to go! any more suggestions appreciated mate. Regards P.R man. P.s have fresh sea water in the fridge in case I did something wrong last time cos am told they will keep for upto two week!

**SHARKIE** · 18-03-2007, 16:02

I had a small polystyrene box off a fishmonger, keep it in the fridge with a small amount of sea water and they last for days

**"My God Cod"** · 18-03-2007, 16:05

Cheers pal will sort that now, thanks for the input. P.R man

**big guy** · 18-03-2007, 17:37

i can keep mine well over 2 weeks if needed, they just shrink the longer you keep them. i can't see why they died on you, you done everything right.

just wondering if has anyone else has had any probs with worms from the spurn head area?

**"My God Cod"** · 18-03-2007, 19:27

Hello again
Maybe overfilled the tray? it was a gardening type with deeper ridges so only put in water half way up the worms width ( about 5 mm ) so the ridges were deeper, about 10 mm. Will try again and hope for better results.

**big guy** · 19-03-2007, 20:20

you can keep 300- 400 in a small cat litter tray, for a few days. they just keep better in smaller numbers. the water level was about right, i find that if you put too much water in they seem to blow more.

you need to take out as much of the sand as you can and take the dead ones out. maybe try changing the water twice a day and see if that makes a difference.