View Full Version : How do you store your leeches?
Any help is appreciated.
We are picking up leeches today and making a four hour drive and will be fishing over the weekend.
Thanks,
BRS1
wally_diver
05-24-2002, 07:15 AM
I just put them in a cooler with some cold water. Make sure the lid is secure.
Grey Wolf
05-24-2002, 07:17 AM
In the Fridge on fresh water. Don't use city water either, use well water if possible.
Grey Wolf,
I have a filtration system (RO) will that be good?
No well water out here in the desert.
Thanks,
BRS1
Tom (mich)
05-24-2002, 07:24 AM
Just finished storing some for several weeks in my frig. Don't have access to well water - the city water didn't seem to affect them whatsoever.
P.KEMERY
05-24-2002, 07:38 AM
Hello,
Cabelas sells a leech bedding, I used it for the Cabelas championship on Mille Lacs been two weeks since I put leeches in bedding still doing great. Keep cool and wet. Makes it easy to handle leeches. Try it you will like it. It looks like Worm bedding, I bet worm bedding will work also. The leech bedding seems expensive.
Paul
Grey Wolf
05-24-2002, 07:42 AM
I have never used city water, just heard that the Chlorine is bad for them. I have also heard that if you le tthe city water sit for a period of time, the water will be fine. Desert water you may not have any of the chlorine in your water. I just keep frsh water on my leeches, change it often, and pick out any dead ones. Seems like once one dies it can infect the others if oyu don't get it out of there. I also keep my leeches in a styrofoam minnow bucket in the fridge.
Greg Meyer
05-24-2002, 07:43 AM
I just drop mine off at my lawyer's office and they do fine...seems they like to be aroubnd their own kind!
I keep mine loose in 1 1/2 - 2 gallon RubberMaid containers in a fridge between outings and in a cooler or livewell in Leech Tamer bags while fishing. I change the water at least once a week in the fridge storage containers and twice if I have time(only takes about 20 minutes to rinse thoroughly and refill). While on the water I keep the livewell on cycle and put fresh lake water and ice if needed in the cooler to store them overnight. I don't have any non-chlorinated water at my disposal at home so I have to use our city water. One thing I do is buy the chlorine killer from the pet stores that is used in aquariums, the kind I buy is called "Pisces Plus" and 1 teaspoon treats 10 gallons of water. I have had my current batch of leeches(I store about 1 1/2-2 Lbs per container in my fridge)for about 6 weeks now and have thrown out maybe 5 or 6 total! Most of these have been chewed on by the others. Try the chlorine killer, it seems to be making my city water work just fine.. Good luck, RJ in Montana....
Brian, I use a Leech Tamer bag and keep them in a cooler of water in the "bait fridge". We're on well water so I just empty and fill the cooler every couple of days. I've been doing this for years with no problems. On the Chain the water is so warm and muddy that we keep the leeches in the cooler all day. However, at Mille Lacs (43 degree h20) we just put the Leech Tamer bags in the bait wells for the week.
Best Regards,
Jamie
dkooser
05-24-2002, 07:56 AM
BRS1
Are you guys headed to T-dad? I'm going down there Saturday.
We're going to Lake Merideath to pre-fish the TWA tourney June 8th.
You??
BRS1
Dave S
05-24-2002, 08:07 AM
I store mine in a leech tamer in the refrigerator. I picked up a cake pan slightly larger than the leech tamer, lay the leech tamer in the cake pan and add 1 1/2 to 2" of water. I change the water every few days with water of the same temperature stored in an ice cream pail in the refrigerator. Water left sitting for 24 hours will have all of the chlorine released so don't have to worry about city water if you do that. Takes less than 2 minutes to change water with leeches in leech tamer. They will keep for months if you keep the temp between freezing and around 40 degrees. A cheap refrigerator thermometer will help in adjusting your refrigerator temperature. If the temperature gets in the mid 40's or above they will not keep nearly as long has been my experience.
Grey Wolf
05-24-2002, 08:10 AM
Jamie
Do those Leech Tamer bags really work? What do they actually do for you? How many leeches will fit comfortably in a bag, a pound or more or less?
Big Sky
05-24-2002, 09:31 AM
I too would like to know what the advantage of the Leech Tamer bag is. Also see there is a white and yellow bag. Different mesh, same size and same price. What's the difference between the 2?
I used the leech bag for the first time at Mille Lacs. Found some advantages, to get to your leech just grab the bag it drains, open it and select a friskie leech. Don't have to chase them. Throw the bag in the livewell or bait well for storage. Easier to transport and change water. You don't have to separate the leeches from the smegma to change the water.
Dave S
05-24-2002, 10:27 AM
I have had my leech tamer bag now for two years and it works great! The top of the bag has a velcro strip for easy opening and closing. Top of the bag floats slightly so bag can easily be grabbed in a live level without sinking to the bottom. Mesh will not rot and makes moving leeches and /or changing water a snap. I have 1.5 pound of leeches in mine and look like it would hold 2 lb with no problem. When you are done fishing for the day grab the bag and put back in the refrigerator and versus spending forever chasing leeches around in your cooler. In my opinion a must for someone who routinely uses leeches.
