Nightcrawlers

For other uses, see Nightcrawlers (disambiguation).

See also: Oligochaeta

Nightcrawlers are a form of earthworm. Prized primarily for use as fishing bait, nightcrawlers are generally known as either Canadian or European

Canadian nightcrawlers are the larger of the two, measuring up to 14 inches (35.6 cm) when fully extended. Fishermen enjoy the Canadian worm more because of its size. It can be easily secured to a fish hook, and stays lively while submerged in water for up to 5 minutes. The Canadian nightcrawler is used for catching largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, carp, trout, catfish, sunfish, walleye, and other freshwater fish. The Canadian nightcrawler will not survive in temperatures above about 65 °F (18.3 °C). Therefore, bait shops must keep them refrigerated and attention must be given to ensure that the worms are not left to rest in the hot sun while fishing.

Harvesting

Canadian nightcrawlers are harvested in certain locations in North America. Most come from Canada's Ontario region, while many millions more are harvested along the Appalachian Mountains - from western North Carolina up to New York. The worms are collected by headlamp-wearing hunters. The worms come out from the ground only at night (or when the ground is deeply saturated following a decent rain fall).

In popular culture

Nightcrawlers is an imagination-based game played by the characters Charlie and Frank on the television program It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. The goal is to crawl around on the ground at night like worms. Charlie's rival, Schmitty, suggested that the game be enhanced by having 'bases.'

In Fargo, nightcrawlers are given to Norm Gunderson by his wife Marge.

In the 1995 Warner Bros. movie, Grumpier Old Men, nightcrawlers and the gathering thereof are employed as a vehicle to facilitate the developing romantic relationship between Max Goldman (Walter Matthau) and Maria Sophia Coletta Ragetti (Sophia Loren).