With all the fancy lures, plastic baits, some slo death hooks, bait holders and drop shot style hooks, a handful of 2-3 kinds or sizes of weights and of course an insulated bag to keep the crawlers. These items and the crawler/red worm baits will keep one in the fishing game day after day. Cast trolled or drifted. What a miracle bait.
@@bobplumb4501 Bob I did not know that our state record musky was caught on a crawler. Was that fish caught at Pymathuning Lake? Yeah I live in PA also.
Thanks Caleb for another great lesson! Did you ever use a syringe to pump air into a crawler and keep it floating? Or floating beads just ahead of the hook? These would be other options to a floating jig head to use with a Lindy rig.
I'm looking for a syringe to replace my very old one. Long ago I read a book I bought thru Fishing Facts Magazine titled "Lunkers Love Nightcrawlers" in which this method was a basic method. Even the Lindners used it to great success. It's an excellent method.
Thanks for the tips! Taking cub scouts out shore fishing on a lake this weekend. Setting half up with slip bobbers and half with carolina ( same as Lindy?) rigs. Hopefully someone will catch something! For collecting worms - vibrating the soil works amazingly well (worm grunting - lots of videos). I have a smooth metal flat bar that I push down hard and slide back and forth over a moistened wood stake. The worms come up really quick.
Great video, thanks. I just got back from Ontario and we ran out of crawlers. They were fire for walleyes. Up in Ontario we primarily use 3/8oz keel bead chain weights. This is because when we get hung up on a rock you just back up and the snag comes free. Also consider using a 2 hook spinner rig.
DIY.... save a lot of money, and time, splash some warm soapy water ( I use Polmolive dish soap) on your lawn the crawlers will just about jump out of their holes.
worm grunting works great too, though a bit more effort than putting soap down. Might have to try that, though most of my worms are in my raised beds and not sure I want to put soap down there.
A small little tip I use when getting my own worms out of my yard. If the worm is pretty much out of their hole. You can pinch the hole so the worm doesn't slip back into their hole...they are quick. A small and dim light is best. Bright lights will spook the worm. I don't worry too much about that now as I have my own worm bed. 😄
In the spring for bass I use number 1 worm hook with 2 large night crawlers hooked wacky style I double hook the worms a no weight on 8lb braided line on spinning reel, most fish hit it on the drop, my biggest fish this year in AZ almost 9 lbs it's deadly, Thanks for your tips
Did U notice that no one else recognized it... Let's just keep that to ourselves My new best friend Buddy , Pal...😉 I use it to keep my crawler horizontal on a dropshot... Let's just keep that between us too 👍😁
Can you show a video for rigging up dripshots and how you do drop shots? I watch alot of your content and I fish every weekend and during the week please it would help out alot 😀
Thanks, nice video mate, a lot of my American friends never use worms for some reason. I caught a 5lb Smallmouth (beautiful fish) on a 2 inch red worm on a tiny hook, some of my friends still don't believe it? I'm from England originally so I fish a little different, always from the shore, use longer rods, smaller hooks, different style of bobbers and such I don't own any lures and use spikes or worms for perch, suckers, fallfish and bass or corn or bread for carp. Not a criticism, one thing I don't understand is why some folks call 'carp' or 'suckers' trash fish or rough fish and kinda look down on them. I've caught Redhorse to 8lb, to me that's a fish of a lifetime. I really want to catch a big Quillback now.
Depends on the method but 8lb test is a good all-around size. Weight is 100% dependent on depth and how fast you want the bait to fall but I use 1/8 oz quite a bit.
I thought about that but I haven’t actually used them myself and I really don’t like to recommend things I don’t have personal experience with. I know, I’m behind the times. 😂
An old lunkers love nightcrawlers trick. Put a dozen crawlers in a jar of water overnight in the fridge, those worms will increase in size. But you have to keep that jar cold as possible or they'll start to lose it.
