Tree I planted at in laws is budding out nice and have officially found the first worm/cat pillar hatch of the year. Entomologist guys on here should I let the first worms be. I was planning on catching them and using them for bait. Last year was decimal year for them on the tree so didn't want to knock them all out?

Let em go. If you want to catch some and use for bait that's fine. They'll be back next year.

They make great crappie bait.

Yep, great bait.

Will let them be for right now.

My dad bartered catalpa worms for food during the Great Depression in east Texas. They were currency because of their fish catching ability.

You can freeze them in small zip locks. Then thaw as needed for bait. A good long bamboo fishing pole works great for getting them from the upper limbs.