Does Size Matter?

[Rino]

A buddy and I were discussing leaches and weather the Jumbo's are worth the extra $$$ or do small medium and large ones work just fine. Anyone have any strong fealings on Bait size?

[tulikow]

My opinion is that they are worth the extra money. When I use leaches they are jumbos about 90% of the time. I will use small or medium leaches for smaller fish or when they are bighting really light and finesse rigs are needed.

------------------
The following statement is true.
The previous statement is false.

[fwp]

Where leeches work well the Jumbos seem to attract the bigger fish. That being said I have ran into situations where finesse fishing small leeches was the only way to go. Choice-go jumbo-worth the extra$$.

------------------
FWP Guide Service
Fishin With Phil
Phone: 218-753-2079
Cell Phone: 218-780-3385
Vermilion and Rainy Lake
www.fishin-with-phil.com
[email protected]

[Dano2]

how do you folks usually hook you leeches/
I've been hooking right thru the sucker, and I do nothing but lose them all the time, I think they must pull off easily , but for all I know maybe its not wallys that are doing it.
I've only been able to catch a few wallys on leeches and they hit it reel hard.

[tulikow]

I always hook my leaches just behind the sucker.

[slick814]

As far as size goes, I kinda let the fish tell me what they want. There's times that they won't hit the jumbos, but a medium or large works great and vice-versa.
As far as hooking them, just below the sucker if I'm live bait rigging or Lindy rigging them, but if I'm using a slip bobber rig, or vertical jigging, I usually hook them through the "bellybutton" on the smaller end. look at the belly side and you'll see where I'm talking about.

------------------
Fishin' is life
The rest is just details

[Chris Haley]

It's a cold hard fact of life SIZE DOES MATTER. Think of it like this, if you're an eight pound walleye and you're hungary. Are you going to want to eat med or small sized bait or do want to supersize your meal?? Also remember that during the warm water months a fish's metabolism increases, requiring more food intake to maintain body size. They have to feed while burning as little energy as possible. Ask any muskie fisherman how many big walleyes he catches while chucking for ski's??

------------------
Guiding for:
Bemidji Area Lakes Guide Service
(218)759-2235
[email protected]

[This message has been edited by Chris Haley (edited 08-03-2004).]

[Borch]

A lort depends on the presentation I'm using. If I'm pulling spinners I like to use large leeches. If I'm livebait rigging or slip bobbering I like using Jumbos.

As far as hooking I prefer to hook them just behinf the sucker. But if I'm dealing with some bait stealing perch or sunfish I'll hook them throough the tip of the smaller end. The skin is much tougher there and that's how a leech naturally swims anyways. Results in fewer lost leeches. Plus the fish usually don't seem to mind.

Borch

[Rino]

I hook leaches only one way, behind the sucker then turn them and pass the hook through their body again ~1/4" further down. This way the leach stays on very well and it does not ball up.

[Dano2]

what do you mean by turn them?
I have double hooked them before, first through the sucker, then take another bite in through part of the body, but they always seem to get all twisted up this way.
I'll have to try the, through the tail end thing once.
Borch, are you saying a leech swims with its sucker trailing behind?
interesting.

thanks

[This message has been edited by Dano2 (edited 08-04-2004).]

[Borch]

Yes, watch them swim in your bucket or drop one in the lake and watch it swim. Small pointy end forward everytime. But there's something about them struggling to get away from the hook that trigger fish. That's why the fat sucker end is so popular as hooking location.

Borch

[pikerliker]

Caught my two biggest walleye's on the jumbo's so I'd say spend the money!

~piker