Catalpa Worm Harvesting
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Topic: Catalpa Worm Harvesting
Posted By: Ken in Texas
Subject: Catalpa Worm Harvesting
Date Posted: 06 Jun 2019 at 4:56am
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It's that time of year again. I have been watching several hatches of new worms on my trees. They are now big and fat and due to crawl down to burrow into the ground. I'm going out in with my flashlight and see if I can harvest fish bait as they crawl down just at dawn or a bit before. I will let you know if my timing and theirs are together for a ambush.
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Replies:
Posted By: Ken in Texas
Date Posted: 06 Jun 2019 at 6:52am
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Right on schedule But only 31 of the hundreds up there headed down this morning. There was no movement toward the ground until it got light enough to see your hand in front of your face. That was about 5:30 AM. In 30 min it was all over for today. There should be a real good size bunch ready to ambush tomorrow morning. What worries me is I heard Rain Crows this morning. Better known as Yellow Billed Coocoos. Their favorite worm to eat are Talpa Worms. A Friend who has a grove of Catalpa Trees and sells fresh and frozen worms shoots the Rain Crows on site
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Posted By: LeonR2013
Date Posted: 06 Jun 2019 at 6:59pm
| You know Ken we have a lot of trees here where we live and not a worm in sight, ever. I don't know what the problem is but we just don't have any. Sob, Sob. Sob. |
Posted By: shameless dude
Date Posted: 06 Jun 2019 at 11:38pm
| what kinda worm? |
Posted By: Ken in Texas
Date Posted: 07 Jun 2019 at 3:22am
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a Catalpa worm is a smaller version of a tomato horn worm. The larva of a sphinx moth. The catalpa worm at maturity just before they go to the ground to pupate has a black back and yellow green sides and bottom. The only thing these worms eat are the leaves of the Catalpa Trees Some people call them Cattypillers. If you fish for bluegill you bait with pieces of worm cut in thirds. The skin is tough and 1 worm cut up may catch up to 6 nice gills. Cat fisherman bait with whole worms. I have fished channel cat with both fresh and frozen worms and cats really love them as much as catfishermen do. I will be out under a small tree that is nearly ate up again in a few hours to pick them off the trunk as they head down to the ground. It the tree has worms up high eating you don't stand under them looking up with your mouth open. Ha Ha. |
Posted By: DiyDave
Date Posted: 07 Jun 2019 at 4:44am
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https://images.app.goo.gl/kG9Ch9Upr8gbTECn9" rel="nofollow - https://images.app.goo.gl/kG9Ch9Upr8gbTECn9
------------- Source: Babylon Bee. Sponsored by BRAWNDO, its got what you need! |
Posted By: Sugarmaker
Date Posted: 07 Jun 2019 at 6:32am
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Ok I guess I learned something today! Not sure how I may use this? Interesting! A batch of grilled bluegill fillets sounds good though! Regards, Chris ------------- D17 1958 (NFE), WD45 1954 (NFE), WD 1952 (NFE), WD 1950 (WFE), Allis F-40 forklift, Allis CA, Allis D14, Ford Jubilee, Many IH Cub Cadets, 32 Ford Dump, 65 Comet. |
Posted By: Ken in Texas
Date Posted: 07 Jun 2019 at 7:56am
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FYI There are no Catalpa Worms left to pick off this small tree. I looked it over real good in good daylight. Don't have a count yet. I freeze 25 to a ziplock filled with water. I have noticed 4 or 5 new hatches on other trees on the place. If I can harvest more I will have Talpa Worm fish bait a plenty till next year. For you Trout Fishermen. Winter stocked Rainbow Trout like them too. Cut in thirds like for Bluegills. Great bunch of photos from DIY Dave. Showed what a Albino looks like. Albinows are quite rare.
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Posted By: Ken in Texas
Date Posted: 07 Jun 2019 at 1:59pm
| Worm Count from this Morning was 263. + the 3i from yesterday. That's a lot of some of the best fish bait known to man. |
Posted By: LeonR2013
Date Posted: 07 Jun 2019 at 11:21pm
| If you roll them inside out it seems to attract catfish better. Another natural bait are catalpa. |
Posted By: Ken in Texas
Date Posted: 12 Jun 2019 at 5:47am
| I will be after more fish bait again in a few seconds. There are TWO big tall trees to chose from this morning. My wife who likes to fish too is taking the biggest tree right next to her clothes line. She knows there are plenty up there for all the worm poop getting on her clean clothes. I will let you know how we do today. |
Posted By: chaskaduo
Date Posted: 12 Jun 2019 at 11:37am
Would that be catapoop or poopalpa?  ------------- 1938 B, 79 Dynamark 11/36 6spd, 95 Weed-Eater 16hp, 2010 Bolens 14hp |
Posted By: Ken in Texas
Date Posted: 13 Jun 2019 at 5:23am
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Well Folks It was 56 Degrees yesterday at dawn. Catalpa worms like it HOT. The hotter the better. At 56 they were motionless. They were not eating or pooping and not a one I could see were even thinking of crawling down at 56 degrees. I will try again in a little while. It is 69 out there right now. That should be warm enough for them to be active. After it warmed up yesterday they went back to eating and pooping but not a one crawled down because they seem to only crawl down at dawn. If it is warm enough that is. This is a new quirk I just learned Yesterday about how warm it needs to be for Talpa worms to be "Hot to Trot"
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Posted By: Ken in Texas
Date Posted: 21 Jun 2019 at 5:53pm
| No room left in the freezer for anymore Catalpa Worms. The two past mornings they kept me busy running back and forth between two big Catalpa Trees in the yard. Just before the sun came up worms began crawling down both tree trunks nose to tail. Total take for the two mornings. 650 more to bag up 25 at a time in ziplock snack size baggies full of water. I have not made a total count for the season yet. Think I may have enough to sell a few on Craigslist. I see them selling frozen for $5.95 a dozen. Come and get em. 25 for $10. |