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Author Topic: Wax worms or maggots???  (Read 1719 times)

Offline Dickbakers

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Wax worms or maggots???
« on: Dec 03, 2021, 05:11 PM »
 ??? Ice in in north country.  Time to order live bait.  I will use lots of plastics but always carry some live bait (worms , spikes or wax worms).   No small or medium shiners at local shops.   Have to be ready for first ice perch and stocked trout.
Dick
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Offline skifisher

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Re: Wax worms or maggots???
« Reply #1 on: Dec 03, 2021, 05:28 PM »
Try a few mealworms sometime. A productive alternative on occasion!
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Offline catchacold

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Re: Wax worms or maggots???
« Reply #2 on: Dec 03, 2021, 05:55 PM »
Either way don't get the preserved dyed ones. Picked up a few packs of pink yellow and chartreuse Wax worms and nothing would touch em last year. Not even perch or dumb stockies.
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Offline Anomaly

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Re: Wax worms or maggots???
« Reply #3 on: Dec 03, 2021, 06:25 PM »
Quote from: catchacold on Dec 03, 2021, 05:55 PM
Either way don't get the preserved dyed ones. Picked up a few packs of pink yellow and chartreuse Wax worms and nothing would touch em last year. Not even perch or dumb stockies.

Ive pretty much got to cut bait. Used to use mousees a lot. Now a small strip of perch tail or strip of belly of anything, even trout or whitefish. Yeah, it's legal. Have verified it with bios and wardens.
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Offline Fishhead680

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Re: Wax worms or maggots???
« Reply #4 on: Dec 03, 2021, 06:31 PM »
Where do you find spikes? I haven’t seen em in years
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Offline Anomaly

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Re: Wax worms or maggots???
« Reply #5 on: Dec 03, 2021, 06:38 PM »
Quote from: Fishhead680 on Dec 03, 2021, 06:31 PM
Where do you find spikes? I haven’t seen em in years
Pretty sure Dags and or Sebago Bait had them last year. I saw stew at Walmart a couple years ago. Plenty on line on eBay and other sites. Just type it in... Here's an eBay link https://www.ebay.com/itm/144312097524?hash=item2199abdaf4:g:jMUAAOSwMtJhoipk&var=443626255097
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Offline Iceassin

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Re: Wax worms or maggots???
« Reply #6 on: Dec 03, 2021, 06:48 PM »
SPIKES... are my go to. They will keep for several months in the crisper of the fridge. I buy them by the 1000. Take out what I need each time I go. WAXIES...I use them once in awhile. Little fussier to keep.They like temps between 45 -50. You'll lose a few. Just pick out the dead ones. Also love WIGGLERS. Perch and big Gills love 'em. Even harder to keep and find around here. They like cold, fresh water but not so they are swimming in it. If you plan on trying to keep them...change the water every couple of days..Hope this helps.
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Offline DR.SPECKLER

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Re: Wax worms or maggots???
« Reply #7 on: Dec 03, 2021, 07:02 PM »
Mike i had my spikes from 2 years ago mixed in with last years.i just dumped them in the pond and fed the fish a few days back lol.get a new fresh batch this year.
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Offline meandcuznalfy

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Re: Wax worms or maggots???
« Reply #8 on: Dec 03, 2021, 07:03 PM »
Maggots, I usually order a bunch before the season starts, they'll last a long time.
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Offline 9huskies

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Re: Wax worms or maggots???
« Reply #9 on: Dec 03, 2021, 08:03 PM »
Quote from: Fishhead680 on Dec 03, 2021, 06:31 PM
Where do you find spikes? I haven’t seen em in years
L.L.Cote usually has them in stock.
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Offline Van_Cleaver

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Re: Wax worms or maggots???
« Reply #10 on: Dec 03, 2021, 08:41 PM »
You can order spikes online; ebay has them with free shipping. Still have some left from last season and I ordered them in DEC.
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Offline meandcuznalfy

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Re: Wax worms or maggots???
« Reply #11 on: Dec 03, 2021, 08:46 PM »
Quote from: Van_Cleaver on Dec 03, 2021, 08:41 PM
You can order spikes online; ebay has them with free shipping. Still have some left from last season and I ordered them in DEC.

