Trina Machacek: The life and times of worms

Occasionally we learn things that we take with us on our happy journey of life. For instance, we have learned to sniff the milk in the jug before pouring and getting a glass full of really thick and lumpy milk. That’s a very important thing to learn and practice.

Or how about this. We learn that there are those people who wholeheartedly believe the change in the atmospheric pressure when a storm is brewing on the horizon, causes a headache that feels like the top of your head is about to come off from the pressure.

Then there are those who don’t believe that the change in the atmosphere can cause a headache. Of course, those people are WRONG. Now enter the scientists who study of all things, worms. My education about worms is varied and limited. I know of course worms are the best fishing bait for creeks and the like in and around where I live. I did not know however that a worm breathes through their skin and can breathe underwater. Not until Google and I learned a titch about worms.

Thus, bolstering up my claim that worms are the best bait that can still wiggle on my hook even when it floats in the water at the end of a line hanging under a bobber. While I’m reading a book. Or just watching a dad calmly untangling yet another fishing line of a toddler’s pole, who just wants to fish with dad. Oops squirmed off the worm track.

OK, about worm tracks. Yes, that’s where I’m going. Tracking worms. Recently I was in a conversation about why my sidewalk is visited by worms after it rains. Such an innocuous question about an innocuous tiny animal, the worm.

Probably used innocuous enough for a while! But! Yes, an innocent innocuous “but.” Worms are important. Especially now that fishing season is peaking and many states through the Departments of Wildlife will soon offer a Free Fishing Day! Hurray.

There have been several ways talked about how to catch worms. I thought anyone could catch worms. Actually, I thought it was as easy as digging on a creek bank and taking a couple shovels full of dirt and gathering enough worms for an afternoon. But nope! I would be surprised to learn the art of night crawler hunting.

Done of course at night. On a wet lawn. With electric probes. I remember thinking, “Water AND electricity. This can’t be good.” With my flashlight and a coffee can with a plastic lid with holes poked in it, I was taken out back to learn worm wrangling.

So longish story shortened I saw things come out of the ground on our back lawn that I can never un-see. And who knew worms could be so fast? My other half and I stuck probes attached to a car battery, in our lawn scaring up some big ole night crawlers.

Time after time we were out maneuvered by the lowly but huge worms. It’s like trying to catch the biggest fish in the pond. You try and try and then realize that the biggest fish, or worm, gets to be the biggest because they have outwitted many a fisherman and worm wrangler.

It was a hoot. Oh, we did catch some, but not the granddaddy worms. He still lives. Out in my back lawn. Waiting. Singing his worm song of, “Here fishy-fishy-man, here fishy-fishy-man.” Really creepy if you ask me. Which brings me back to the worms on my sidewalk after a rain. Seems the scientific world has decided that worms are always on the move. Always looking for sweeter dirt to crawl through by migration. When it rains, they find it easier to move along on the top of the ground rather than in the mud of wet ground. Some unfortunately find their way onto sidewalks when it stops raining and... Well not only does the early bird get the worm, but the slowest worm gets stuck to the sidewalk when the sun comes out.

I’m thinking that is probably more than you need to know about worms. I do not suggest going outside after dark barefoot and without an escape plan.

In Nevada, Free Fishing Day is June 10. Check your state for your day. Grab your shovel, probe, battery, and coffee can with the plastic lid with holes poked in it and go worm wrangling. Just think when you catch the big one you get to have something for dinner that eats worms. It’s the fishing more than it’s the catching. Enjoy.

Trina Machacek lives in Eureka. Her books are available wherever you buy books or email her at itybytrina@yahoo.com to buy signed copies.