Leeches for bait Southern Alberta

[smith88]

Looking for some leeches to take the kids out fishing for the long weekend. I messaged Fresh Live Bait and they didn't have any.

Thanks in advance

[Dale S]

Good Luck

[Jims83cj5]

The only ones you should find will be those of us that bought a few pounds and are keeping them alive at home

[Bushmaster]

You could try catching your own. Trap takes 10 minutes to make and this is the result of my first try...

[fishn_palmer]

Originally Posted by Bushmaster

You could try catching your own. Trap takes 10 minutes to make and this is the result of my first try...

You sure those are leeches? look like bloodsuckers to me, tough to tell from picture.

If they are leeches, those are nice size!

[Bushmaster]

I actually didn't know there was a difference. Doubt it would make any difference to a predator fish.

[I’d rather be outdoors]

Liberals are gonna be really tough to find round these parts. Sorry couldn’t help myself :-)

[fishn_palmer]

Originally Posted by Bushmaster

I actually didn't know there was a difference. Doubt it would make any difference to a predator fish.

I know it sounds silly. I used to have a bait line in NW ontario. Bloodsuckers are not good bait, leeches are great bait.

The old trapper trick I was taught, was leave your trapped bait in a five gallon pail overnight, bloodsuckers will climb out, leeches will not.

When I sold to baitshops, they would not accept bloodsuckers.

Usually if you find a pond with leeches, that's all that will be in it. If you find a pond with bloodsuckers, look for a new pond.

[highwood]

Fish cranks and you don't need live bait

[AlbertanGP]

I think what you are referring to as bloodsuckers are horse leeches, and they are notoriously ineffective.

[OL_JR]

I didn't realize the difference either previously, most of the ponds in my area have horse leeches in them. I didn't know the difference because myself wife and kids were catching lots of fish on them. Last year found a pond that has mostly ribbons in it and honestly can't say the catch rate went up or down. The ribbons are a brownish with black spotting while the horses are the mixed black color that the store bought ribbons usually are.

Last days off went for a multi day walleye tour and brought a big tub with about 50% ribbon leeches, and 50% horse leeches. Went through every single one, and quickly so I dunno, ineffective just hasn't been my experience on more than a few different lakes.

I'll keep trying to get both and keep experimenting, one upside about the horse leeches is they are way more durable.

[Jims83cj5]

Originally Posted by Bushmaster

You could try catching your own. Trap takes 10 minutes to make and this is the result of my first try...

What was the date you took that picture

[Bushmaster]

The picture was taken May 22/21.

[smith88]

I guess I will try my hand at leech trapping. I wonder if the Ottawa River or Rideau Canal would be a good place to try....

[smith88]

Double post

[Jims83cj5]

Originally Posted by Bushmaster

The picture was taken May 22/21.

Lol, try your trap now,,,,leech season is pretty much over

[MaxxiD]

My buddy got some leeches from the Fishin' Hole on Wednesday, I went there yesterday, all gone

Buy powerbait leeches. They stay on the hook better and are still scented

[smith88]

I went and made a trap and managed to catch 6 leeches. Now I'm trying to figure out what type they are...

Thanks for the tip!

[brass410]

Originally Posted by smith88

I went and made a trap and managed to catch 6 leeches. Now I'm trying to figure out what type they are...

Thanks for the tip!

take one in the hand poke at it if it constricts up and becomes quite hard, its a bait leech, if it lind of balls up but is still mushy/jelly like thats a non desirable the fish wont usually take them, those are the nasty blood suckers. Also look for a redish/orange belly with red dots on the back also undesireable, the ones your looking for usually are not segmented in the body,and can go from coal black to a light sandy brown. by the way they usually start dieing around here anyway, about early june after they have bred and laid egg rings. Adults have a pretty short life span

[Bushmaster]

Jims83....I know nothing about the biology/life span of leeches but I had to check out your assumption that there will be nothing to trap now. So I set my trap again last nite and this is what I got. Lots total but definetly fewer big ones...

[Jims83cj5]

Originally Posted by Bushmaster

Jims83....I know nothing about the biology/life span of leeches but I had to check out your assumption that there will be nothing to trap now. So I set my trap again last nite and this is what I got. Lots total but definetly fewer big ones...

That’s fantastic, they are certainly smaller

[Jims83cj5]

Originally Posted by Bushmaster

Jims83....I know nothing about the biology/life span of leeches but I had to check out your assumption that there will be nothing to trap now. So I set my trap again last nite and this is what I got. Lots total but definetly fewer big ones...

That’s fantastic, they are certainly smaller, I gave up cuz all the experts said they were done, guess I need to be more carefull about whose info I pass along as fact,thx

[Bushmaster]

We plan on going north again mid-July. If I can still catch some then I'll take them with and see if we can catch fish with them.

[Bushmaster]

And I've got to add this little mystery. I actually set a trap the nite before. When I went out to check it yesterday morning...it was GONE !! Trap, 50 # braided line and full spool of line... GONE!! No sign of anything...only thing that I can think of was a great blue heron took it. It was in water 2 feet deep, I live at the end of a dead end road, no other human has been near the dugout in at least 20 years, no tracks or sign of anything ??.