So, they last then, saw that and was a bit worried it my be a waste of money.
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Offline Van_Cleaver

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Re: Wax worms or maggots???
« Reply #12 on: Dec 03, 2021, 08:57 PM »
I kept my in the fridge ray with the meats and cheese. They like mid to upper thirties. Just go through from time to time and weed out the dead ones. Mine should be arriving tomorrow; now we just need ice!
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Offline Fishhead680

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Re: Wax worms or maggots???
« Reply #13 on: Dec 03, 2021, 09:09 PM »
Thanks - I’ve ordered waxies on line and keep them through the season but never wa able to find spikes - appreciate the link!
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Offline skifisher

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Re: Wax worms or maggots???
« Reply #14 on: Dec 03, 2021, 09:12 PM »
Bestbait.com…healthy bait with excellent service and free shipping!
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Offline Fishhead680

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Re: Wax worms or maggots???
« Reply #15 on: Dec 03, 2021, 09:22 PM »
Clam fisher - I meant to say I hadn’t seen mousies… getting older is getting old!
Thank you Skifisher, I probably wouldn’t have realized my mistake but went to the best bait site and saw mousies! I’ll be putting an order in for sure!
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Offline Fishhead680

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Re: Wax worms or maggots???
« Reply #16 on: Dec 03, 2021, 09:28 PM »
Aaaaaaaand they are out of stock…
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Offline Iceassin

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Re: Wax worms or maggots???
« Reply #17 on: Dec 03, 2021, 09:29 PM »
Quote from: Fishhead680 on Dec 03, 2021, 09:22 PM
Clam fisher - I meant to say I hadn’t seen mousies… getting older is getting old!
Thank you Skifisher, I probably wouldn’t have realized my mistake but went to the best bait site and saw mousies! I’ll be putting an order in for sure!

We can get Mousees around these parts once in awhile. Corn borers...none. Since they started treating Sweet Corn seeds a few years back they're no longer around. I have heard that you can dry out the kernels from the corn you pick and plant them the next season...they'll be there.
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Offline Anomaly

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Re: Wax worms or maggots???
« Reply #18 on: Dec 04, 2021, 05:29 AM »
I just bought 250. larger amounts are available too. I can say though, cut bait from tougher parts of any fish work as well and are free. Mousees DO stay on the hook very well. The best "catcher" I know just uses cut bait. https://www.ebay.com/itm/133950037291?hash=item1f300b5d2b:g:J4IAAOSwLYdfx48P
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Offline Iceassin

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Re: Wax worms or maggots???
« Reply #19 on: Dec 04, 2021, 06:01 AM »
Quote from: DR.SPECKLER on Dec 03, 2021, 07:02 PM
Mike i had my spikes from 2 years ago mixed in with last years.i just dumped them in the pond and fed the fish a few days back lol.get a new fresh batch this year.

I called Swan Lake a few days ago and said they'd have bulk Spikes in about another week. They're not sure about the Wigglers yet.
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Offline mbart

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Re: Wax worms or maggots???
« Reply #20 on: Dec 04, 2021, 06:15 AM »
Ordered 4,000 spikes from Ja-Da bait on Monday 11/29, arrived 12/2 by USPS.
https://www.ja-dabait.com/
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Offline hardwater diehard

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Re: Wax worms or maggots???
« Reply #21 on: Dec 04, 2021, 06:29 AM »
Quote from: mbart on Dec 04, 2021, 06:15 AM
Ordered 4,000 spikes from Ja-Da bait on Monday 11/29, arrived 12/2 by USPS.
https://www.ja-dabait.com/

Thats fast for a NY address .I love Ja-Da Bait

Spikes are easier to keep ..but apparently my local crappie and perch have a delicate palate for wax worms . I was a big consumer of spikes some years back I have since switched to waxes .Never had luck with meal worms .
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Offline 9huskies

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Re: Wax worms or maggots???
« Reply #22 on: Dec 04, 2021, 01:10 PM »
I haven't noticed any difference between fishingwith spikes or waxies so I buy spikes because they are easier to keep alive. When fishing for bass I have better results with giant mealworms. I used to raise them myself but they are so cheap to buy that it wasn't worth the work.
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