Storing Maggots

[Elton]

Posted on behalf of dd. Please add all replies to this thread:

 

In the warmer weather my box of maggots are going over after just a day outside, even in the coolest place in the garden behind the oil tank. Mum would only let me keep my maggots in the fridge if they are in a bag, in another bag but would this kill them if it was air tight or very nearly air tight? Thanks

[Now there's a right un.]

No, you will not kill the Maggots.

 

If you are using a Bag within a Bag then here is what you do.

 

Take as much air out of the main storage bag and put inside your 2nd bag.

Place in the Fridge and the Maggots go into a type of suspended animation, so the need for air is reduced.

 

If you are overly concerned just open and refresh the air every few days.

 

I can keep my bait upto 3 weeks from purchase and still have good lively bait, when they eventually warm up.

[Andy Macfarlane]

At just a little over 1 degree, I kept maggots for 7 months, inside a bag. That must be some kind of record. The roach loved them on the drop.

[Leon Roskilly]

On a slightly different tack.

 

On running water, I find that frozen maggots work just as well as live.

 

(I've not tried them on stillwaters).

 

 

Rather than chucking unused maggots in the water at the end of the session, take them home and put them in the freezer.

 

 

They also do for adding to groundbait, as they won't burrow into the bottom to hide.

[Andy Macfarlane]

Aye frozen maggots work fine, especially on the drop but they also work for bigger speci-roach, which I tend to find prefer non-moving baits anyway, like bread, corn, paste and suchlike. Why this is the case, I cannot say but I rarely, if ever catch big roach on live maggots.

 

Frozen maggots also work for spooky stillwater fish that have seen live maggots too many times.

 

On top of what Leon said about burrowing, frozen maggots are also best for groundbait balls and method feeders because they don't break up on the throw/cast.

[davedave]

Aye frozen maggots work fine, especially on the drop but they also work for bigger speci-roach, which I tend to find prefer non-moving baits anyway, like bread, corn, paste and suchlike. Why this is the case, I cannot say but I rarely, if ever catch big roach on live maggots.

 

Frozen maggots also work for spooky stillwater fish that have seen live maggots too many times.

 

On top of what Leon said about burrowing, frozen maggots are also best for groundbait balls and method feeders because they don't break up on the throw/cast.

 

so if i freeze the maggots and kill them, the fish on my local lake will still take them as readily as a hook-bait as they would live ones? I always assumed it was the 'lively wriggling' of a maggot that was a major part in the attraction to fish? Cheers

[ColinW]

so if i freeze the maggots and kill them, the fish on my local lake will still take them as readily as a hook-bait as they would live ones? I always assumed it was the 'lively wriggling' of a maggot that was a major part in the attraction to fish? Cheers

 

I would normally prefer live maggots for the movement attraction but on some lake beds, like very soft silt or weed, live ones will bury themselves before the fish can find them. Then dead ones at least give you some feed on the ground. Freezing is the easiest way to kill them. You can also cook them in boiling water. Don't believe the old books that say this gives off a "nutty aroma"! Do it outside!!

For the original poster, they don't need air. It's better if you squeeze as much air out of the bag as you can and then tie off the top. They will seem to be dead but they revive when they warm up. Word of advice, women will let you keep anything in the fridge if they can't see it or hear it moving.

[davedave]

I would normally prefer live maggots for the movement attraction but on some lake beds, like very soft silt or weed, live ones will bury themselves before the fish can find them. Then dead ones at least give you some feed on the ground. Freezing is the easiest way to kill them. You can also cook them in boiling water. Don't believe the old books that say this gives off a "nutty aroma"! Do it outside!!

For the original poster, they don't need air. It's better if you squeeze as much air out of the bag as you can and then tie off the top. They will seem to be dead but they revive when they warm up. Word of advice, women will let you keep anything in the fridge if they can't see it or hear it moving.

 

haha ok thanks very much

[Andy Macfarlane]

so if i freeze the maggots and kill them, the fish on my local lake will still take them as readily as a hook-bait as they would live ones? I always assumed it was the 'lively wriggling' of a maggot that was a major part in the attraction to fish? Cheers

 

On the drop, they'll work every bit as well but legered, hard to say. That's very much venue dependent. Too many variables. Species, density, clarity, how often they're caught, how spooky, the maggots themselves.....have to suck it and see but yes, I've used them to good effect.

[chesters1]

get yourself your own fridge and keep it in the garage ,those work top ones are perfect and often free in the press

Edited July 26, 2010 by chesters1