Keeping the maggots from going off

[The Flying Tench]

What do you do on hols etc to make the maggots last as long as poss without a fridge. Does covering with a wet cloth work. Or do casters last longer than maggots if they're kept air tight?

[chesters1]

Why dont you have a fridge on hols? (Mrs not liking the idea ?) Just buy a mini peltier one it will do fine

Other fridges available inc car versions i wouldnt be fooled by the figures peltiers coolers are not efficiant and they struggle to get more than c20 degrees from ambiant temperature ok for maggots but never use for food it will never get to a safe temp in weather like today

https://www.amazon.co.uk/CENXINY-Fridges-Portable-Powered-Cosmetics/dp/B08V8FTM83/ref=sr_1_20?crid=38596QK7XY2IZ&keywords=mini+car+fridge+240v&qid=1657564592&sprefix=mini+car+fridge+240v%2Caps%2C150&sr=8-20

When you take maggots just take enough then plop them back in on return ,i have often wondered the conversation of the returning unused ones telling tales of their adventures to the ones left behind

Some holiday places also have a freezing service ,you could buy a few freezer blocks in the destination get them frozen every night and use then to chill your wrigglers ,you then get them refrozen for the next trip you could put the blocks and bait in a soft insulted bag and sit it next to you on the bank ,in the shade ofcourse

Edited July 11, 2022 by chesters1

[The Flying Tench]

Thanks, Chesters, I hadn't heard of Peltier fridges. I'll certainly think about that, though maybe won't be in time to get one for next week where I'll only be fishing for 3 days

[Ken L]

In this weather, you fridge them or you end up with a frothy sticky mess, followed by dead maggots.

If you take maggots, just be sure to have a good supply of an alternate non-perishable bait, like pellets.

[Martin56]

You are correct up to a point Ken, however I keep my maggots in the fridge in a bait box with layers of Kitchen roll. Remember to turn the fridge up a notch or 2 as well in this hot weather.  I've kept my current batch of maggots for over 2 weeks now & all is well (I've just had a look a few minutes ago) Give them half a hour at room temperature every couple of days or so to Liven them up taking the paper out, then re layer them (even with the old paper) & re fridge them. Also make sure it's a proper maggot box with Air holes in the lid!!

Edited July 13, 2022 by Martin56

[Whitty]

John,clean all dust from fridged maggots then put them in a plastic bag removing as much air as possible,tie them up and keep them in a cool box/bag,with ice blocks,when you take them out for use open the bag and place in a bait box putting some maize meal on them,the vast majority will be wriggling again in an hour.Tips,small batches,say half to one pint per bag,that way your wastage would be minimilised as your problem would be chilling them back down after usage,hope this helps....

Edited July 14, 2022 by Whitty

[Vagabond]

Hi

Ide have been around for a long time.  I first caught one in my teens - they were called orfe then. They have not just a few scales more than roach but a helluva lot more  as others have said.

Don't catch them from rivers  after March 14 - as  the soothsayer said  to Julius Caesar "Beware the Ides of March"

BTW ,  I'm 88 now,so my teens were a helluva long time ago.

Dunno how this  got here . I thought l was posting in Tenchy's ide/orfe thread. Could Mr Mod move it ,please ?  - thanks

Edited July 31, 2022 by Vagabond
Post in wrong thread

[Martin56]

My mate is also 88+ & I'm 65 and a bit, we still manage to go fishing during the week & he picks me up in the Range Rover you know.

Not very far, but it gets us both out for the day. (& gives our wives a break)

Edited July 30, 2022 by Martin56

[BoldBear]

I thought that I hadn’t ever caught an IDE, however now I realise that IDE is just another name for Orfe and I used to catch them quite a lot back in the 90s although the ones we caught back then were Golden Orfe. 

Keith

[chesters1]

They're generally introduced to stop match anglers hogging a pond getting bored in colder months