February 28, 2020
By Keith Sutton
Catalpa worms are larvae of the catalpa sphinx moth. They gorge on the leaves of their namesake tree as soon as they emerge from the ground in spring. (Keith Sutton photo)
Catalpa worms, caterpillars of the catalpa sphinx moth, are excellent panfish and catfish baits. In spring or summer, the female moth lays eggs on the undersides of catalpa tree leaves. When they hatch, the young caterpillars gorge on the leaves. Trees with caterpillars are easy to spot as the leaves look tattered from the caterpillar infestation. Many trees regrow their leaves after the spring hatch and produce a second crop of worms in fall.
Catalpa trees have showy flowers, big heart-shaped leaves and long seed pods that make them a beautiful addition to any yard. They are easy to propagate, too, so it’s relatively easy to grow them for your own source of backyard bait. Your county extension office or local greenhouse proprietor should be able to offer suggestions on purchasing seedlings and planting them in your area. Or you can try to transplant volunteer sprouts grown from seeds that have fallen beneath established trees. Two- to 4-foot tall volunteers are ideal candidates for transplanting, and if moved properly, a 75 percent or better success rate can be expected.
Catalpa trees grow best in heavy soil—dark loam, silt or clay. Transplants should be watered daily for two to three weeks until new growth is detected. Afterwards, nature will do the rest.
Thousands of catalpa worms may feast on the leaves of a single tree, making it easy to gather dozens to use for fish bait. (Keith Sutton photo)
Fertilize the trees each winter with commercial fertilizer or compost until they reach 10 or 12 feet. At this height, additional fertilization is unnecessary, and the limbs can be pruned periodically to reduce the effort required to harvest the worms.
If there aren’t any established catalpa trees that produce worms close to your yard, you may have to give new trees an initial “priming” to get them started. Placing a dozen or two half-grown worms on each tree will provide offspring for that tree and others in the area for years to come. Just remember, when harvesting catalpa worms, always leave a few on the tree “for seed.”
Pick the worms from low-hanging branches or knock them from high leaves using a cane pole. Store them in a wire cricket cage with a few leaves to nibble on. Some anglers cut off the heads and turn the bait inside out on a match stick before fishing it. When sportfish are especially persnickety, this may elicit more bites. In most situations, however, simply thread a worm on a hook and fish it around cover. Any hungry fish in the neighborhood is likely to gobble up the caterpillar and get hooked in the process. Fish on!
