O.K. Folks.
Pronature is taking leech orders . (819-627-9432)
I just reserved mine for my trip.
At the moment they are 50 dollars Canadian Funds per pound.
Yes Just picked some up today. $50 per pound,$25 for 1/2 pound and $5 per doz
Hi,
This is the first time we have purchased this many leeches at once. What do you guys store them in?
Keep em in a bucket in the fridge. Rinse them thru a minnow net and change the water every 2 days.
Have fun
Rick
Here's what the literature says about caring for leeches:
Leeches can drown because they breathe through their skin like worms. Leeches only need enough water to keep moist, don’t cover them with water.
They must be kept below 45° to keep them dormant, otherwise they will go through their reproductive cycle and die
They must be rinsed 2-4 times per week to keep them fresh and lively. They must have the "white stuff" rinsed off of them. When you see the "white stuff", rinse immediately and cool them.
Leeches don't like light, so keep them in a dark, cool, place. Leeches can be dormant for many months, if properly cared for. Never use chlorinated water unless you have let the water stand for a few days so the chlorine can evaporate.
I always keep my leeches in a Leech Tamer Bag.
Jay
Good info Jay....thanks. That explains why we buy 5 pounds each year and lose about 60% of them by Tuesday. Complete and disgusting waste of money. And we were blaming the leeches. Dumb a$$es...
Keep cold, little water, no white goop. Got it...
I stopped by Stop101 for the usual beer, ice and worms. their cooler was stocked with leeches as well. I've always used just worms and have no trouble catching numbers of walleye. Seeing as you guys are so adamant maybe I'll give'em a shot this summer...
On average how many leeches in a pound? (rough estimate is fine)
A jumbo leech when flat is about 2 inches long, when it stretches out it may be 6 inches.
A large leech is about 1-2 inches flat and 41/2 inches stretched out.
A medium is about 1 inch flat and 21/2 inches stretched out.
A small leech is about 1/2 inch flat and 1 inch stretched out.
Leech size Doz. per lb.
Jumbo 8 to 10 dozen
Large 10 to 15 dozen
Medium 16 to 20 dozen
Small 22 to 30 dozen
Jay
Super helpful thanks Jay! I've been buying leeches by the dozen for about 15 years now at Alwaki lodge, they always have nice big leeches but may try a bulk order this year. Where's your best recommendation for big leeches?
I just ordered 4 lbs from Corina at Kipawa Bait...right by the launch. We have got our leeches from her for I believe the past 6 years. I emailed her a week ago and she thought the price would be 55.00/pound for jumbos...yet to be confirmed. We put our 4 lbs into a small Styrofoam cooler with water and some ice when we get to Alwaki and really don't lose any...or very few in a week. Change water every other day and keep cool. We put our cooler under the deck out of the sun. Likely easier to keep cold the first week in June compared to summer. Trick is to keep cool or cold.
We do the same thing JohnPK. Keeping them in cold water is big. And changing the water. Throwing a couple walleye gills in with the leeches helps also. They do need something to eat sometimes. But then you have to make sure you change that water. It does make a mess of the water after a day. Just change the water. And throw ice cubes or ice packs in the water with them. My buddy Al's job is taking care of the leeches when we get there. And he does a very good job of it!
Quote from: Kyle Skelding on May 21, 2017, 07:50:08 PM
Where's your best recommendation for big leeches?
Hi Kyle,
Anyone you find that will sell you leeches by the pound in selected sizes is the place to do business. Although some leech vendors will sell by the pound, they won't sell by size. Sounds like Corina at Kipawa Bait will let you order by the pound and by size. I haven't heard how Sebastian at ProNatur does it.
Jay
We have also kept them in a leech bucket for the dock about 10 fee down and they will keep for weeks. Just make sure they have a heavy enough lid to keep the snapping turtle out
Quote from: crackers42 on May 22, 2017, 09:43:55 PM
We have also kept them in a leech bucket for the dock about 10 feet down and they will keep for weeks. Just make sure they have a heavy enough lid to keep the snapping turtle out
Is this a practical method to keeping the leeches alive? After reading previous posts, this seems counter to what is being recommended above? I only ask because this is our first time at Kipawa and my first time having to try to keep leeches alive. If keeping them in a leech bucket, submerged works, then that seems way easier than keeping them refrigeratorAted and rinsed?
We have tried both and I find off the dock 10 feet or more down works the best.
Just put them in a leech bag (you can find at Bass pro) and then we up that bag in one of those medal fish traps with lid that opens on top. Reason for the second container is to keep the critters out.
Nothing wrong with the fridge but this is much easier and just as well.
Quote from: crackers42 on May 27, 2017, 04:53:02 PM
We have tried both and I find off the dock 10 feet or more down works the best.
Just put them in a leech bag (you can find at Bass pro) and then we up that bag in one of those medal fish traps with lid that opens on top. Reason for the second container is to keep the critters out.
So, leeches in leech bag, bag into fish trap, tie rope to trap, tie float to other end, submerged 10' deep water?
Last year (our first, at Ogascanan), we bought leeches at Kipawa bait. We kept them in a spare cooler on the porch, and just made sure there was a chunk of ice in with them. We didn't lose any, and I don't remember noticing any white stuff on them. Our trip was only 4 days, though.
Do the same method as Ira for years. Spare cooler in the shade with ice and the leeches and their water stays real cold. Keeps them dormant and we don't lose any.
17 years and we buy 5, 6 pounds of leeches in a few bags for the week, have a separate cooler with lots of ice on the bottom, and lay the bags of leeches on top. Take out what we need for a few hours at a time and never loose any. Key is keep them cold. Keep cooler in the shade. Simple. Never had a problem, ever. Nice and simple. Heat = bad, cold = good leeches, = lots of walleye!
Will be there tomorrow, made ice blocks for the cooler, 6 pounds of leeches when we get there.
But if you are driving for days as some are, a cooler of ice just for leeches may not be practical, so the other methods may be more realistic, but for us, it works, has not failed yet.
8 hours before departure, cant wait!
Hodgey1,
Just tie it off to the dock about ten feet down and you should be fine.
Quote from: crackers42 on May 28, 2017, 09:38:40 PMJust tie it off to the dock about ten feet down and you should be fine.
Great tip, thanks!