Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2013 - 26
ively L arvae L
by Marilyn Black
photos by Darl Black
Unless you find yourself on the television show “Survivor,” its unlikely insect larvae will ever be on your menu. However, many fish that you love to eat can be enticed into biting by offering them lively larvae. Larvae are small, easy to store, easy to transport on the water, easy to put on hooks, include built-in natural scent and are inexpensive. Put those qualities together, and it’s no wonder that anglers rely heavily on these simple and readily available critters when fishing through the ice or on open-water year round. But, you may not have realized the variety of larvae types on the market and in fields near you.
Clockwise starting at the top left are mealworms, butterworms, waxworms, goldenrod galls and maggots.
Commercially raised larvae are offered in plastic condiment cups with lids or recycled chewing tobacco tins. In addition to tackle shops, larvae can be obtained at pet stores, retail stores with sporting goods sections, online and through mail order catalogs. They last longest when kept cool but never frozen. Let’s examine larvae from the smallest to the largest, beginning with maggots. In Europe, maggots are the most popular fishing bait. In the United States, maggots have been traditionally employed when ice fishing, and they are now utilized year round. These short, off-white, legless soft-bodied larvae could be from a wide range of fly species, usually from the order Diptera. Spikes are the larvae of Calliphora vicina. Spikes closely resemble maggots, except for an additional strand at one tip. Spikes tinted red, yellow, white or blue are marketed as Euro Larvae. Maggots and spikes should be stored between 33 and 40 degrees F. But, speaking from experience, if you leave the container in the fridge for a long time, you will later open the lid to find a mass of sluggish houseflies.
Clockwise starting at the top left are a spit tail jig with maggots, an ant with a maggot, a 1/32 ounce. Road Runner with a butterworm, a Maki plastic mini jig with a waxworm and a hair jig with a mealworm. An ice teardrop with waxworm is in the center.
PFBC Facebook: PaFishandBoat
Commercial larvae bait
This bait container is a handy way to keep maggots in good shape while on the ice.
26
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater • January/February 2013
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2013
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2013
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2013
Straight Talk
Table of Contents
Secrets of Solid Fishing for Crappies
Tying the Scud
Your Fishing Field Guide
Transitioning to Fly Fishing
Mercer and Venango Counties on Ice
Tip-up Fishing for Pike and Pickerel
Make Your Own Rabbit Hair Jig
Not Working, Try Something Different
Notes from the Stream
Lively Larvae
Commission Fish Stocking Volunteers: A History of Dedication
Take Your Ice Shanty to the Next Level
10 Tips for Safe Ice Fishing
Ice Safety Thickness Chart
Homegrown Fishing Lures
Reflecting on the Water
Impacts of Fishing Line and Other Litter
Ohio River Sauger and Walleye
Winter PLAY Newsletter
Finding the Right Powerboat
Pennsylvania’s Not-so-bland Blanding’s Turtle
Deputy Waterways Conservation Officer Graduation
Currents
Angler’s Notebook
Fishin’ from the Kitchen
Cast & Caught
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2013 - CT1
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2013 - CT2
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2013 - Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2013
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2013 - Straight Talk
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2013 - 3
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2013 - 4
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2013 - Table of Contents
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2013 - Secrets of Solid Fishing for Crappies
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2013 - 7
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2013 - 8
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2013 - Tying the Scud
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2013 - Your Fishing Field Guide
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2013 - 11
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2013 - Transitioning to Fly Fishing
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2013 - 13
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2013 - Mercer and Venango Counties on Ice
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2013 - 15
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2013 - 16
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2013 - Tip-up Fishing for Pike and Pickerel
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2013 - 18
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2013 - 19
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2013 - Make Your Own Rabbit Hair Jig
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2013 - 21
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2013 - Not Working, Try Something Different
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2013 - 23
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2013 - Notes from the Stream
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2013 - 25
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2013 - Lively Larvae
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2013 - 27
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2013 - Commission Fish Stocking Volunteers: A History of Dedication
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2013 - 29
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2013 - Take Your Ice Shanty to the Next Level
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2013 - 31
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2013 - 10 Tips for Safe Ice Fishing
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2013 - 33
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2013 - Ice Safety Thickness Chart
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2013 - Homegrown Fishing Lures
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2013 - 36
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2013 - 37
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2013 - Reflecting on the Water
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2013 - Impacts of Fishing Line and Other Litter
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2013 - 40
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2013 - 41
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2013 - Ohio River Sauger and Walleye
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2013 - 43
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2013 - 44
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2013 - Winter PLAY Newsletter
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2013 - 46
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2013 - 47
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2013 - 48
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2013 - 49
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2013 - 50
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2013 - 51
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2013 - Finding the Right Powerboat
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2013 - 53
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2013 - Pennsylvania’s Not-so-bland Blanding’s Turtle
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2013 - 55
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2013 - Deputy Waterways Conservation Officer Graduation
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2013 - Currents
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2013 - 58
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2013 - 59
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2013 - 60
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2013 - 61
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2013 - 62
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2013 - Fishin’ from the Kitchen
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2013 - Cast & Caught
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2013 - CT3
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2013 - CT4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20240102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20231112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20230910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20230708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20230506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20230304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20230102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20221112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20220910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20220708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20220506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20220304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20220102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20211112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20210910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20210708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20210506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20210304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20210102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20201112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20200910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20200708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20200506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20200304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20200102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20191112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20190910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20190708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20190506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20190304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20190102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20181112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20180910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20180708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20180506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20180304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/201780102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20171112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20170910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20170708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20170506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20170304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20170102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20161112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20160910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20160708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20160506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20160304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20160102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20151112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20150910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20150708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20150506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20150304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20150102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20141112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20140910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20140708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20140506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20140304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20140102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20131112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20130910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20130708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20130506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20130304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20130102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20121112
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com