Not a fisherman but as no one else responded, they can be. I looked at bait worms myself when first looking for a local source of worms. There are other worms used for bait, so you'll have to be specific and ask when looking and hope your source knows the difference and is honest.

My worms were harvest from a vegetation compost pile. They would maybe be good for brook trout or pond trout. They would be good for feeding tropical fish or chickens, etc. Worms I have bought for fishing seem way bigger, longer and fatter and sturdier and darker.

I am a lifelong fisherman, and worms are the BEST all-around fish bait IMO. All compost worms make great bait, but all bait worms will not work for composting. I have found "bait worms" for sale by many names. Around here you can buy containers of 50 'red wigglers'(EF), 15 'mini-crawlers' (canadian nightcrawlers) or 12 'nightcrawlers'. Go for the 50 red wigglers.

mendopete, what species of fish have you caught with EF?

Hi Jerilynn. EF is my #! bait for perch, bluegill,crappie, and catfish. I have also caught rainbow trout, eastern brook trout, german Brown trout,steelhead trout,largemouth and smallmouth bass, carp, squaw-fish and suckers. You must use a small hook on them and sometimes 2-3 worms per hook, but fish love their wiggle! For the past 6 years I have fished saltwater only. I am thinking of trying ENC for ocean rockfish this coming summer.

Thanks everyone. The reason I was asking is because I find red wrigglers being sold here for vermiculture expensive but if I were to buy bait worms, I save money. Never really thought of growing red wrigglers for fishing purposes. Sounds fun.

Thanks, mendopete.

I have a pond in my pasture that contains Bluegill, Largemouth Bass and Channel Catfish.

I've cost lots of bluegill, but never a bass or catfish with EF. Go, figure.

ianna: if you are looking for free composting worms you can collect them from a compost pile/bin or aged manure pile.