How to Keep Maggots Alive for Fishing

PDF download Download Article
PDF download Download Article

Although they're not pretty, juicy maggots make some of the best bait around! Instead of popping into the bait and tackle shop right before you go fishing, learn how to store live maggots at home. If you chill them properly, you can keep in them in a cold fridge for up to 2 weeks. Don't feel like buying maggots? With a little raw meat and time, you can cultivate your own and skip the trip to the shop.

Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Storage

PDF download Download Article
  1. If you're buying maggots from a bait and tackle shop, they'll probably be covered with sawdust or fine cornmeal. To clean the maggots before you store them, dump them into a fine-mesh strainer over a bowl and shake the strainer so the sawdust or cornmeal falls into the bowl. [1]
    • You can throw out the sawdust or cornmeal.
    • Try to buy the maggots as close to when you go fishing as possible since you can only store them for up to 2 weeks.
  2. Get out a small plastic bag and pour the cleaned maggots into it. Press out as much air as you can before you seal the bag shut. Double-check the seal so you know the maggots won't get out! [2]
    • It's fine to use a small airtight storage container if you don't have a sealable plastic bag.
    Advertisement
  3. The most important part of keeping maggots alive is preventing them from turning into casters, the stage before they turn into flies, which means you need to slow their metabolisms. Toss the bag in the freezer and chill the maggots for about 30 minutes so they stop moving around. [3]
    • Don't store the maggots in the freezer for more than 30 minutes or they could turn brown and mushy when you defrost them.
  4. Turn your fridge temperature between 32 and 33 °F (0 and 1 °C) or as low as it will go. Then, put the bag of cold maggots into the coldest spot in your fridge—this is usually near the back of the fridge, away from the door. Then, plan on using the live maggots within a few weeks. [4]
    • If you have a fridge dedicated to your bait, store the maggots in there so you don't have maggots in your regular kitchen refrigerator.
    • There's no need to feed the maggots or care for them while they're in the fridge since their metabolisms are slowed.
  5. If you don't have access to a fridge, don't worry! To store the maggots for a few hours or up to a few days, you can put maggots onto a cold, concrete floor like in your basement or garage. This works best during colder months. You can also stick the bag into a bait box or cooler and put a few ice packs in with them. This way, the maggots will stay cold until you can take them fishing. [5]
    • This keeps the maggots alive for a few days if you swap out ice packs once or twice a day. Keep in mind that if they get too warm, they'll turn into casters and then flies!
  6. The maggots start to wiggle around pretty quickly once you take them out of the freezer. Put your chilled bag of maggots into your tackle box and let them warm up on your way to go fishing. Then, push the flat end of the maggot onto your hook and you're ready to fish! [6]
    • You can put several maggots onto the end of your hook so you're more likely to attract fish.
    7. Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Cultivation

PDF download Download Article
  1. If you don't have a bucket that large, don't worry—you can use the largest, sturdy bucket you have as long as it's got a lid. Pour 2 inches (5.1 cm) of wood shavings or sawdust into the bucket to give the maggots something to burrow down into. It also absorbs moisture from the rotting meat. [7]
    • You may want to label the outside of the bucket so no one gets a nasty surprise if they open it up!
    • Some people have good luck with oats or bran instead of wood shavings, so feel free to give those a try.
  2. You can use a big chunk of raw fish from a past fishing trip or raw meat like chicken breast that you have in the fridge. Lay the raw meat into the bucket so it's right on the wood shavings. [8]
    • As the meat rots, the smell attracts flies which lay eggs in the meat. These eggs become your maggots.
  3. Drill a few holes into the bucket's lid so flies can get in. If you don't have a drill or don't want to make holes in the lid, lay a few thin pieces of wood on top of the bucket and set the lid on top. Then, place a brick on the lid so it doesn't blow off. [9]
    • If you have a problem with racoons or rats, go for the drilled holes since pests won't be able to get into the bucket as easily.
  4. If you're cultivating maggots in warm weather, the process won't take long—about 1 week. To cultivate maggots in cold weather, it can take up to 2 weeks. This is because the flies need to find the meat, land on it, and lay eggs before the maggots develop. [10]
    • If you want to check on the process, look for small, white eggs on the meat. Once you see these larvae, it takes about 4 or 5 days for the maggots to be ready.
  5. Set a fishing sieve over a bowl and pour the maggots with wood shavings into it. The maggots will wriggle through the holes and drop down into the bowl while the wood shavings will stay in the sieve. Then, transfer your maggots to a plastic storage container. [11]
    • At this point, you can use the maggots for fishing, or chill them for up to 2 weeks.
    6. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Tips

      • Maggots are usually creamy white in color, but you can buy maggots that are red, green, or even blue. These are fed colorful meat, which turn the maggots the same color. [12]
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
      • Some people have luck using dead maggots as bait, so if you feel up to it, save the dead ones and try fishing with them.
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      Warnings

      • Always wash your hands thoroughly with hot, soapy water after you handle raw meat or fish to prevent the spread of germs.
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
      Advertisement

      Things You'll Need

      Storage

      • Live maggots
      • Fine mesh strainer
      • Bowl
      • Plastic storage bags
      • Freezer
      • Fridge

      Cultivation

      • Wood shavings or sawdust
      • 5 US gal (19 L) bucket
      • Raw meat or fish
      • Wooden slat and a brick
      • Fishing sieve
      • Bowl
      • Plastic storage bags
      • Freezer
      • Fridge

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Fish
      How to
      Put a Weight on a Fishing Line
      How to
      Fish for Squid
      How to
      Put a Bobber on a Fishing Line
      How to
      Hook a Shrimp
      How to
      Transport Fish
      How to
      Read Tide Tables the Right Way
      How to
      Unhook a Fish
      How to
      Fish a Drop Shot Rig
      How to
      Set Up an Ice Fishing Tip Up
      How to
      Find the Best Time for Fishing
      How to
      Acclimate a Fish
      How to
      Dig for Clams
      How to
      Add Fish to a New Tank
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://youtu.be/Yii19N6mk9E?t=47
      2. ↑ https://youtu.be/Yii19N6mk9E?t=103
      3. ↑ https://youtu.be/Yii19N6mk9E?t=154
      4. ↑ https://www.outdoorhub.com/how-to/2018/02/23/keep-live-bait-kicking-throughout-winter/
      5. ↑ https://bestofangling.com/carp-fishing-with-maggots/0
      6. ↑ https://youtu.be/AIlk4l8nTt0?t=48
      7. ↑ https://youtu.be/JmrN6eHIS8k?t=152
      8. ↑ https://youtu.be/JmrN6eHIS8k?t=277
      9. ↑ https://coarsefishingtips.com/how-to-make-maggots/
      1. ↑ https://youtu.be/JmrN6eHIS8k?t=295
      2. ↑ https://coarsefishingtips.com/how-to-make-maggots/
      3. ↑ https://www.anglingtimes.co.uk/advice/bait/articles/maggots-the-perfect-fishing-bait

      About This Article

      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 36,402 times.

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement