keeping rag fresh

[col]

i found the keeping lug fresh piece interesting with the many a good reply.
my problem however lies in keeping rag fresh without using a fridge. any advice on how best to do this would be really appreciated. my rag would normally be bought but still would rarely be more than a day old.
thanks for any info. happy fishing.
col

[m.b3]

most convenient way that has worked for me is to keep them in tubs/trays with a dribble of sewater(just enought to keep them wet). the stacking boxes you get in utility shops etc. are best as you they take up little space. put 20 worms in each one. DO NOT OVERCROWD THE WORMS!! this will lead to mass kills!!! make sure they have plenty of room and they'll keep for three weeks without trouble if kept in shade. check everyday or two for dead/dieing worms and remove. if the worms have been put in in good nick then u shouldn't have any trouble just the occassional worm that got bit by another. worth a try- nothing worse than worms dieing off when u could've used 'em the following weekend.

[DAMIEN]

i keep my rag in damp newspaper with sea weed this worksfor me.i have yet to try m.b3s idea sound better than mine thoug.

[RobertMcClean]

Lads sorry but there are only two ways to keep Rag fresh and healthy, yes the ways you have said are good but water runs the nutrients out of the worms over a period of more than four days and then they loose thier edge, not to mention what stale sea weed does!. For top class results it has to be Sea Peat or Vermiculite. Vermiculite is better for bigger worms. What happens with Rag is one dies and kills the others, with Vermiculite it absorbs unwanted residue and keeps them all individually fresh at the same time. You will Keep rag in vermiculite with the occasional spray of sea water for up to two weeks!! Sea Peat is great for smaller worms and maddies. You can buy both from any decent Garden Centre.

[DAMIEN]

hi robert
any idea how much sea peat/vercumlit is???
cheers

[RobertMcClean]

Its about €7-9 euro for a big bag that would last you about a year if you use it every two weeks or so!, Bit more expensive for Sea Peat about €12 euro, but I know there are plenty of places around our coast you could dig Sea Peat yourself.

[scara]

Is Vermiculite the same as micro fill? It's the packing material that goes in the back of fire places. I bought a bag about the size of a large coal pag for 20 euro, about 10 years worth. I have kept worms alive for a week using micro fill and a fridge.

[RobertMcClean]

Not 100% sure if its the same but could be similar alright. The stuff I am talking about is used as a Garden compost.

[col]

some great info there allready lads. thanks. was wondering though if the Vermiculite has to be kept in fridge Robert or will a cool bag in shed do ok. have no idea what the stuff is but will check out the garden centre down the road which is fairly big so hopefully will be available.
thanks again and anyone else with anything else to say please do so we can see which works best. :D
col

[x]

Vermiculite is a trade name, also known as Micalite among other names. Any decent builders providers or the likes of B&Q, Budget, Woodies etc should know what you mean if you describe it as mica insulation in granular or pellet form of the sort usually used to fill chimneys and behind firebacks.

If you keep it moistened with seawater daily and in the shade at about 10-15 degrees - same temp as seawater, it should be fine. If using a cool bag instead of a fridge, placing a small cool block which is well wrapped in an old rag in the base of the bag will help keep the temp down without freezing the worms.

[Caz Galway]

Vermiculite and Micafill are the same. Be sure when your using it to sieve away the smaller particles of vermiculite, as the worms can ingest them and shorten their shelf life. A 4-5 mm sieve mesh or slighly bigger is ideal. Also do not keep other live baits in the same fridge. If your an 'angler' and have maggots as well then your rag will die very quickly.

caz

[RobertMcClean]

Lads at this rate with everyone giving their two cents worth we will come up with a formula to keep Rag alive forever!, I think I learn something new every day on this site, very good points to Sandman and Caz!!

[m.b3]

must get some of that sea peat. how long do maddies last in this stuff?? mine seem to have a 5 day limit and then they are known as 'mushies'!

[RobertMcClean]

Hi MB3, yeah you will keep them for about 7 days I reckon but being honest thats the longest I needed to keep them. But it is great stuff. The Daiwa pairs is on in Dingle in September and everyone always arm themselves with loads of maddies for the matches on Inch Strand, and 80% of anglers I'd say use sea peat to keep them fresh.

[m.b3]

sounds like a plan! cheers. i had been told it had to be collected and could not be bought!! put me off- heard a beach in kerry being mentioned!!!!!!


ahh the diawa pairs....some day :wink:

[fishface]

some very usefull tips there , good question. but now i am a bit confused. :?
definitely want to give this stuff a go but am unsure exactly what to ask for when i go into the garden centre or woodies. could some please tell me as i dont want to sound like an idiot going in. :) cheers lads.

[RobertMcClean]

Just simply ask for Vermiculite 8)