how to catch leetches

[paul]

does anyone know how to catch leeches in lakes. what methods should a guy use?

[Mike M (Sask)]

Hi Paul

I catch all my own leeches. I use a tin foil pie plate folded in half, I punch a hole through the lips of the pie plate to tie it shut and to retrieve it. Inside I place a piece of raw liver and a rock to weight it down. I find the tin foil pie plate method to be very economical and simple. I usually don't trap leeches on lakes, mostly in sloughs and dugouts. I try to pick places that don't have fish. I usually throw the traps in about 1.5 to 3 feet of water. I usually put them in in the dark and pull them out in the dark. Usually in a 24 hour time frame. Hope this helps.

Good Fish'n
Mike M (Sask)

[cisco]

Years ago on canoe and portage trips into Ontario, we'd gut and gill a few fish to keep over night on a stringer in the water to be prepared the next day. You could count on a cavity full of leeches in each fish in the morning.

Incidentally, I've asked why the leeches in Leech Lake are not good bait and have not gotten a good answer -- folks guess at reasons, but I'd like a biologist to give an explanation. It is a fact that commercial leeches work well on Leech, but natural leeches don't. Who knows?

[legend]

I remember reading years ago, probably in In-Fisherman, that leeches in ponds and sloughs are ribbon leeches. These are the tasty little critters fish love to eat. Horse leeches are in lakes and are not good bait. I have scooped up big leeches in lakes and they seem very slimy. Maybe this is the reason fish don't like them. Hope this helps.

[SdDoc]

If memory serves me from scout camp, i think you sprinkle them with salt!!!!!

[Doug]

How do you guys keep the leeches healthy? I keep them in a pail in the basement (60 degrees) and change the water often but they seem to shrink after a week or so. Can they be fed?

[RANGER]

Cisco,

"Legend" has it right - but it was just a few months ago. In-Fish did a big spread on leeches. Gave me more info than I ever thought possible. I rememeber reading it but can't find the issue.

Anyway the ribbon leeches are the ones Walleye eat. Horse leeches are the ones found in the lake proper.

RANGER

[Paul]

punch a bunch of holes in a coffee can. put a chunk of raw meat inside prefferably liver if you have it. put the lid on. Tie on to a long pice of twine and chuck it out in the lake overnight. Leaches will be all over the meat.

[Polski]

I know this sounds crazy but it really works. Punch a lot of tiny holes in a 2lb coffee can, put some small rocks in it with your leeches, put the plastic lid on and put it in the tank of your toilet. Every time someone flushes the toilet some water will drain out, and then refill by itself. I've kept them this way for a month during the summer. PS - it might be a good ideal to not let the lady of the house know your doing this. It really does work. Good Luck.

[FJH1]

That is the most unbelieveable idea I have ever heard of - there is no question in my mind that it would work perfectly. Maybe I could have blue leeches if I add a puck of "2000 Flushes"!

Best Regards,

FJH

[Roger Mayer]

Hi!
I used to use the coffee can method and the pie plate method. The way I'm about to tell you to catch them is the best way so far.

Use an old gunny or potatoe sack. Use just a fish head in the sack. I use a sucker head. The reason I don't use meat anymore is because bloodsuckers are attracted to the blood. The leeches can get in and out of the sack but are way more interested in the fish heads to leave. Try this and tell me if this isn't the best way to go.

Roger Mayer.

[Nofish]

Hey Gang,

Too funny! But it should really work well. I just have to wonder about the water quality, not from the 2000 flushes blue, but the chlorine in our water supply. Any thoughts?

And don't worry about the wife finding the bait, when is the last time she picked up the tank lid?

Good luck........R