Ready to use leeches?!

[JewellOutdoors]

I can't help but think that warmer weather is on the way! As soon as the ice melts - the leech trappers will hit the water. Who uses leeches? What do you normally pay for them? Where is your favorite place to get them when they are in season?

[wildcatcreek]

Are leeches better to use than nightcrawlers in rivers and streams?

[Esox_Magnum]

I prefer leeches over any other live bait. I'll be able to get them late april/early may. Normaly pay about $18 a pound. I get them ffrom any of the local baitshops.

[Sandmannd]

I like to use leeches, but sometimes they won't take them. I like to have a variaty of bait out on the river with me.

[TonkaBass]

I am not a big walleye guy, but I have noticed that leeches are better in spring and early summer, then switches to crawler by mid and late summer.

[JewellOutdoors]

What size of leech do you get for $18 a pound? That's a darn good price! Do you get them around Spirit lake? I noticed you were around NW Iowa.

[JewellOutdoors]

Leeches tend to get a little harder to take care of - and they trap harder beginning in mid summer. By late summer, you're luck to have them, unless you can take good care of them. Spent my whole time growing up trapping leeches for Jewell Bait.

[gregg52]

i prefer BIG BLACK ones with shoulders lol

hard to find just blk ones

use to fish alot of touraments on mille lacs it seem to make a difference

seems like we'd use leeches then if it slowed throw a crawler on and get a few more

i like crawlers also large as i can find

[DonBo]

Are leeches better to use than nightcrawlers in rivers and streams?

Yes they are. Unless crawlers are working better on a given day. Changes day to day. Sometimes hour by hour. Best to have both along and let the fish tell you what they want.

[opsirc]

going to try the berkley gulp leeches this year, will not have to worry about the wife yelling to get rid of the green contrainer in the fridge.

[zepman]

Second that on the GULP! leeches. Used them all last year and caught just as many as on the real ones. Great on jigs or anything moving and never have to worry about them dying. At first I always bought the real ones to take along just in case but as the season progressed I never even stopped at the bait store on the way out. They work well.