The Fishermans Net

Hi

I have a few questions about worms and other baits that I’m hoping you maybe able to help with. Firstly and it’s an obvious thing to say but live fresh worms are better than frozen so I wouldn’t mind going to get some and this goes for other baits as well. Problem is a live a fair distance from the worm grounds (I think). I have seen Formby mentioned in the posts and I can see that people go there to get good Lug. So, with this in mind I was wondering if I went to get some live worms the following things:

How long do they stay live?
How do you/can you keep them?
Can you freeze your own or do they need flash freezing?

This also applies to other live baits?

The other thing I was wondering was are there any places nearish me that I can get good bait? I was thinking that the Mersey estuary may have some near to me so I can get some and keep them for say the day after? Is there good bait as far up as Warrington or maybe Runcorn/Widnes?

Many Thanks

Si

Sorry I should have said, to put some context on this I’m used to mackerel, squid and rock shells and also artificials. In Devon that’s all I needed to catch the eating fish I wanted to catch for the pan, with the sands here it’s very different so I’m not really sure were to start apart from the angling centres freezer which I’m not massively keen on.

Edit - And live sand eel from the beach front, caught that morning - great for free lining for bass on the Teign

Any help would be most appreciated.

the only places i know of that are good for worms are moreton shore and to the left of fort perch rock (if u like blow lug) im sure someone will know somewhere closer to u though

paul j wrote:the only places i know of that are good for worms are moreton shore and to the left of fort perch rock (if u like blow lug) im sure someone will know somewhere closer to u though

I saw a guy use a big fork to dig the blow lug next for the fort,he passed by and showed me his bucket, I think he got several hundreds of worms in his bucket!!!

all thick like my thumb!

Alright Si....i`ve never looked for lug around the runcorn area...stretches of "beach" do show but i think it`s pretty muddy and i`ve never heard of anyone going there for worms. Formby is probably the nearest beach where you`ll get proper bo linfords.Leasowe is carp for black...you can walk for an eternity before you find a cast
You can keep worms in good condition for up to a week...gut them and wrap them in newspaper and bung them in the fridge...change the paper the next day and put them back in the fridge and they`ll be sound.You can keep small lug alive in fresh sea water but you`ll have to change the water regularly....the large blacks start absorbing the water and end up like very soft balloons Some like to gut the worms on the beach then roll them in the dry sand from the top of the beach...it makes them easier to handle and some reckon it helps preserve them.
You can freeze them in your own freezer,but only select the thickest worms as they stand up to the process better....you can use them as normal when thawed or bang them in the micro for a couple of mins and they come out nice n firm...you`ll lose a couple from each pack (the ones on the outside) coz they`ll be over-cooked and resemble rubber

I know a few lads who have been up above the runcorn bridge looking for lug around spike island way,but they only found some skinny ragworm a bit like harbour rag but too soft to cast any distance.
It may be the lack of salinity that prevents lug thriving there perhaps
All the best beds are well outside the river now and I cant see that changing somehow.

a bit off your topic si but noticed yer from post you from devon you ever fish in or around bigbury bay ?

in particular around the estury in salcombe

Many thanks for the tips and information, one thing springs to mind straight away, you have to gut the lug? Never knew that, and haven’t a clue how to either for that matter so any tip son that would be great thanks.

As for Salcombe, sorry I never ventured that far, I stayed from Dawlish Warren down to Hopes Nose.

You generally only have to gut black (suey) lug if you plan to keep or freeze them.They often gut themselves when pumped or dug.If not just squeeze behind the head and the guts should fly out. The guts can then be used for sandwiches.

steve duffy wrote: just squeeze behind the head and the guts should fly out.

Gutting lug is like makin love to a beautiful woman ..............

Don't know if its any use to you , if you buy live rag worm it usually comes in polystyrene granules, lift the rag out and place in a container and add porridge oats, its the body fluids they lose that kills them, the oats absorb the fluid and helps you keep them longer.

As for Blow lug remember to keep them covered and out of any sunlight as this makes them go off all the quicker.

Big Kev wrote:

steve duffy wrote: just squeeze behind the head and the guts should fly out.

Gutting lug is like makin love to a beautiful woman ..............

Pearl necklace anyone?