Your Fishing Guide: Do You Need WaxWorms or Waxies For Fishing Bait?

Waxworms, also referred to as waxies are extremely common for fishing enthusiasts. It is a common bait that helps with fishing in different scenarios.

Waxworms are commercially produced larvae of the wax moth and are one of the most popular fishing baits all over the world. Because of their small size and soft texture, larvae are really effective in catching fish - exactly every fisherman needs waxworms for fishing.

In this article, we will discuss every detail you could possibly learn about waxworms, especially if you are going to use them as bait for fishing. 

About Waxworms

Waxworms are typically less than an inch long, with the delicate, waxy, and dry outer skin. They have a creamy texture inside, and they exude a smell to attract fish when pierced with a fishing hook.

Their body structure resembles that of caterpillars, and they are normally light yellowish or off-white.

People use waxworms for pan fishing, ice fishing, or feeding pets. Waxworms can be shipped to your home alive, or you can buy them from stores.

Are Waxworms Good for Fishing?

Certainly, they are. Waxworms are very commonly used for bait because they are effective, easy to handle, and can easily be applied to fish hooks.

Fish not only see the yellowish-colored worms, but they also can smell them. As a result, they are attracted to the worms and get caught.

Waxworms are easy to handle because they are sold in plastic cups with lids, making them easy to carry from the bait store to the stream, river, or lake where they will be used.

Because waxies as bait are effective in both cold and warm water, people find it convenient to use them.

Can You Fish with Dead Waxworms?

Waxworms are their best as bait when they are healthy and alive. After their death, they turn mushy, brown, and stale. As a result, fish don't find them attractive anymore, so they become ineffective. 

However, if the dead waxworms look fresh and retain moisture, they will still work well as bait.

But you can use an alternative which is preserved waxworms. You will easily find them in bait shops in packs of 10 to 20.

These are dead waxworms that have been preserved in scented preservatives and attract fish just like live bait.

How to Hook a Waxworm

The steps to hook a waxworm on a fishing hook are straightforward. Let me tell you the most effective method so that you can catch more and more fish.

Pierce a worm in its midsection from one side to the other using a size 8 hook rigged beneath a bobber. This method of hooking the bait allows each end of the worm to wiggle. This movement attracts the fish. 

How Long Do Waxworms Last?

Waxworms are one of the most durable baits available. They can adjust to a wide range of temperatures and can also withstand extremely cold temperatures, which makes them perfect for ice fishing.

If you keep the worms in a refrigerator, they will last up to three weeks.

Waxworms can be kept in a container or a plastic box for several months if properly preserved. Anglers typically keep them at room temperature in their home, garage, or cellar. Many fishermen keep them slightly chilled to keep them fresher for longer.

But you shouldn’t store waxworms at high temperatures because this could cause them to die. It's not a good idea to keep them at room temperature for an extended period because they'll form cocoons and eventually develop into wax moths within the can or container.

Waxworms typically mature into the pupa stage in twenty days; however, if you keep them in colder places, this time can be extended to up to five months. This means chilly temperatures can keep the worms in a ready-to-fish state for a long time.

What Are the Best Fish to Catch with a Waxworm?

Waxworms are a favorite trout bait. They are, nevertheless, excellent for catching other panfish such as catfish, sunfish, bluegills, perch, crappies, and whitefish.

Anglers frequently use waxworm bait to catch walleye and bass, but they are not regarded as ideal for catching large fish.

So if you love fishing, boating, and spending time with your family doing water activities, get some wormwax and go to your favorite fishing spots.

Is WaxWorm Better than Artificial Bait?

Live waxworms work better than artificial bait. Even if you use the highest quality of artificial bait, they won’t be able to replicate the appearance and smell of live worms completely.

People prefer live worms because their smell is more effective in drawing the attention of fish, and artificial bait lacks this natural smell and has a scent of preservatives.

But note that certain areas have restrictions prohibiting fishermen from using any form of live bait. In such cases, you will need to use artificial bait.

The Cost of Waxworms

Waxworms come in a variety of prices. There is no fixed rate for them. Commercial producers and bait shops have different prices, which will also differ because of the quantity in a package or can.

The price range for a can of 50 waxworms is between $8 and $15. However, depending on the quality and location of purchase, waxworms can be more or less.

Substitutes for Waxworms

Aside from waxworms, fishermen also use a variety of other live baits. They're great for fishing, especially for people who are drawn to that particular bait.

Some other commonly used natural baits are maggots, fish eggs, earthworms, grubs, beetles, tadpoles, crickets, aquatic snails, grasshoppers, bees, tadpoles, small frogs, crayfish, leeches, ants, and so on.

Also, there are hundreds of artificial baits available and used by fishermen. Nearly all of these alternatives are effective. Though many factors such as depth, temperature, fish spices, and time of day, influence the level of their effectiveness, most artificial bait is pretty effective.

Final Words

A commonly asked question that we get asked a lot is about handling waxworms and how to use them for best results. Hopefully, we have answered all your question regarding waxworm for fishing, its use, benefit, substitutes, and many more.

Let’s do a final rundown of this article for you. Refrain from adding any feed or water to waxworms. If they are in their larva stage, they grow from their own body fat and do not require to be fed. And lastly, keep them dry! Happy fishing!