Worm Farming 101: A Comprehensive Guide to Growing Your Own Fishing Worms

For the avid angler, there’s nothing quite like the satisfaction of catching a fish with bait you’ve raised yourself. Growing your own fishing worms isn’t just a cost-effective alternative to buying them; it’s also a sustainable and eco-friendly practice that can provide you with a consistent supply of plump, lively bait whenever you need it. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the entire process, from setting up your worm farm to harvesting your wriggling treasures.

Why Grow Your Own Fishing Worms?

Before we dive into the ‘how,’ let’s explore the ‘why’:

• Cost Savings: Over time, purchasing worms regularly can add up. Growing your own significantly reduces this expense.
• Availability: No more last-minute trips to the bait shop! You’ll have a ready supply of worms whenever you’re ready to fish.
• Superior Quality: Home-grown worms are often healthier and more active than those purchased from a store, making them more appealing to fish.
• Environmental Benefits: Worm farming reduces waste by turning kitchen scraps and other organic matter into valuable resources.
• A Rewarding Hobby: It’s a fascinating and educational process that connects you more closely to nature and the lifecycle of these amazing creatures.

Understanding Your Worms: The Best Species for Fishing

While various worm species exist, not all are ideal for fishing. The most commonly used and recommended worms for bait are:

• Red Wigglers (Eisenia fetida): These are the workhorses of the worm farming world. They are prolific breeders, adaptable to various conditions, and are excellent composters. They also make great bait due to their size and wiggly nature.
• European Nightcrawlers (Lumbricus terrestris): Larger than red wigglers, these worms are also popular for fishing. They’re less adept at composting than red wigglers and prefer cooler temperatures, but their size makes them a great choice for targeting larger fish.

For beginners, we strongly recommend starting with red wigglers due to their ease of care and rapid reproduction rate.

Setting Up Your Worm Farm: The Basics

Creating a suitable home for your worms is crucial for their health and productivity. Here’s what you’ll need:

1. The Container (Worm Bin)

The container you choose depends on your available space and the number of worms you plan to raise. Here are a few options:

• Plastic Storage Bins: These are inexpensive, readily available, and easy to modify. A bin with a capacity of 10-20 gallons is a good starting point.
• Commercially Made Worm Bins: These are specifically designed for worm farming and often come with features like stacking trays and drainage systems. They can be more expensive but are often more user-friendly.
• DIY Wood Bins: Using untreated wood can create a breathable environment. However, be sure to add a plastic liner to prevent the wood from rotting.

Key Considerations for Your Worm Bin:

• Size: Allow at least one square foot of surface area for every pound of worms.
• Ventilation: Drill holes near the top of the bin to allow air circulation.
• Drainage: Drill holes in the bottom for excess moisture to drain (if using a bin without a built-in system). Place a tray underneath to catch the drainage, which can be diluted and used as a nutrient-rich liquid fertilizer for your plants.
• Opacity: Worms prefer dark environments. A dark-colored bin is best. If using a clear container, cover the sides with paper or cloth.

2. Bedding

Worms need a suitable bedding material to live in. The bedding provides moisture, structure, and a source of food. Good options include:

• Shredded Newspaper or Cardboard: These are readily available, hold moisture well, and break down easily. Use plain, unprinted paper or cardboard.
• Coconut Coir (Coco Peat): A natural and sustainable material that retains moisture well. It’s often available in compressed blocks that expand when soaked in water.
• Peat Moss: While effective, peat moss is not a sustainable option and should be avoided if possible.
• Mixture of Bedding Materials: You can also use a combination of the above materials. For example, a mix of shredded newspaper and coconut coir is an excellent choice.

Preparing the Bedding:

• Moisten the bedding: Bedding should be moist like a wrung-out sponge. Not soaking wet, but not dry either.
• Fluff the bedding: Break up any clumps and ensure the bedding is loose and airy.
• Add a handful of garden soil or compost: This introduces beneficial microorganisms that aid in the composting process.

3. The Worms

Now that your worm bin is set up with bedding, it’s time to add your worms. It’s usually recommended to start with at least 100-200 red wigglers. They can be purchased online from various vendors or from local bait shops. When they arrive, be sure to add them to the bin right away.

4. Worm Food

Worms are voracious eaters, but not all food is suitable for them. Here’s what they love and what to avoid:

Worm-Friendly Foods:

• Fruit and Vegetable Scraps: Apple cores, banana peels, carrot tops, melon rinds, potato peels, and other non-citrus fruit and vegetable scraps are excellent choices. Cut larger pieces into smaller chunks to speed up decomposition.
• Coffee Grounds and Filters: Coffee grounds are a great food source and help to keep the bin from smelling too bad.
• Tea Bags (Paper Only): Just like coffee grounds, these are worm friendly. Be sure to remove staples from the bags before adding to the bin.
• Crushed Eggshells: Provide calcium, which is good for the worms, and helps with digestion.
• Small Amounts of Bread, Pasta, and Rice: These should be given sparingly and in small portions, since too much starchy food can cause a fly infestation.

Foods to Avoid:

• Meat, Fish, and Dairy Products: These attract pests and create foul odors as they decompose.
• Oils and Fats: These are hard for worms to digest and can create unpleasant odors.
• Citrus Fruits (Lemons, Oranges, Grapefruits): The acidity can harm the worms.
• Onions and Garlic: These can also be harmful to worms.
• Spicy Foods: Avoid adding peppers or other spicy foods.

5. Location

The location of your worm bin is crucial for their well-being. Ideal locations include:

• A Cool, Shaded Area: Worms prefer temperatures between 55°F and 77°F (13°C and 25°C). Avoid direct sunlight and extreme temperatures.
• Garage, Basement, or Shed: These are good options if you have them.
• A Patio or Balcony: If kept in a shaded area, a patio or balcony can also work. Remember to protect the bin from extreme weather and provide ventilation.

Caring For Your Worm Farm

Maintaining a thriving worm farm requires some regular care. Here’s what to do:

1. Feeding Your Worms

• Frequency: Start by feeding your worms about 1-2 times per week. Observe how quickly they consume the food and adjust the frequency as needed.
• Quantity: Feed them smaller amounts at first to avoid overwhelming them, and to get a feel for how much they are eating. As the colony grows, you can increase the amount of food you add each feeding.
• Bury the Food: Bury the food scraps under the top layer of bedding. This helps to minimize fruit flies and other pests, and prevents the food from drying out.
• Rotate Feeding Areas: Avoid adding food to the same spot each time. This ensures that the entire bin is utilized by the worms.

2. Maintaining Moisture Levels

• Check Regularly: The bedding should always feel moist, like a wrung-out sponge. It shouldn’t be soaking wet or completely dry.
• Add Water: If the bedding starts to dry out, lightly mist it with water from a spray bottle. Use dechlorinated water if possible (let tap water sit for 24 hours to allow chlorine to dissipate, or use filtered water).
• Avoid Overwatering: Too much moisture can lead to anaerobic conditions, which are harmful to worms. If the bin becomes too wet, add more dry bedding.

3. Monitor the Bin

• Pest Control: Keep an eye out for fruit flies, mites, or other pests. Good maintenance and proper feeding habits will usually prevent infestations. If a fly infestation occurs, try adding some dry shredded newspaper on top of the bedding, and do not add food until they are gone.
• Odor Control: A healthy worm bin should have a mild earthy smell. If the bin starts to smell foul, it’s a sign that something is wrong. Often, a foul smell means that the bin is too wet, or too much of the wrong type of food is in the bin.
• Observe Worm Activity: Check how active the worms are. If they seem sluggish or are trying to escape, something may not be right. Make adjustments to their bedding, food, moisture, or temperature as needed.

Harvesting Your Worms for Fishing

After a few months, your worm population should be thriving, and you’ll be able to harvest some for your next fishing trip. Here are a few methods for harvesting worms:

1. The Migration Method

• Prepare a New Bin: Set up a new bin with fresh bedding.
• Transfer the Old Bin to Light: Place the original bin under a bright light source. Worms will naturally move away from the light and down into the bin.
• Transfer the Top Layer: Carefully transfer the top few inches of the bedding from the old bin to the new bin. Worms will migrate out of the remaining bedding in the old bin, to the bottom of the container.
• Repeat: Continue removing the bedding until most of the worms have migrated to the new bin.
• Harvest from New Bin: Take the worms you need from the new bin. After a few weeks, the remaining worms in the new bin will likely start to breed.

2. The Sorting Method

• Dump and Sort: Carefully dump the contents of the worm bin onto a large tarp or sheet of plastic.
• Separate Worms: Spread out the compost and start carefully picking out the worms. You may need to sift through some of the compost, since baby worms are tiny, and are hard to see sometimes.
• Return Compost: Once you’ve harvested the worms you need, return the remaining compost back into the bin.

3. The Hand-Picking Method

• Locate Worms: Carefully dig through the top layer of bedding and start picking out worms.
• Harvest as Needed: This method works best when you only need a small amount of worms for a single fishing trip.
• Avoid Disturbing: Be mindful not to disturb the rest of the bin too much during this method, as this can be a more invasive method.

Troubleshooting Common Worm Farming Problems

Even with the best intentions, you may encounter some challenges. Here are solutions to common issues:

• Foul Odor: Indicates too much moisture or uneaten food. Add dry bedding, reduce food, and ensure proper ventilation.
• Fruit Flies: Bury food scraps deeply and cover them with a layer of shredded paper, and avoid adding excessive amounts of fruit.
• Mites: Often appear if the bin is too wet. Reduce moisture, and make sure there is good ventilation.
• Worms Trying to Escape: Often indicates that the bin is too wet, too dry, or the food conditions are not ideal. Adjust the moisture levels, food content, and temperature as needed.
• Slow Reproduction: Ensure the worms are fed regularly and that the environmental conditions are favorable.

Tips for Success

• Start Small: Begin with a small worm farm and gradually expand as you gain experience.
• Observe Carefully: Pay attention to how your worms react to different conditions and adjust accordingly.
• Keep It Simple: Don’t overcomplicate the process. The simpler your system, the easier it will be to maintain.
• Be Patient: Worm farming is a process that takes time and patience. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t see results immediately.
• Learn Continuously: Research online or in books, and learn from the experience of other worm farmers.

Conclusion

Growing your own fishing worms is a rewarding experience that offers numerous benefits, from cost savings to sustainability. With a little effort and patience, you can establish a thriving worm farm that provides you with a steady supply of live bait, and helps reduce waste and enrich your garden with quality compost. So, grab a bin, some worms, and start your worm-farming journey today!