Leech pricing / where to buy.

[T-Bone]

BELOW IS A LINK FOR THE NEW BAIT KEEPERS DEVELOPED IN CANADA FOR THE TRUE CANADIAN WALLEYE FISHERMAN

Not sure I'm a true Canadian walleye fisherman, but interesting product. 

And Hodgey...Corina gave us a tip on how to take care of leeches that assures you lose none...or next to none...the entire week. At the cost of those things, that's important. It doesn't involve bags or tamers or failing velcro whizzle'jams. So simple too. Always in COLD water...and cold lake water refresh every two days...that's the jist of it.

[Hodgey1]

BELOW IS A LINK FOR THE NEW BAIT KEEPERS DEVELOPED IN CANADA FOR THE TRUE CANADIAN WALLEYE FISHERMAN

Not sure I'm a true Canadian walleye fisherman, but interesting product. 

And Hodgey...Corina gave us a tip on how to take care of leeches that assures you lose none...or next to none...the entire week. At the cost of those things, that's important. It doesn't involve bags or tamers or failing velcro whizzle'jams. So simple too. Always in COLD water...and cold lake water refresh every two days...that's the jist of it.

The bag is not about keeping them alive, it’s about corralling all of them in one spot. Then being able to change the water and only having to grab that one leech bag and they’re all removed at one time and rinse container out, add fresh cold lake water and place bag of leeches back in.... done. I love the leech bag and have used it on three trip and no Velcro issues. I think it was Jay that gave me that tip, I highly recommend it.

[T-Bone]

I have (2) of those leech bags in my "Purchased but Never Used" box in my garage. If I remember I'll bring them up and you can give me an in-service on them. If I don't like it, they're yours....

[CaptainCrappie]

For keeping your main supply of leeches...I've used a Plano #700 10 quart minnow bucket that works just fine.  It's one of those drainer buckets with a handle on the inner bucket which goes into the bottom bucket, also has a handle used to carry the unit around..  Keep the leeches in the inner (top) bucket and all you have to do (at the waters edge) is lift the inner bucket which removes the leeches from the yucky water, refill the bottom bucket with clean water, then put those leeches back into the bottom bucket, and put em back in the fridge.  Word of caution... Those vertical slots on the bottom side of the inner bucket which allows the water to drain, although narrow, are wide enough for smaller leeches to escape into the bottom bucket. The fix is to raid your wife's craft stuff and if your lucky, she'll have some of that plastic mesh stuff. Cut it to the same vertical length of the slots and weave that stuff in and out around those drain slots. They can't get out. Another word of caution. Don't mix up the handles or you'll spill yucky water all over the place!   Uh, I've done that.

C.C.

[RoK]

20 years buying leeches from Kipawa bait. We have a dedicated cooler to put the leech bags in, Corina tops it up with ice.

And as T-Bone stated
"So simple too. Always in COLD water...and cold lake water refresh every two days.". 

Actually we have never refreshed the water.  6 lbs of leeches, 6 days, keep them cold, add ice every day and never had an issue in 20 years. So simple. Oh, and keep the cooler out of the sun. Any longer and definitely would need to refresh the water though.

[Ira]

OK - called Corina at Kipawa Bait to reserve leeches and found out she’s closed July 1 when we’re coming up. Made reservation at Pronature in Temiscaming instead. Any reports on the quality of their leches?

[Oarin]

Ira, we've used Pronature for our leeches for the past several years. We've had no issues with them. We get our licenses there too.

[Ira]

Thanks, Oarin. Read somewhere else on the forum that their leeches were 30% somewhere on the small side. Wondering if we should pick up an extra pound or two.

[Chazz]

They were small last summer and hard to get but that was due to the drought and shortage of them.   Hopefully this year that wont be the case

[T-Bone]

Well...think about it this way. The smaller they are, the more leeches per pound. So I would think if they're on the small size you could actually order less in weight as there is a higher number per pound. I don't know...math was never my thing.

38

[Hodgey1]

Well...think about it this way. The smaller they are, the more leeches per pound. So I would think if they're on the small size you could actually order less in weight as there is a higher number per pound. I don't know...math was never my thing.

When we got down to the smallest leeches last year, i was doubling them up on the jig with great results

[Chazz]

Has anyone purchased any leeches recently.  If so how was the quality?  Last years were pretty bad.

[Oarin]

Chazz, we got a pound from Pronature last Saturday and they were good. Some small, but overall nice sized and healthy. Good luck on your trip. I'll get my trip report in soon.

[Chazz]

Thanks Oarin - called around sounds like no problem with availability and pricing about $50 Cnd a pound.

[crackers42]

We keep leeches all year in a leech bag off the dock

Never have to change the water through some lettuce in there once in awhile and they are good

As last long as the snapping turtles stay out of the bag