Does anyone have suggestions as to what is a good way of keeping crawlers alive? Also do the bait shops in Ely sell Canadian Crawlers?

I've never done it but if I were going to I would get a gallon size freezer bag. Stuff it with shredded news paper and add a few table spoons of lake water. You don't want the paper soaked but lightly damp. Add your crawlers. Keep this in a damp cloth bag. I would use a large Crown bag like I use to keep fillets cool. I bet each gallon bag could hold 75-100 crawlers. They will be supper lively and you won't get dirt all over your gear.

Wow now that's an idea I would have never considered.

quote drrick: "Wow now that's an idea I would have never considered."

Not so keen on the plastic bag idea. I would much prefer those little hard styrofoam boxes that 100 crawlers come in. After that however Jim has it exactly right. Keep a canvas bag damp and keep your box inside. The evaporative effect aids greatly in the cooling.

Instead of dragging fish around on a stringer I will usually filet them on site, stuff them into a gallon zip and then into the canvas bag. They keep nicely this way for several hours.

Keep out of the sun, keep the canvas bag wet, and be absolutely certain to remove any sickly crawlers. Any crawlers which die will soon kill your entire container full.

quote drrick: "Does anyone have suggestions as to what is a good way of keeping crawlers alive? Also do the bait shops in Ely sell Canadian Crawlers?"

Almost every crawler sold in northern Minnesota come from Canada.
DO NOT USE A PLASTIC BAG!!!!
It will hold too much heat.

+1on the hard styro . Use commercial worm bedding and keep em like Fonze..

I've had great luck with the Styrofoam carriers that you can open from either side. If heat is going to be an issue use peat dirt instead of the commercial bedding. It has the ability to stay cooler much longer than regular dirt or commercial bedding.

I still leg in a shoebox size 'bait canteen' made of some kind of absorbent "sawdust board" and plastic frame. (The old metal - framed ones were better) A mixed bag for bedding. Evaporator cooling is nice. I put a couple thin clumps of sod and a few ice cubes and mini pak on top . They may get a few coffee grounds and cornmeal at camp and the box is kept wet and in the shade. They stay firm and lively The book 'Lurkers Love Night crawlers" is more or less the way I was raised. Bait Canteen works for me at least 5 days . Late May with days up to 80 degrees and cool nights. Keep that sawdust box soaked and pick a dead one if you see it. I have had 7 dozen in it . 5 is ideal but you can use a few up the first evening at can. I love crawlers. If I had a dollar for every dozen I sold for a quarter.............