Leeches are an excellent live bait used on many Upper Michigan fresh water lakes,
rivers and streams. Au Train
Lake in Alger County is a prime example. Weed wandering walleyes selectively
dine on leeches. Very few anglers realize how valuable this bait item can be.
Fishing with Leeches
Oftentimes bait shops here in the far north, do not have a consistent supply of
leeches, or their leeches appear somewhat dull and/or inactive. So on your next
visit to our neck of the woods, remember to bring along a couple coffee cans...a
very useful tool enabling you to procure all the leeches that you could possibly
need or want! Noting is more better than fresh, alive and active run-away
leeches. Here's how.
Begin by adding some rocks to a coffee can for weight, along with a few fish
heads for attractant. (Prolific sunfish or perch are ideal) Next, close the top
of the can by crimping the can center rims together, leaving narrow slits along
the sides of the can. Place can in shallow, weedy marsh area. Remove the can
before sun up the next day.
Open the can and allow it to sit a couple of hours. Those leeches that have
escaped are "horse leeches" and are not an acceptable bait to use. Keep leeches
that remain in can for your bait.
Begin by adding some rocks to a coffee can for weight, along with a few fish
heads for attractant. (Prolific sunfish or perch are ideal) Next, close the top
of the can by crimping the can center rims together, leaving narrow slits along
the sides of the can. Place can in shallow, weedy marsh area. Remove the can
before sun up the next day.
Open the can and allow it to sit a couple of hours. Those leeches that have
escaped are "horse leeches" and are not an acceptable bait to use. Keep leeches
that remain in can for your bait.
