Raising Maggots for Ice Fishing

Raising maggots for ice fishing, or any other type of fishing, is a relatively simple matter. Maggots are simply the larval stage of common houseflies or blowflies. They are particularly good when fishing for non-predatory species, but can only be held for a short time before they begin to transform into flies. Fortunately, trapping a fly to use as your breeding stock is extraordinarily easy.

  1. Fly Trapping

    • Trapping flies to use as breeding stock for your maggots is simple. Find a glass jar with a lid you can close, and then drop a piece of meat inside. Place the jar outside, uncovered, and then just wait while the meat rots. Before long, there will be a number of flies more than willing to come by and lay their eggs in your jar. The eggs will take approximately 20 hours to hatch, and the larvae will eat the rotten meat you have provided them.

    Life Span of the Maggot

    • After the maggots have assumed their larval form, they will grow for approximately seven days before they begin to take on their final stage, that of the common fly. To stall their growth slightly, remove them from the capture jar and dispose of the meat. Then seal up the jar again to keep the maggots trapped inside.

    Storage Containers

    • Practically any storage container with a lid is adequate for holding the maggots until they can be used for bait. When transporting the maggots, use a container that has a sealing lid to prevent spillage and that will allow them to remain cool. Excessive heat will kill the maggots and render them useless. The fish that are drawn to them like maggots that are alive and wiggling.

    Disposing of Unused Bait

    • After you've caught your maximum catch, dispose of the unused bait maggots you have to prevent the maggots from continuing past the larval stage. Simply dumping the excess maggots into the water will ensure that they are eaten by fish or drown before they can fully develop. Because flies don't live very long, it isn't a good idea to attempt to keep them. It is far better to simply start the process over again when you plan to take another fishing trip.