@@calebwistad I've been using nightcrawlers for over forty years since I started fishing. I've used every method you show except a drop shot rig. I mostly go with a thill center slider on a number 8 tru turn panfish and trout hook, with 6 pound fire line on an old Zebco UL3 that still works perfectly after 25 years. I like the Zebco because you can backreel with it. Thanks for your reply and have a great day! ( and if you never tried backreeling, you should give it a try, it's a blast! )
I tell beginner to get worm's is for everything in the water from small fish to big fish. It's the one thing that's everyone always need in your box. #1 to bait grab to go fishing and teach a kid how to fish or help one out. We need the Yung gen to get off the phone.
newbie here! 2 months fishing. My biggest problem with worms is that it is always devoured by tiny blue gills in 2 min so the worm never has the chance to be seen by a bigger fish. Is this normal or is it because I am fishing in ponds with too many bluegills? or is it because I am casting to short?
They definitely attract more fish than plain night crawlers in the tidal Potomac where I usually fish. The water there is pretty stained though unless you’re in the creeks where there is a lot of Hydrilla.
I'm not an avid fisherman, but I really have been trying to up my game. In my area (Southern Ontario, Canada) it can get very weedy and I almost always get snagged on a big clump of em. How does one fish a lake like that effectively? Frog baits or ones that sit on the water?
The only problem with bait holder hooks is unhooking fish, you need pliers, which takes longer to unhook fish, and if you have pliers those hooks rip up your thumb.
We have some incredible clean waters up here. We catch walleyes on pure sand flats oftentimes in the spring in 10 to 15’ visibility water. You can actually see schools of them 15’ down on a calm day.
Buying nightcrawlers? I went tru over 800 on my first year of Squawfishing... Had to catch them myself.. That's over 65 Dozen At $5 pop... Wanna buy some Nightcrawlers ?😁
Imagine catching giant finicky bluegills that won’t bite even a half crawler but will still eat a whole one. Imagine picking your own crawlers so they don’t cost you a dime. Imagine.
DRAGGING AROUND a WHOLE WORM IS RIDICULOUS and EXPENSIVE !!! FISH TAKE THE WHOLE WORM OFF BEFORE GETTING NEAR THE HOOK. I CUT MY WORMS INTO 3 PIECES, MAYBE 1 " HANGING OF HOOK. THAT'S IT, AND I CAN CATCH 3 FISH INSTEAD of 1. GOOD LUCK
I’m glad you found something that works for you. There are cases where it definitely makes sense to use 1/2 or 1/3 of a nightcrawler and I cover some of those in this video. Good luck and tight lines.
I guess the OP is targeting smaller fish. When I use a whole worm I present it in areas I believe there are larger yellow perch and bass. It’s worth it to me to lose a few worms to nibblers and catch something sizable.
Don’t like the way you handle fish by getting your fingers into the gills. Those are sensitive critical areas on a fish, jamming your fingers into them only enhances fish mortality.
I understand the sentiment if you plan to release fish. (It totally depends on the fish species, size and where you place your fingers/hands as far as whether or not the fish will sustain any damage though). I can tell you one thing about the fish in this video, there was almost 100% mortality because I ate just about every one of them. 😆 If I’m fishing with live bait I’m usually fishing for dinner. If I plan to catch and release I typically fish lures.
Do you actually fish crawlers? Like actively in 2024? You leave it long and flowing like that in the Great Lakes and bluegill/goby will rip it right off your hook long before a bass ever even looks at it.
I've fished Erie and never had a problem with anything stealing crawlers unless your fishing the easy locations to get to.excuses are a plenty you got any more 😂
A freelined bait is the least likely to get picked off the hook because there is no resistance from a weight or sinker for the fish to pull against to rip the bait off the hook. So, actually no.
20 pack of fat crawlers A dozen of leeches A pound of raw fresh unpeeled shrimp 24 minnows Any pan fish caught while fishing Cut up carp Muscles Grasshoppers Beetles June bugs Has caught me more fish than any artificial bait has And yes like all the comments says When the skunk been stankin go buy a tub of worms to drowned without thankin Lol
With all the fancy lures, plastic baits, some slo death hooks, bait holders and drop shot style hooks, a handful of 2-3 kinds or sizes of weights and of course an insulated bag to keep the crawlers. These items and the crawler/red worm baits will keep one in the fishing game day after day. Cast trolled or drifted. What a miracle bait.
Yep! It’s simple but effective.
Our state record musky (pa) was bought on a night crawler. Def one of my favorite baits other than cut bait.
