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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 61,275 Likes: 31
Campfire Kahuna
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OP
Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 61,275 Likes: 31 |
I have not used a leech for bait for years. When I did, I like the toughness of the little suckers.
Any of the good anglers on the old 'fire like to us leeches?
These premises insured by a Sheltie in Training ,--- and Cooey.o "May the Good Lord take a likin' to you"
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 42,131 Likes: 11
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 42,131 Likes: 11 |
Richard, while they will catch everything, I only specifically use them for Smallmouth.
Paul.
"Kids who grow up hunting, fishing & trapping, do not mug little old Ladies"
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 61,275 Likes: 31
Campfire Kahuna
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OP
Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 61,275 Likes: 31 |
What rig Paul? Spinner, jig, other?
These premises insured by a Sheltie in Training ,--- and Cooey.o "May the Good Lord take a likin' to you"
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,828
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,828 |
Leeches can be great bait on the right lake. Some lakes just don't respond to them. They're much tougher than a crawler or minnow and easier to handle than either as well. They don't excel in the Missouri River near here but they do in the glacial lakes in the NE part of this state.
"Miss Jean Louise, stand up. Your father's passin.'"
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 38,937 Likes: 11
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 38,937 Likes: 11 |
What rig Paul? Spinner, jig, other? We have used them successfully on jigs and slip bobbers.
Not a real member - just an ordinary guy who appreciates being able to hang around and say something once in awhile.
Happily Trapped In the Past (Thanks, Joe)
Not only a less than minimally educated person, but stupid and out of touch as well.
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 29,974 Likes: 11
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 29,974 Likes: 11 |
Several leech imitations in the fly fishing world, and they are very effective. Surf up a wooly bugger.
1Minute
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Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 69,481 Likes: 27
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 69,481 Likes: 27 |
Several leech imitations in the fly fishing world, and they are very effective. Surf up a wooly bugger. I’ve caught fish on a Wooly Bugger, but never fished with a real leech. Never heard of anyone using them for bait around here.
"Allways speak the truth and you will never have to remember what you said before..." Sam Houston Texans, "We say Grace, We Say Mam, If You Don't Like it, We Don't Give a Damn!"
~Molɔ̀ːn Labé Skýla~
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Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 5,821 Likes: 11
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 5,821 Likes: 11 |
Leaches are great up here, I rig them on a slip bobber. I've caught bass, walleye, northern and musky with them. Plus, when my son was little, leaches kept him very preoccupied in the boat! Haha!
It isn't what happens to you that defines you, it's what you DO about what happens to you that defines you!
NRA life member
Illinois State Rifle Association member
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Joined: May 2005
Posts: 16,554
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 16,554 |
A very effective bait for walleye in our prairie lakes particularly in the spring. Works with any live bait setup, I generally prefer slip bobber. Should work for any species, people around here seem to believe no other fish is worth eating.
The key elements in human thinking are not numbers but labels of fuzzy sets. -- L. Zadeh
Which explains a lot.
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 42,131 Likes: 11
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 42,131 Likes: 11 |
Paul.
"Kids who grow up hunting, fishing & trapping, do not mug little old Ladies"
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 4,092 Likes: 2
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 4,092 Likes: 2 |
I sold a young fellow I was working with a ultra light fishing rig. The next week I brought my canoe to the job sight and took him fishing on Spiritwood lake in ND. The guy at the resort told us that the northerns were having a case of lock jaw so we rigged with small black jigs and small leaches and headed to the downed timber on the west end of the lake for crappies, no crappies but we boated three northerns that totaled just over 50 pounds. We did lose a couple more that ate our jigs. 6# line, eighth ounce black jigs and small leeches. You've never seen a grin like the one on the young fellows face.
After the first shot the rest are just noise.
Make mine a Minaska
Heaven has walls and rules, H-ll has open borders
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 42,131 Likes: 11
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 42,131 Likes: 11 |
Yup, good fun on 6lb power pro & a St. Croix ultra light !
Paul.
"Kids who grow up hunting, fishing & trapping, do not mug little old Ladies"
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Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 50,669 Likes: 2
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 50,669 Likes: 2 |
So how do you hook those golden shiners for bait?
Mark Begich, Joaquin Jackson, and Heller resistance... Three huge reasons to worry about the NRA.
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 2,209 Likes: 1
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 2,209 Likes: 1 |
Leeches will last a long time with a little maintenance. When you're ready to store them, transfer them to a much larger container. I use a large zip lock style tub about the length of a standard refrigerator shelf and 8 inches wide. Poor them into the tub and try to rinse most of the slime off. I've only rinsed them using lake water - I've never tried city water with its attendant chemicals. After rinsing, fill the tub to around half full and snap the lid in place and put the whole works into the fridge. The cold and dark of the fridge will put them into a state of hibernation. Once a week, remove the tub from the fridge and give them another rinse, remove any dead leeches and place them right back into the fridge
I've kept the same leeches up to two months using this method.
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 114
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 114 |
Up in MN we used them for Smallmouths w. only a 1/8 oz. black jig and the leech on it. Works great! Lake or stream - great bait!
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Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 837
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 837 |
I used them all the time on the Wisconsin River by the Dells. Downstream from the dam, walleye love them
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Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 3,246
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 3,246 |
Used them for years for bass. Especially in shallow water when fish are finicky or lure shy. jumbo leech on plain #6 hook. Bass will take it when leech sinks slowly. Just watch for when the line starts going out.
"Put none but Americans on guard tonight." -George Washington
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Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 344
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 344 |
Leeches are a great bait for big bluegill in the spring/early summer.
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Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 18,970 Likes: 5
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 18,970 Likes: 5 |
Used em for walleyes up north and they work real well. Will be trying them on a local lake we catch walleyes on but normally use crankbaits. Just want to see if the leech works as good on it.
Buddy like them for trotlines as they are easy to maintain and keep alive. He caught a 92# flathead on them about 20 years ago.
The last time that bear ate a lawyer he had the runs for 33 days!
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