Baitsonline breeds its own worms so is uniquely qualified to advise on how best to keep them fresh once they are delivered. The guide below is meant to be a quick guide on what to do and what not to do. Treating worms well is a good investment as a juicy, lively worm is much more likely to temp a fish than a sick, limp worm.

• Keep all worms out of bright light. Worms are very sensitive to light especially blue and ultraviolet light, the sort of light you get from the sun in the spring and summer months. Never leave worms exposed to the sun for more than a few seconds or they will start to excrete coleomic fluid and become limp and lifeless. Limp worms are not attractive to fish and are difficult to keep on the hook. There is also a theory that the coleomic fluid they excrete in order to protect themselves is very bitter and as such puts fish off.
• Second to keeping worms out of the light keeping them cool is the next most important thing to do. Ideally they should be kept at 5°C. A small fridge would be ideal but if this is not possible an area of cool concrete, on the garage floor is the next best thing. When you are out fishing if possible take a picnic cool-box to keep them in. Remember though they do need to breathe so let the lid off from time to time.
• When the worms are sent out they are dispatched in a woven poly-propylene bag. If possible keep them in this bag. It has a number of advantages over bait containers. Importantly the bags are able to breathe all the way round and so the worms are not likely to run short of oxygen. The bags also allow evaporation and tend to therefore be slightly cooler. Often in bait containers the worms will "sweat" this soon leads them to become stressed.
• Worms hate vibration so don't take them on any more car journeys than is necessary! Vibration is how worms detect predators so constant vibration is constant danger so far as worms are concerned.
• Never store next to maggots. Maggots excrete large amounts of ammonia and ammonia is deadly poisonous to worms. If you have a bait fridge then try to keep the worms as far away from the maggots as possible. Even better don't share the same space between the two. If you do have problems try putting "cat litter" next to the worms to try and absorb any ammonia.
• People are always tempted to feed worms. Our recommendation is don't. If kept cool worms will survive for weeks without food. As the worms are in a fairly stressed environment they are unlikely to feed anyway and any food given is likely to rot and sour the worms bedding. The best way to freshen worms is to change their peat but if you do this be sure only to use Sedge peat and not Irish moss peat.
• Occasionally you may need to dampen the worms bedding, do so lightly. The bedding should never be wet but damp, you will be surprised how dry the bedding can be before you will have a problem.
• Remember they are living creatures and need to be treated as such.