Types of Leeches?

[Twigfishers]

Anybody know the different types of leeches in the Northern Minnesota area? I live on a small lake loaded with em' but have heard that some fish won't touch some varieties. With the price of Leeches, I'd like to trap some, but only if there the right kind. Maybe a dumb question, but can anyone fill me in?

[NELS-BELLS]

The blacker the leech the better! That is what avid fisherman used to tell me when I worked at a baitshop. Fish don't care much for blood suckers. Blood suckers usually have a stripe down the middle. Leeches are usually a solid color (brown or black).
Nels

[Ybone]

The ribbon leech is most commonly used for fishing. They are sort of flat and have a edge on the side like a piece of ribbon. Also it's almost as easy to hook them as it is to hook a night crawler. They can be black or brown and are found mostly in lakes that have no fish. Any leech that is like a blob of jelly in your hand with no distinct edge or is tough to slide a hook in or has an orange belly or is common in a lake with fish in it is probably no good for fishing bait. Even though they may look good in the water even the hungriest walleye will not touch them.

[Bobb-o]

I always heard a good way to sort your leeches is just to let them sit out in a coffee can full of water, the ones that crawl out are the ones that wouldnt work well anyways

[Paul Rohweller]

Anyone ever heard of a leech called a diamondback? John down at quality bait in detroit lakes has one in a jar. From what I've heard the leecher dudes hate these things with a passion, if they latch onto you your arm or whatever part it got ahold of will swell up like a balloon. The leech was brown with some spikey looking things coming out of its back. I tried to pry it off the bottom of the jar but that thing was holding on like nobodys buisness. Paul

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Paul Rohweller
Pine to Prairie Guide Service
218-962-3387
N.P.A.A. 425
http://fishingminnesota.com/pinetoprairie

[MJP]

Well, here we go. I have way too much knowledge on this subject. I have trapped way too many leeches in my life time. The different kind of leeches are ribbons, diamondbacks, horse, ring, and bloodsuckers. Basically, the only ones good for fishing are ribbons.They come in black, brown, black with brown spots, and brown with black spots. They are the ones that are not mushy, they will curl up in your hand when taken out of cold water, have a consistent somewhat meaty texture to them. Diamondbacks are black with red shaped little diamonds all the way from back to front and are mushy.Horse leeches are mushy and come in all colors also, they are what people will see swimming in most lakes in Mn. Fish don't eat them,that I know of. Ring leeches are usually brown,skinny, and small.They sqirm around really fast. I hear panfish do like them, but, I have never tried. Bloodsuckers are small, generally brown with bumps on the back and grow wider instead of longer like the others. I hope my useless knowledge answers some of your questions. Have a great summer everyone.

Matt Phelps

[Paul Rohweller]

Hey Matt,
Thanks for clearing that up a bit..Havent seen ya around in awhile.. Paul aka eyeguy/mn....

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Paul Rohweller
Pine to Prairie Guide Service
218-962-3387
N.P.A.A. 425
http://fishingminnesota.com/pinetoprairie

[MJP]

No Problem Paul. I've been a busy boy. Cruise through once in awhile to see if you guys are catching fish and where. The bigger the biz gets, the less I fish. What's the deal with that. Take care.

Matt

[Guest]

Is there anyway better than another to catch leeches?

I want to start catching my own but I don't know what to use. Is there any kind of special "bait" that lures them in? What should I put the bait in to catch them?

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Fish ON!

[merc]

There was a pond on the edge of town that we used to get leeches from. We would take a coffee can, punch some holes in it, put a piece of raw liver in it, tie a rope on and throw it into whe water. The next day the can was full of them hanging onto the liver. Haven't done it in years as they fenced off the pond but it sure worked well back then. Good luck!!!!

[Guest]

Swim naked through a swamp. You'll get all you need.

Just Kiddin