Walleye Joe
05-24-2002, 11:11 AM
The difference between the two is the color. Nothing else.
I tie a rope to the tamer and connect to the boat and use just like a flow through minnow bucket. Leeches stay great and are used to the water they will be eaten in. No messing with containers, losing lids, the water drains out every time you lift the bag so you don't get overly cold, wet hands. Just be sure to close the velcro top securely as they will sneak out if you don't.
Jim Carroll
05-24-2002, 11:46 AM
Leech Tamers are a MUST HAVE item if your fishing with and keeping leeches between fishing trips. I use two 1 gallon ice cream pails. I keep the leeches in one and the second full of water in the fridge. Keep the water under forty degrees to keep their activity level low. Warm water will cause them to lose their size faster. The beauty of the Leech Tamer is when you need to change water you simply put them in the other bucket. City tap water is fine, but be sure to allow 24 hours for the chlorine to escape. I take the bucket of old water and pour it through the Leech Tamer to wash out any slime and then put the bag in the new bucket and your good for another week or so. Simple...and the Tamer Bags last forever. The new mesh bait bucket for minnows is also an excellent product. Jim Carroll #588
Atomic Eye
05-28-2002, 08:17 PM
This weekend, I'm having a birthday party for the dozen or so remaining leeches that I brought back from Minnesota in late May 2001! I've kept them in my fridge in large margarine tubs. Every 2 weeks, I fed them belly strips of walleye flesh. Clearing the water every few days is very important. Our water in Los Alamos, NM is supplied from untreated wells 700+' deep.
I used the convenient leech bags described by earlier posts. But, for extended storage, I found that cannibalism prevailed when it was really easy for them to just attach and suck the juices out of a neigbor & lost dozens of leeches each week to "vampirism." The leech bags put the little suckers into too close a proximity for longer storage, like a few months.
Where did you get your leeches from?
Atomic Eye (New Mexico) -- "Gone Fission!" ~~~<}}}:>
skillz
05-28-2002, 08:24 PM
I change it about 1-2 times/week, using lake water. Then store in a little refride dowstairs.
skz
The best time to go fishing is whenever you can...
Quality Baits
Los Lunas, NM
The guy at Wal Mart told me to use a small goldfish aquarium and feed them a small piece of meat once a week and they will reproduce.
What do you think?
BRS1
Atomic Eye
05-29-2002, 11:36 AM
Brian,
If the Lord had meant for leeches to eat meat, he probably would have given them feet and lungs so they could chase down their food supply.
I think an aquarium will take up a lot of space in your fridge.
Atomic Eye (New Mexico) -- "Gone Fission!" ~~~<}}}:>
bellbuoy
05-30-2002, 04:48 AM
Never thought I'd see the word "smegma" on the Walleye Central Discussion Board
Bellbuoy
Rivertown Sports
05-30-2002, 04:49 AM
we would suggest using fat and sassy leech beding it works great for us. Our leeches stay fresh for weeks and have not found any dead ones yet. You never have to change water and you never have to change beding for a long time, just do as the directions say adding 5 table spoons of water, or a cup depending on how big of a supply you get, then just put them in your fridge.
can of worms
05-30-2002, 08:50 AM
Who makes these leech tammer bags where do I find them? I am from the finger lakes area and have never heard of them before. Thank you for the tip they sound great.
www.driftbag.com
I am placing an order myself.
BRS1
PS: They also make the planer tamer for your boards.
can of worms
05-30-2002, 08:56 AM
Where can I find leech tammer bags and do any of you have a good place for bulk leeches,they are pricey around here. $ 2.75-3.00 doz.
Jim Carroll
05-30-2002, 09:12 AM
Leech Tamers are available widely. Try a Scheel's store if you have one nearby, or I believe Cabela's is also now handling Wave Tamer's products.
For bulk leeches in the mail: http://www.vadosbait.com/
they have excellent quality and service.
Alternatively, ask your local baitshop to order them in by the pound for you and save some $$$'s Jim Carroll NPAA #588
JC,
How would you know anything about live bait? You never get your boat dirty with little critters. All you do is pull cranks.
Use leech tamers for in the boat while fishing.
Fat & Sassy leech bedding for storage between trips. Use a styrafoam container like you get with a flat of crawlers or F&S has a nice kit. The leech beeding needs to be a little more moist so the instructions say to add some water. (water just for leechs)
Fat & Sassy makes great worm bedding too. Food/water is already in the bedding. Open bag and just add crawlers.
Jim Carroll
05-30-2002, 09:53 AM
HEY! HEY! HEY! Now...that is not entirely true...;) I DRIFTED livebait up at White Earth on Sunday all day and caught some nice walleyes. <Only pulled cranks for an hour! :+>
can of worms
05-31-2002, 05:05 AM
Thanks for the info,I did see the leech tammer bags on anouhter add,do you like one size of leech better than anouther? Large or jumbo? When I use the large that we get in our area I can't keep the perch off of them. Thanks again.
I have used jumbo and also the smallest ones I can find.
It all depends onwhat the fish want. Up on Sakakawea we needed big ones last year and a couple years ago on the Mississippi we used floating jigs with tiny leeches. basically served as scent only. The big ones got sucked off without hooking the fish.