Using Mealworms for Fishing: Live Bait Benefits & Customization

When considering live bait for fishing, many people already use nightcrawlers and earthworms. However, there is a growing trend of using mealworms as live bait instead. Fishermen often use bait types as tools in a toolbox to catch fish—different fish are more or less attracted to different bait types. This blog will explore the benefits of using mealworms as bait, their customizability, and their application as an attractant in ground bait.

Mealworms are not actually worms but the larval stage of the darkling beetle. This makes them very different in consistency and appearance from actual worm types like earthworms and nightcrawlers. Mealworms are more buoyant than traditional worms, and their golden exoskeleton makes them easily visible in murky water, where darker worms are harder for fish to detect. This buoyancy helps keep the bait in feeding lanes where fish naturally search for insects. Many fish types are especially drawn to mealworms—trout, for instance, are often caught using mealworms. Their lower movement level compared to regular worms prevents them from scaring fish off, which is a common problem in trout fishing.

The beauty of using mealworms as bait lies in the ability to customize them. You can raise mealworms to the desired size and gut-load them with specific foods to attract certain fish. Mealworms will grow and reproduce on the food you provide. Smaller fish tend to prefer smaller, younger mealworms, and growing your own allows you to select the best size for your fishing trip. Feeding mealworms for a week before your trip on certain foods can also increase their appeal. Fish that prefer sweet bait will be more attracted to mealworms fed on fruits like strawberries, while those that prefer protein can be offered mealworms fed on trout pellets or fish food.

Mealworms also make an excellent attractant in ground bait. To humanely prepare them, you can place mealworms in the freezer for 10 minutes. Then, dry them in the oven at low heat for another 10 minutes. Once dried, they can be ground into powder and mixed into cocktail baits, ground baits, or homemade boilies.

Mealworms offer a versatility and palatability beyond that of many traditional bait types. When grown at home, they also offer unmatched customizability and cost-effectiveness.

Tips on how to rig your mealworm can be found through various video tutorials online.