Ice fishing bait

[Crimson]

Anyone used the "Spikes" bait that looks like wax or mealworms? Some for sale on Ebay for pretty reasonable. The Spikes are also used for pet food.

Are they about as big as wax/meal worms?

Do they stay alive fairly good?


Also, anyone seen the colored wax/meal worms for sale online?
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[CoyoteSpinner]

I've used mostly waxworms. Mealworms can work too. I think spikes may be a bit more cold tolerant than waxies, but they have a thicker skin, so you need a sharp hook, and just pinch through the "head" - don't thread 'em - like I do the waxies, or half a meal worm.

But I'll tell ya - perch eyes... all the way.

I think the colors come from dyes, haven't really tried, but know colors of jigs and plastics make make a difference. Then there's the glow factor!

[wagdog]

I've never used spikes but I have seen a lot of people ice fish with them in other states. I'm sure they work fine. I mainly use waxies and crawlers through the ice and they have served me well. I don't recall seeing colored wax worms but I haven't looked for them. I have seen maggots (or euro larvae) that come in a rainbow of colors. I have always wanted to try those for fun. I found a couple of websites today that sold those while I was looking to buy wax worms in bulk for ice fishing.
http://www.knutsonlivebait.com/spikes.html

They claim you gotta keep them cold or they will turn into flies. Maybe they would do better in the fridge than wax worms. I swear if those suckers get under 50 degrees they die so easily.
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[Crimson]

Thanks for the info. I may try the "Spikes". Just hope they stay alive better for me than the wax worms.
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[redneck_delux]

Ive used spikes. i still prefer mealies.

[Crimson]

Thanks for the response. I also use small pieces of plain old nightcrawler for ice fishing.

I found some colored wax worms at www.waxwormkit.com and they also had some interesting ice fishing lures, gear.
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[Crimson]

Were the Spikes about the same size as meal worms?
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[redneck_delux]

no they were way smaller. but i bust my mealies in half to get all that gooey goodness and smell in the water

[wagdog]

I'll admit that I like using wax worms more when ice fishing. I think it is because they aren't as stinky as crawlers. However, as long as you can keep the crawlers from freezing, a chunk of earthworm works great. Sometimes they prefer one over the other. I'm tempted to try some of the other baits that are out there that will stand up to the fridge better than waxies.
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[Crimson]

Thanks, thats what I wanted to know. Hard to tell size of the Spikes in the pictures they have.
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[Crimson]

Yes, I use crawlers a high percentage of the time, just because they keep in the fridge really well, and "move" around on the hook like a live bait should.

Also, I haven't had much luck keeping wax worms alive. Always finding ones turning black, and they don't move much. But I may give the Spikes a try. If I do I'll report back. Thanks for all the responses.
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[Blueboy22]

Iv thought of trying those preserved wax worms in the bag. anyone ever try those? Also those Berkley Maggots in the Jar. Have you tried or thought of those Crimson?
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[kastmaster]

I tried spikes last year and they worked great for panfish at Utah Lake. They are smaller than a waxworm, but stays on the hook better due to their tougher skin. The bluegills and crappies at UL weren't able to 'steal' my bait off the hook as easy as they do the waxies. I believe they need the same temperature as the waxies (about 50 degrees F) to stay alive as long as possible. Since they are small, I would put two or three on my hook and it proved quite deadly for the gills. I would buy them again this year.
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[SkunkedAgain]

Spikes didn't work for me at all. Waxies all the way except for Yotes tip for perch. Mealies stay alive better but I never catch as many fish with them. You could also hit the grocery store and buy a couple raw shrimp from the meat counter. Somedays a piece of them works pretty well for trout. Later J
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[fishnate]

Spikes are great and are very hardy. They are about 1/2" to 3/4" long. Spikes are the same thing as maggots and euro larvea. They come in natural cream color, blue, red, and pink. For some reason the pink ones don't seem to be as hardy and go figure, Utah dealers like to order the pink ones the most.

Meal worms, wax worms, crawlers and spikes all have their day when they work best. Waxies, mealies and crawlers just need to be put on the hook and can be used til they fall apart. Spikes work best (for me) by putting the hook (size16 or smaller) through the very tip of the head (blunt end) so they wiggle and squirm on the hook. If they pop they die and don't seem to work as well when they are dead. I tip my hooks with 1-3 spikes and keep fresh ones on and chuck the old ones. Filing the barb down a bit helps prevent popping the skin. I've taken panfish, bass and trout (including lake trout) n them. That's my experience, you can take it for what it's worth.
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Everybody has their own favorite baits...usually based upon past success, waters fished and species targeted. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]There is not a universal bait or lure that works 100% of the time for all species on all waters. But whatever works for you and you can fish with confidence is the best for you.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I have not bought waxworms or meal worms for several years. For most of the fishing I do I have not known them to work any better than a piece of crawler or perch meat. I have found them to be expensive and fragile. Why bother?[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]As more than a few folks on the board will verify, my PPP (processed perch pieces) do a pretty good job wherever perch meat is legal to use. Catches just about all species. And by taking my own processed perchie bits I don't have to first catch one to have eyes or perch strips to use. Also, the doctoring with salt and crawdad oil definitely adds olfactory charm and seems to outproduce freshly caught and unflavored perch flesh.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Attaching my recipe and procedures.[/#0000ff]
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[SkunkedAgain]

TD thanks for the perch bits recipe I'll have to try some. Thanks J
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[PACKFAN]

Thanks for the recipe TD, I will give that a try this winter. I freeze a few eyeballs after each trip but have never really kept any perch meat for bait. [fishin]
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[bertex]

Thanks for the recipe,

I like to use butterworms. Sometimes walmart will carry them but I have found a more reliable source - mulberryfarms.com
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]It's a bit of fuss and bother to put some up after a dink perch trip, but it is worthwhile on the ice. Been a lot of trips that were a lot better with it than without it.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]It is especially good on Starvy. TopH20 and the Price Perch Posse found that out. They hooted at my offer to share when we met up on the ice. But when I started icing the jumbos and they weren't...well, they all raided my stash and weren't put off at all by using up my "stank bait".[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]If nothing else, it helps put a few perch on ice so that you have the OPTION of using eyeballs. Those will almost always work...but you gotta get 'em first.[/#0000ff]
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