Best kind of worms for fishing

Best kind of worms for fishing

By Teresa J. Frith

man fishing at a pond

Fishing is a fun and relaxing pastime that many people love to do. But in order to catch the fish you need the right kind of bait, and usually that includes worms. So, what are the best kind of worms for fishing?

There are thousands of species of worms in the world, and the type you choose depends on the kind of fish you want to catch. For instance, you can use worms to catch bullheads, trout, catfish, trout, bluegills, bass, walleye and crappies. 

Some of the best kind of worms for fishing include:

Nightcrawlers -- There are several kinds of nightcrawlers, to include Canadian, African, and European. The most common of these in the United States is the Canadian nightcrawler, which is also the biggest. African nightcrawlers are mostly common in Australia, and are not quite as big as European ones. The European nightcrawlers are nearly as long as the Canadian variety and are just as fat and juicy from a fish’s point of view. All three varieties get between about 8 to 10 inches long.

Mealworms -- Mealworms are a larval form of mealworm beetles, otherwise called darkling beetles. They are dark red and about an inch or two long. They are eaten by fish, reptiles and birds and can be bought live or dried.

red wiggler earthworm

Red Wigglers – Also called red worms, manure worms, panfish worm, trout worm, brandling worm or tiger worm. They are prized for fishing because they are very active when placed on your hook and live a long time underwater. They are red-brown and segmented, and get between one and a half and three inches long

Leeches – Parasitic worms with sucker on both sides and a muscular body, which is black or brown, and grow to between a half inch and a foot long, depending on the type. They stick to their victims and suck blood from them and many folks will have seen them on their legs after wading in a creek or stream.

Waxworms – Waxworms are the larval stage of greater wax moths. They get to about three quarters of an inch long and come in grey, white, tan or brown. They are softer than mealworms.

Bloodworms – Bloodworms are the larval stage of midge flies. They grow up to 14 inches long. They have four little antennas as well as fleshy projections on their body. They are carnivorous and venomous and their bite can be painful to humans, so be careful when handling them. 

Butterworms – Butterworms are yellowish pink worms also called tebo or trevo worms. They are the larval form of Chilian moths and get between a half and one and a quarter inches long. A weird thing about them is their sweet scent, which fish love.

All in all, any of these worms will provide wonderful bait for your next fishing trip and can normally be purchased in most bait shops during fishing season.