Treat your waxworms

[RHW]

Before I go ice fishing for bluegills, I always like to treat my waxworms. No, I don't take them out to McDonalds, then to the movies.
Rather, a few days before I go fishing, I will buy a tub which contains 250 packed in saw dust.
I then treat the tub with Dr. Juice panfish scent.
Squirt about 20 drops into the saw dust and stir and shake it around gently.
No need to drown or saturate them.
I then store them on the basement cement floor, keeps them cool and they will last for several days. Just as long as untreated waxies.
Every day, I will turn the tub over. We all know that once they settle, they always like to crawl to the bottom. Turning them will make them crawl back through the treated saw dust, thus rubbing the scent all over them.
This extra time, allows the scent to absorb into their skin. Will not wash or rinse off as quickly if you just give them a quick shot before dunking them.
When ice fishing in shallow water, site fishing, have noticed that gills will hold the treated worms in their mouth a little longer and sometimes, that extra second is all you need to hook them.
If you can not find Dr. Juice scent, then go to your local pharmacy and buy a small bottle of Cod Liver oil, yes, the same as your grandma gave you as a kid when you got sick. This is just as an affective scent additive and maybe a little cheaper.
Found this works just as well during the open water season.
I believe treated waxies will out perform the untreated.

[Bruce Condello]

That's interesting. Can I share that with the NEFGA forum?

[Mark]

That's a cool idea, never thought of spraying the whole bunch, and letting them soak.

Have you ever tried icing down night crawlers the night before you go fishing? It's an old trick, but man do they move when you stick'em in the water. Plus your hands stay clean for eating chips.

[PaPa Cheese-O]

Here is another idea. get a bucket of room temp water and an air pump with airline and air stone. put the air stone in bucket and start the pump. Put a couple dz crawlers in the bucket. The air will keep them alive and they plump up with water. Did u ever find a dead crawler in the gutter on the street? he is pretty plumped up from the water but died from no oxygen. Try it and you will know why Ive been doin this for years.

[Kiana Fitzpatrick]

Both sound interesting...I would like to know more about icing the crawlers too!! Thanks

[Ray Danders]

Nightcrawlers that are kept cold and pumped up with water are much better bait than warm limp nightcrawlers. Papa's technique works well, but if you take lively crawlers immerse them in a bucket of ice water they will get so pumped up and lively you can hardly hold them in your hand,

Years ago the same publisher that published "Fishing Facts" magazine published a book called "Lunkers love nightcrawlers". I think you can find it if you google it. That book was part of a system and understanding that revolutionized fishing as we know it today. Structure fishing and Buck Perry were at the forefront of that revolution.

[RHW]

Sorry guys, don't know much about or use crawlers. Waxies all year long and maybe chunks of leeches. 50% of the time, use just plain plastics, no need to tip them, if the bite is hot and on. Mini Mites, Ratsos and Falls Flicktails.
Yes Bruce of course, share with whomever you like.
Sometimes, I will also put in a tablespoon of Quaker Oats Oat Meal so they have something to eat. Read that someplace, not sure if that works but sounded like a good idea.

[richard adkins]

Great idea I'll have to try this. I have been treating my nightcrawlers for years. I spray Baitmate nightcrawler smell on them that bass fisherman use. All fish seem to find the bait faster,especially catfish. I can't find this product around here anymore. I'm thinking about trying Berkley Gulp nightcrawler spray. If anyone has tryied this product let me know!

[KEN BROCK THE FISH DENTIST]

WHERE DO U BUY DR. JUICE. I'VE HEARD ANICE OIL IS GOOD ALSO.

[blackhawks]

Here is what I do for waxies...both for open and hard water: I use the Strikemaster bait pucks to store my waxies. I take a small piece of paper towel and add a few drops of Anise Oil to the paper towel...do not over saturate it...just put the paper towel over the bottle and quickly invert it. Place the paper towel on top of the waxies and seal the lid. Most of the ice fishing plastics I buy have an anise smell (like black licorice) to them, e.g., Little Atom plastics. I also store my waxies in the basement and I sort through them every few days to remove deads ones. I believe they last longer and it is an attractant for the gills.