3 Ways To Keep Fishing Worms Alive For Fishing - WikiHow

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Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow How to Keep Fishing Worms Alive for Fishing PDF download Download Article Co-authored by Michael Reynolds

Last Updated: February 24, 2025 Fact Checked

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  • Keeping Worms in the Refrigerator
    • |
  • Storing Worms in a Worm Box
    • |
  • Caring for Worms in a Worm Box
    • |
  • Video
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  • Q&A
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This article was co-authored by Michael Reynolds. Michael Reynolds is a Professional Fishing Instructor and the Owner of Long Beach, California Fishing Lessons by Michael Reynolds. In his over 40 years of fishing experience, Michael has become very knowledgeable about the variety of fishing methods and techniques. He is passionate about sharing his knowledge with beginners to experienced anglers. Michael has been guiding and teaching fishing for over ten years and is licensed and bonded with the Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW). This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 331,502 times.

There’s no reason to discard the worms left over from your latest fishing trip. Worms are easy to care for and will multiply rapidly if left to their own devices. If you only have a few worms to keep, store them in your refrigerator. If you want to save money on bait in the long run, store the worms in a worm box outside and let them multiply.

Steps

Method 1 Method 1 of 3:

Keeping Worms in the Refrigerator

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  1. Step 1 Decide whether this method is right for your worms. 1 Decide whether this method is right for your worms. This technique works best for small amounts of worms that will be used within a month. For example, if you bought a small cup of worms for a fishing trip and didn’t use all of them, you can store them in the refrigerator until your next trip.
    • If you have a large box with over one thousand worms, you need to store your worms in a worm box instead.
  2. Step 2 Place the worms in an opaque plastic or Styrofoam container. 2 Place the worms in an opaque plastic or Styrofoam container.[1] If you use a clear plastic container, light will filter through the soil and confuse the worms. Make sure you include any soil or newspaper shreds that came with your bait.
    • If the worms were purchased in a suitable container you don’t need to move them.
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  3. Step 3 Feed your worms about once a week. 3 Feed your worms about once a week. Sprinkle two to three tablespoons of used, damp coffee grounds into their container. Try to evenly distribute the coffee grounds throughout the cup.[2] You can also feed them powdered worm food by sprinkling a few teaspoons over the top layer of worms.
    • Powdered worm food can be purchased at most bait supply shops.
    • Wait until all of the food has been eaten before feeding the worms again. If you over-feed them, they will die.
  4. Step 4 Store them in the refrigerator. 4 Store them in the refrigerator. Close the container to retain moisture and place your worms in the refrigerator. Check on your stored worms every few days to make sure they’re well-fed and the bedding is moist. If needed, sprinkle a few drops of water into the container to hydrate the worm bedding.
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Method 2 Method 2 of 3:

Storing Worms in a Worm Box

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  1. Step 1 Prepare a large plastic bin. 1 Prepare a large plastic bin. Choose a bin that’s large enough for all of your worms. You should provide at least one square foot of space for every 1,000 worms. Drill holes in the sides and bottom of the bin to allow water to drain well.
    • Buy large plastic concrete mixing bins at your local hardware store or purchase a plastic storage bin at a container supply store.
    • You can also build your own wooden worm box.
    • Put tiny holes in the top of the lid to help with air circulation.[3]
  2. Step 2 Fill the box with soil. 2 Fill the box with soil. You can either purchase commercial worm bedding or use potting soil. The soil should be moist but not wet. If the soil is too wet, the worms will suffocate. To test the moisture of the soil, grab a handful of soil and squeeze it. Properly moist soil will only release a few drops of water.[4]
    • If too much water is released, let the soil dry some before adding the worms.
    • If the soil is too dry, spray on some water and mix it in with your hands.
  3. Step 3 Dump the worms into the worm box. 3 Dump the worms into the worm box. The worms will find their own way into the dirt. This process may take an hour or so. If a few hours pass and the worms are still on the surface of the worm box, your soil may be too wet or you may have put too many worms into your box.
  4. Step 4 Store the worm box in a cool, shady place. 4 Store the worm box in a cool, shady place. If possible, bury the worm box in a shady spot outside, leaving about two inches of the box above ground. If you can’t store the worms outside, keep them under your kitchen sink, in your basement, or in a closet.[5]
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Method 3 Method 3 of 3:

Caring for Worms in a Worm Box

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  1. Step 1 Feed them about once a week. 1 Feed them about once a week. You can purchase a powdered worm food from a bait supply store or make your own worm food by blending fruit and veggie scraps, coffee grounds, or eggshells. [6] To feed the worms, sprinkle a light layer the worm food over the top of the worm box. Wait until all of the food has been eaten before feeding them again.
    • Don’t mix the food into the soil. This can harm your worms.
    • Avoid feeding your worms citrus fruits, spicy food, meat and dairy products, bread, and oil.
  2. Step 2 Harvest your worms at least once a month. 2 Harvest your worms at least once a month. To do so, simply reach into the worm box and gently scoop out a handful of worms. Place the worms in a covered container, taking care to keep the majority of the soil in the worm box. Either take the worms fishing immediately or store them in the refrigerator for up to a week.[7]
    • Discard any leftover worms from your fishing trip by releasing them into a shady section of your garden.
    • Harvest worms before feeding them to avoid mixing the food into the soil.
  3. Step 3 Change out the soil every 3-6 months. 3 Change out the soil every 3-6 months. If you don’t, the worms will get sick and die. Remove all of the worms from the worm box into a bucket. Next, scoop out all of the old soil or bedding and replace it with new moist soil. Once you’ve finished, dump the worms back into the worm box.[8]
    • Wait for the worms to reintegrate into the soil before feeding them again.
    • The old dirt can be used as a fertilizer in your garden.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question How do you build a worm bed? Community Answer Community Answer Check out this article on building a worm bed from scratch: http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Worm-Bed However, you can also purchase a plastic tub to use instead. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 19 Helpful 44
  • Question What is the best temperature for worms in a refrigerator? Community Answer Community Answer Between 32 degrees Fahrenheit and 37 degrees Fahrenheit keeps the worms maintained and happy. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 6 Helpful 28
  • Question What are "coffee grounds"? Community Answer Community Answer The “ground” coffee beans that are left in the filter after a pot of coffee is brewed. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 12 Helpful 33
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References

  1. ↑ https://www.maine.gov/ifw/fishing-boating/fishing/laws-rules/laws-definitions.html
  2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFylYYMjVcs
  3. ↑ Michael Reynolds. Professional Fishing Instructor. Expert Interview
  4. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZ3NMoP8U24
  5. ↑ Michael Reynolds. Professional Fishing Instructor. Expert Interview
  6. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZ3NMoP8U24
  7. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZBc9ZW-LYQ
  8. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZBc9ZW-LYQ

About This Article

Michael Reynolds Co-authored by: Michael Reynolds Professional Fishing Instructor This article was co-authored by Michael Reynolds. Michael Reynolds is a Professional Fishing Instructor and the Owner of Long Beach, California Fishing Lessons by Michael Reynolds. In his over 40 years of fishing experience, Michael has become very knowledgeable about the variety of fishing methods and techniques. He is passionate about sharing his knowledge with beginners to experienced anglers. Michael has been guiding and teaching fishing for over ten years and is licensed and bonded with the Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW). This article has been viewed 331,502 times. 44 votes - 87% Co-authors: 13 Updated: February 24, 2025 Views: 331,502 Categories: Fishing Bait Article SummaryX

To keep fishing worms alive for fishing, start by placing them in an opaque plastic or styrofoam container along with any soil or shredded newspaper that they came in. Then, close the container and store the worms in the fridge for up to a month. Once a week, feed the worms by sprinkling 2-3 tablespoons of used coffee grounds or worm food into their container. If the bedding inside the container starts to dry out, add a few drops of water to it so it stays moist. To learn how to store worms in a worm box, scroll down! Did this summary help you?YesNo

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Reader Success Stories

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Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Michael Reynolds Co-authored by: Michael Reynolds Professional Fishing Instructor Co-authors: 13 Updated: February 24, 2025 Views: 331,502 87% of readers found this article helpful. 44 votes - 87% Click a star to add your vote Powers Tony

Powers Tony

Jun 4, 2017

"I have heard of the different ways to grow and keep worms alive, but now I am sure, because I followed your..." more Bernard Plant

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"I have been looking for the best way to keep my earthworms fed and looked after. They're actually food for my..." more Rated this article: Robin Hallford

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