Catalpa worms for catfish

[KerryB]

Just wondering how many of you guys use Catalpa worms for catfish? I mentioned this in Mike's thread but got curious how common this bait is? We pluck them off of Catalpa trees in early summer when they start infesting the trees and eating the leaves up. I usually pack them in a plastic bowl full of corn meal and freeze them till i need them. Then just thaw out what you need and keep the rest in the freezer. DON'T TELL YOUR WIFE OR LET HER FIND THESE! She'll throw them out and probably beat your A$$! When i use these, i cut the head off and use a small stick like a match to push on the tail of the worm and turn it inside out. Then thread the inside out worm on a catfish hook and git er in the water and hang on! These puppies do work! They never fail to outperform any other bait that i am using at the same time. You will know why they work so good when you smell them..........very freaky! ;D Some guys like to bite the head off the worm instead of using a pocket knife, but that is a personal preference and i like the knife myself. I also don't swallow the worm in my Tequila either so go figure! Anyhow, you guys let me know if you have used these and if you haven't, go getcha some!

[mike3132]

While Ive never used them for cats I have used them for bluegills and turned them inside out just like you stated. There are a few trees not far from me that usually have worms. I'm going this evening and see. I usually put them in a can with some leaves and out them in the refrigerator. Mike

[mike3132]

Well, no luck the trees didnt have any worms. Mike

[tar12]

I was about 15 yrs old and was walking to a friends house one evening and ran across a older gentleman picking "worms"out of this tree.I had to ask him what he was up to!He looked at me kinda puzzled ask me if I had ever heard of Catalpa worms? Nope.Before that conversation ended I got a invite to go catfishing the next morning.We tore them up!I have used them every since.

[ozark]

I have two large catalpa trees in bordering my lawn. For several years they had worms but none for the last few years. I was told that trees without worms could be seeded with worms and start having them again. Ever hear of that need?

[boarhog]

We must be in one of those down years for catalpa worms. Haven't found any on the trees around here. They do make excellent bait for catfish, if you can keep the bream off of them long enough to get to the bottom! I keep them frozen in corn meal Like kerryB.

[KerryB]

I read an article once about a guy that grew catalpa trees just for the worms and he mentioned that he seeded his trees with worms to keep them stocked up. It was not a good year around here for them either.