For a person truly passionate about fishing, information on how to properly store bloodworms will be very helpful. For example, you have long dreamed of going fishing in the winter and carefully planned a week-long trip. However, where you are going, you will not have the opportunity to purchase bloodworms, which means you have to take it with you. An inexperienced angler does not know how to do this, and believes that storage is fraught with some difficulties. So, how to store bloodworms at home?
Bloodworms are the best baitTo begin with, we will understand what constitutes the bloodworm so beloved by all fishermen. Behind this name are ordinary vermiform
mosquito larvae several centimeters long. As a rule, mosquitoes lay eggs in silt on the banks of ponds and streams overgrown with plants. Colorless larvae hatch from the eggs, which gradually acquire a red color (this occurs after molting due to hemoglobin, which is contained in the hemolymph). Bloodworms live in silt and feed on plant and animal remains.
These larvae are considered among fishing lovers to be one of the best baits for ice fishing. Everyone who has done this at least once will confirm that a successful outcome largely depends on the attractive look of the bait. Bloodworms should look fresh and appetizing. However, how to keep it fresh for a long period of time? There are a few simple ways proven by many generations of fishermen.
How to store bloodworms at home?
The first and perhaps the simplest storage option is in a wet newspaper. Take three dry newspaper sheets, one of them wet. As a result, you should get a kind of “sandwich”: a wet sheet between two dry ones. The bloodworm is laid out on the newspaper with an even thin layer, then it all folds neatly. You need to store the package in a cool place (optimally - the lower shelf of the refrigerator). It is necessary to change newspapers every day. This method is often recommended to those who are interested in how to store live bloodworms. Part of the larvae, of course, dies, but the majority with sufficient moisture will survive.
In addition, storing bloodworms in a damp cloth is quite common. For this purpose, ordinary gauze or a viscose dust cloth is suitable. However, there is one caveat - the rag should not be wet, but it should be slightly moist, otherwise the bloodworm can go bad. Carefully wrap the larvae and put the rag in the refrigerator. Carefully ensure that it is always sufficiently moistened, otherwise the whole operation will lose its meaning.
Another possible answer to the question of how to store bloodworms at home is raw potatoes. Making storage from potatoes is very simple - peel it, cut it into two halves and carefully cut the middle. You will get a recess in which the larvae should be folded. To keep them fresh, mix them with the used tea leaves. Close the potatoes and put them in the refrigerator. This method allows you to store bloodworms for up to four days.
Do not forget that all manipulations with a bloodworm are best done with a damp foam sponge - so it will not stick to your hands. If the larvae need to be stored for a very long time, simply put them in the freezer. When defrosting, it will not look so attractive, but, nevertheless, it will be fresh.
We hope that you have received a detailed answer to the question of how to store bloodworms at home.