@@bobplumb4501 Bob I did not know that our state record musky was caught on a crawler. Was that fish caught at Pymathuning Lake? Yeah I live in PA also.
Great presentation, from the simplist on up. Excellent video! On picking your own crawlers, a red light doesn't spook them.
Thanks! And yes, red does work better than straight light.
OMG I was just thinking that. I was out three nights ago and tried a black light cuz I didn’t have a red lite. It didn’t work. 😂
Every time I go fishing I always take a box of worms with me to get the skunk off hahaha 😂
Can’t beat them for just putting something in the boat!
Amen to that. Worms always give me a full cooler when all else fails
@@Dr.Ballsonyauh, dad?
😂@@Harry_Ballsonurphace
Tf
Thanks Caleb for another great lesson! Did you ever use a syringe to pump air into a crawler and keep it floating? Or floating beads just ahead of the hook? These would be other options to a floating jig head to use with a Lindy rig.
I'm looking for a syringe to replace my very old one. Long ago I read a book I bought thru Fishing Facts Magazine titled "Lunkers Love Nightcrawlers" in which this method was a basic method. Even the Lindners used it to great success. It's an excellent method.
Yes. I’ve done both and they both work.
I appreciate you for sharing your thoughts and tips 🙏
You bet! 👍
Thanks for the tips! Taking cub scouts out shore fishing on a lake this weekend. Setting half up with slip bobbers and half with carolina ( same as Lindy?) rigs. Hopefully someone will catch something!
For collecting worms - vibrating the soil works amazingly well (worm grunting - lots of videos). I have a smooth metal flat bar that I push down hard and slide back and forth over a moistened wood stake. The worms come up really quick.
Good luck! I’ve never tried grunting but would sure make an interesting video.
Great video, thanks. I just got back from Ontario and we ran out of crawlers. They were fire for walleyes. Up in Ontario we primarily use 3/8oz keel bead chain weights. This is because when we get hung up on a rock you just back up and the snag comes free. Also consider using a 2 hook spinner rig.
Nice! Sounds like you’ve got those walleyes figured out up there!
DIY.... save a lot of money, and time, splash some warm soapy water ( I use Polmolive dish soap) on your lawn the crawlers will just about jump out of their holes.
I’ll have to try the soap!
I'ma try this
worm grunting works great too, though a bit more effort than putting soap down. Might have to try that, though most of my worms are in my raised beds and not sure I want to put soap down there.
A small little tip I use when getting my own worms out of my yard. If the worm is pretty much out of their hole. You can pinch the hole so the worm doesn't slip back into their hole...they are quick. A small and dim light is best. Bright lights will spook the worm. I don't worry too much about that now as I have my own worm bed. 😄
That’s a good tip!
In the spring for bass I use number 1 worm hook with 2 large night crawlers hooked wacky style I double hook the worms a no weight on 8lb braided line on spinning reel, most fish hit it on the drop, my biggest fish this year in AZ almost 9 lbs it's deadly, Thanks for your tips
I bet that crushes!
Thanks for the info! That’s pretty interesting ! I catch golden trout on Nightcrawlers ! This technique will help me out thanks !🎣🎣🎣🎣
Glad you enjoyed it!
Great video, I use some of the rigs with much success. Super tips!! Keep up the great work.
Thanks!
Awesome! Thanks
You bet!
Whole night crawler works wonderful for me. I often just tie on a no4 and just cast it for small mouth.
Yep. Hard to beat it!
I never used or knew. About floating. Jigs. Thanks for the info
You bet! They work well in certain conditions.
When I lived in Minnesota I used a Lindy rig and a worm, but I would use a worm blower to make the worm float up off the bottom.
Still a good rig!
Did U notice that no one else recognized it... Let's just keep that to ourselves
My new best friend
Buddy , Pal...😉
I use it to keep my crawler horizontal on a dropshot...
Let's just keep that between us too
👍😁
Can you show a video for rigging up dripshots and how you do drop shots? I watch alot of your content and I fish every weekend and during the week please it would help out alot 😀
Here is a video on it! ua-cam.com/video/2g8tGR8U8KY/v-deo.htmlsi=IRlT0mo75dcru6GK
I look for small worms and those angle worms work really well too
Yes they do, especially for trout.
Yes I go for trout
Thanks, nice video mate, a lot of my American friends never use worms for some reason. I caught a 5lb Smallmouth (beautiful fish) on a 2 inch red worm on a tiny hook, some of my friends still don't believe it?
I'm from England originally so I fish a little different, always from the shore, use longer rods, smaller hooks, different style of bobbers and such I don't own any lures and use spikes or worms for perch, suckers, fallfish and bass or corn or bread for carp.
Not a criticism, one thing I don't understand is why some folks call 'carp' or 'suckers' trash fish or rough fish and kinda look down on them. I've caught Redhorse to 8lb, to me that's a fish of a lifetime. I really want to catch a big Quillback now.
Thanks for the tips.
You bet!
Using a little piece of soft plastic helps keep the worm on the hook too
That’s a good tip!
@@calebwistad I hope it works for you like it did for me
I always wondered why fish bite worms. They live in the dirt and is not a normal forage they see everyday😂they must smell or taste good to them
Yep. They must!
Worms come to the surface when it rains. They then get washed into water bodies by run off. The fish then eat them. They are very normal forage.
Worms get washed into streams and creeks every time it rains. Even more so around cities that have roads and storm drains.
Great vid! Thanks!
🙏 you bet!
Great education even for me a salt water fisherman trying to freshwater the .st time😊
Awesome! Good luck!
Great tips. What weight and type of leader line do you use
Depends on the method but 8lb test is a good all-around size. Weight is 100% dependent on depth and how fast you want the bait to fall but I use 1/8 oz quite a bit.
The key that I have learned over the years. If you are using a worm , always keep the rod in your hand or you will miss the bites
It definitely helps. Worms are pretty soft so it’s easy to pick them off the hook.
I personally think the live video finders are so uncool. Takes the fun out of fishing. It's like hunting on a bait station.
There is certainly no shortage of opinions on them. The fact is, they are here to stay and lots of people are using them now.
I personally think the live video finders are cool. I have an idea, I'll keep mine and you don't buy one. It's called freedom in a capitalist system.
It’s like using those extra wheels on a bike so you don’t fall off as a kid
Some guys can’t catch fish without them. It’s like playing a shitty “pay to win” video game instead of a skill based game
I agree. It takes a lot of the skill out of it. It seems lazy. They shouldn't be allowed in tournaments.
This is such good advice. And even better are the savage responses to silly comments 😂
Haha. I do my best!
I would add search baits like Kalin’s Tungsten Search Bait or Walleye Nation Creations Slow Death Rig.
I thought about that but I haven’t actually used them myself and I really don’t like to recommend things I don’t have personal experience with. I know, I’m behind the times. 😂
great video! Thanks!!!
🙏
An old lunkers love nightcrawlers trick. Put a dozen crawlers in a jar of water overnight in the fridge, those worms will increase in size. But you have to keep that jar cold as possible or they'll start to lose it.
Waterlogged giant crawlers. I like it! 😂
@@calebwistad I've been using nightcrawlers for over forty years since I started fishing. I've used every method you show except a drop shot rig. I mostly go with a thill center slider on a number 8 tru turn panfish and trout hook, with 6 pound fire line on an old Zebco UL3 that still works perfectly after 25 years. I like the Zebco because you can backreel with it. Thanks for your reply and have a great day! ( and if you never tried backreeling, you should give it a try, it's a blast! )
I usually always use half a crawler on a jig. Walleye, catfish, perch, crappie, and pretty much eveything else under the sun hit it.
Absolutely!
clam cooler bag looks perfect or close too, for kayak fishing
Oh yeah. I use 2 on my kayak. 1 for bait and one for food/drinks.
@@calebwistad yeah i wish they werent 35$.. i feel like sharing worms in the same cooler is slightly gross.
Life hits ya hard sometimes keep up the fishing vids when you can!
Thanks!
New Fishing UA-camr Here
Great video
Thanks!
One more thing I'd like to add , big baits catch big fish that's why I use 2 large crawlers
I bet that would work!
