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How to Fiddle for Worms for Fishing Bait for Free

Worm fiddling is the process of vibrating soft mud to imitate the vibration of raindrops hitting the ground, tricking earthworms into coming to the surface. As the worms surface, they can be captured by hand to serve as fishing bait. This bait procurement system is commonly practiced in the mountainous southern regions of the United States. On occasion, over 300 worms can be collected in as little as 15 minutes, representing over $30 worth of bait.

Things You'll Need

Saw
30-inch wooden stake
12-inch dowel rod
Hammer or rock

Instructions

- 1
  Cut 15- to 20 1/8-inch grooves into one side of the stake, spaced at 1/2-inch intervals.
- 2
  Hammer the stick, 15 inches down, into a patch of soft, moist mud, using a hammer or rock. Worms thrive in moist, nutrient-rich soil/mud near river banks. Fiddling in this type of soil will garner the best results.
- 3
  Slide the round dowel rod up and down along the shallow grooves, vibrating the ground around the embedded stake. Continue creating this vibration for 5 to 15 minutes until the worms begin to surface.

Insects & Science