I tell beginner to get worm's is for everything in the water from small fish to big fish. It's the one thing that's everyone always need in your box. #1 to bait grab to go fishing and teach a kid how to fish or help one out. We need the Yung gen to get off the phone.
Yep. Almost everything that swims will eat a worm!
I need to try that drop shot rig. Great idea on the hook set up so it dont twist.
Yes. It works really well!
newbie here! 2 months fishing. My biggest problem with worms is that it is always devoured by tiny blue gills in 2 min so the worm never has the chance to be seen by a bigger fish. Is this normal or is it because I am fishing in ponds with too many bluegills? or is it because I am casting to short?
It’s pretty normal to get picked off by tiny bluegills in some lakes. Some places you just have to switch to plastics to keep the panfish off of ya.
thanks
You bet!
X. 😢😂
Do you ever use the night crawlers dyed green?
I’ve tried them. They don’t seem to make a big difference in the clear water we have but in dark water they might.
They definitely attract more fish than plain night crawlers in the tidal Potomac where I usually fish. The water there is pretty stained though unless you’re in the creeks where there is a lot of Hydrilla.
What about a Panther Martin with a night crawler.l love the Panther for trout,Largemouth and smalliesand the occasional channel cat.
Sounds like it would work to me!
I'm not an avid fisherman, but I really have been trying to up my game. In my area (Southern Ontario, Canada) it can get very weedy and I almost always get snagged on a big clump of em. How does one fish a lake like that effectively? Frog baits or ones that sit on the water?
I really like to fish Texas rigged swimbaits or swim jigs in really weed filled lakes. Frogs work too if the top water bite is on!
@@calebwistad Noted! Thank you, Ill give that a try next time
Great tips 😊, New Sub
Thanks very much!
How much lead them walleye have in them?
Number one tip hook it in the tail. They live longer and wiggle a lot more
I’ve definitely done that. They don’t stay on the hook quite as well but you definitely get more action out of them.
My issue is blue gills stealing the worm n not even getting hooked lol
They are pesky!
Does anyone still pick works at night with a flash light?
I do! I mention that at the end of the video.
Are they in coastal areas in nc
I believe they are every state in the lower 48
Nice worms! I always get yellow crap squirt in my eye when i stab the hook in them lol.
lol. I’ve seen it happen.
Ever use a worm threader?
I have. It’s a lot of rigging for a short lasting bait though.
Subbed!
Thanks much!
I literally catch everything nonstop using night crawlers
Yep. Best all around bait out there.
The only problem with bait holder hooks is unhooking fish, you need pliers, which takes longer to unhook fish, and if you have pliers those hooks rip up your thumb.
Yes. It’s definitely not the easiest hook to remove.
I dig my own worms within 100 yards of each body of water i fish. Use to catch baitfish then bas or catfish. I call it organic fishing
That’s awesome!
Worked with a guy that only used worms and crawlers found near the creek he was going to fish. He Caught alot of fish.
You left out one. Blow up with air and Carolina rig. 😉
I bet that works too. Just never tried it!
@@calebwistad Yes it's very old trick. 😉
I can fish 3 times useing the same worm i pinch the worm off to get 3 or 4 fish instead of one fish
That works great for less picky and smaller fish like panfish and brook trout. Sometimes it works well for walleye when they are biting short as well.
People been fishing with worms for years it's not a
secret?
Is that a question?
Do worms have to be alive to work ?
No, but they can’t be dead very long or they turn to mush.
@@calebwistad I understand, Im having issues keeping worms alive while I fish, might need a cooler or something because they turn mushy quickly
@@Osobearrryes keep an ice pack or frozen bottle of water beside them
You haven't ever met any turtles, have you? There's nothing you can do to stop a turtle from picking off 1/4" at a time...
Cast to another spot I guess. lol
2:55
😊
I dont think ive ever fished anywhere that clean...not a single rock or branch/limb
We have some incredible clean waters up here. We catch walleyes on pure sand flats oftentimes in the spring in 10 to 15’ visibility water. You can actually see schools of them 15’ down on a calm day.
You don’t use a worm box? 11:35
Nope. Just what I showed.
@@calebwistad your wife must not fish with you- I would never allow that much dirt in my boat LOL. Thanks for the vid and have fun out there!
Buying nightcrawlers?
I went tru over 800 on my first year of
Squawfishing...
Had to catch them myself..
That's over 65 Dozen
At $5 pop...
Wanna buy some
Nightcrawlers ?😁
Well, if you watch the video till the end you would see I do recommend catching your own, which is how I obtain most of mine as well.
I find worms in the ground for free.
If you watch the whole video you will see that I do as well!
Imagine using a whole worm to catch a panfish, just stay home a light your money on fire 😅
Imagine catching giant finicky bluegills that won’t bite even a half crawler but will still eat a whole one. Imagine picking your own crawlers so they don’t cost you a dime. Imagine.
@@calebwistad😂😂👍
DRAGGING AROUND a WHOLE WORM IS RIDICULOUS and EXPENSIVE !!! FISH TAKE THE WHOLE WORM OFF BEFORE GETTING NEAR THE HOOK. I CUT MY WORMS INTO 3 PIECES, MAYBE 1 " HANGING OF HOOK. THAT'S IT, AND I CAN CATCH 3 FISH INSTEAD of 1. GOOD LUCK
All caps? Gettin' pretty close to a rant there pard.😅
I’m glad you found something that works for you. There are cases where it definitely makes sense to use 1/2 or 1/3 of a nightcrawler and I cover some of those in this video. Good luck and tight lines.
I guess the OP is targeting smaller fish. When I use a whole worm I present it in areas I believe there are larger yellow perch and bass. It’s worth it to me to lose a few worms to nibblers and catch something sizable.
@@dentalnovember GOOD LUCK WITH that THEORY
@@robertmceuen3630 ALWAYS USE CAPS, MY TRADEMARK
Don’t like the way you handle fish by getting your fingers into the gills. Those are sensitive critical areas on a fish, jamming your fingers into them only enhances fish mortality.
I understand the sentiment if you plan to release fish. (It totally depends on the fish species, size and where you place your fingers/hands as far as whether or not the fish will sustain any damage though). I can tell you one thing about the fish in this video, there was almost 100% mortality because I ate just about every one of them. 😆 If I’m fishing with live bait I’m usually fishing for dinner. If I plan to catch and release I typically fish lures.
Weight-less Texas Rigged Senko
That’s a great bass bait. Yes.
Do you actually fish crawlers? Like actively in 2024? You leave it long and flowing like that in the Great Lakes and bluegill/goby will rip it right off your hook long before a bass ever even looks at it.
All the time. Totally different up here on these clear inland lakes.
I've fished Erie and never had a problem with anything stealing crawlers unless your fishing the easy locations to get to.excuses are a plenty you got any more 😂
The First one your just asking to lose your bait 😂 what a waste
A freelined bait is the least likely to get picked off the hook because there is no resistance from a weight or sinker for the fish to pull against to rip the bait off the hook. So, actually no.
20 pack of fat crawlers
A dozen of leeches
A pound of raw fresh unpeeled shrimp
24 minnows
Any pan fish caught while fishing
Cut up carp
Muscles
Grasshoppers
Beetles
June bugs
Has caught me more fish than any artificial bait has
And yes like all the comments says
When the skunk been stankin go buy a tub of worms to drowned without thankin
Lol
Lots of good baits on that list. I think snails, clams and mussels are underused.
I got better ways of fishing with a worm more then you got
So make your own vid, and learn grace.
This is a well thought out presentation, if you have something constructive to add to help your fellow anglers, don't keep it a secret.
Hey, more power to you man! Go catch some fish with your awesome worm expertise.
Rude. Sharing fishing tips is a sign of a great Fisherman and a nice guy. No need for negative comments
If it were so great make millions on on it right here.
Dead worms smell like gross feet.
Yeah. Or worse. 😝
You don’t need any live bait! It’s 2024 people 😮
WTH does the year have to do with using 🪱 😮😂😂😂😂 millenials are hilarious!
We won’t even need to go fishing anymore by 2030.
@@calebwistad 😳😳🤩🍿🍿
stupid question but can you use bloodworms in freshwater
Yes. I’ve never tried them myself but I know some people who have.
He definitely doesn’t use worms like this everyone
Except that all the b-roll footage is me actually using them. 😂