Leech trapping?

[LocalGuide]

I was thinking about trapping my own leeches this year. When is a good time to start doing this? I will mainly be trapping them in West Central Minnesota.

Also I was wonder what kind of ponds to scout out. I do know that for best results you should get to the "bag or what ever" at sunrise or so, otherwise the leeches leave.
So that brings up, whats the best thing to trap these things in? And whats the best possible bait to use? and what kind of bait could I use that I dont have to go out of the way to get?

Any other kind of help will be appreciated too.

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And keep those hooks sharp!

[Bobb-o]

i have always used an empty coffee can, i pinch the opening most of the way shut with a rock and a fishhead inside and put them in a marshy area on a lake, and pick it out before sunrise.

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a Leap year huh? sweet, an extra day of fishing!

[Thomas]

is it worth the effort?

[Bobb-o]

i dont use much for leeches but i always seem to get a couple dozen everytime i do it

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a Leap year huh? sweet, an extra day of fishing!

[psegriz]

LocalGuide

Although I don't do it anymore I did make a living trapping them for 15 yrs. Look for a pond that has no fish, ones w/ cattails or rushes around the edges seemed to produce ones that were a little larger. As far as time NOW is the time until late summer. Also lakes should be deep enough so they don't freeze to the bottom or they dry up in fall and fill again in spring.(I don't know why)!! I've used every bait posible and find that fish is a good bait. If you have access to dead minnows perfect if not just cut up oily fish (carp) into small pieces and use a couple. 6 small pieces is better than 1 big one. Traps usually don't matter use tubes, coffee cans, envelopes (aluminum) whatever is handy. Not knowing exactly where you are from as a side note the further south you go the less likely you are to find them in numbers. The guy who posted earlier is it worth it, probably not but I'd like to ask him if his fish would be cheaper if he bought them in grocery store. Any other ? just post hope I helped.

GRIZ

P.S. Don't get too excited about size as a big leech is more likely to get bit in half. I used to use 2 small leeches on the same hook instead of one big one.

[This message has been edited by psegriz (edited 04-26-2004).]

[LocalGuide]

AS far as location goes, it will mainly be in the Spicer/Willmar area.
So should I just pinch a coffe can shut and use that? Then I'll throw some dead minnows, cut up in there, and get ready.

I would like to try and see if its worth it. B/c $9 for a 1/2 pound of leeches is expensive. Plus if I get some small leeches I might try to get some crappies or something with them.

Anybody else trap leeches?

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And keep those hooks sharp!

[psegriz]

If your going to use coffee cans it would be a good idea to put a ball of grass in it, helps hold bait in can and also hold leeches in also while pulling up the trap. Might want to put a few small holes in sides too. LOL

GRIZ

Altough the grass will make it a bigger pain to get leeches out of grass.

[This message has been edited by psegriz (edited 04-28-2004).]

[can it be luck?]

I never trapped them, but what about an old burlap gunny sack? Throw in a bait such as liver, tie it off, throw it out. The burlap allows them to get in...But they don't check out!

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http://groups.msn.com/canitbeluck

[Finlander]

I was told to put tar paper in a coffee can then put some liver in there and the leeches will come!
Put a rock in the bottom of the can and tie a rope and attatch a float to it so you can put multiple cans in different locations and find all of them later!
Good Luck!

[psegriz]

You guys are right gunny sacks werk fine and liver is a real good bait. The reason I did not mention liver is that liver does not deteriorate it rots. Putting off a form of food piosoning in the process. I made a living for 15 yrs and killed off a pile of ponds in 3 yrs. time before I figured out it was the liver doing it. Some might not think it's a big deal, but remember it'll take about 8 yrs for the leeches to come back. If they come back? I did have (one) that come back.

GRIZ

As far as tar paper goes I don't see any difference between tar paper and rubber tires in the lake, just use grass.

[This message has been edited by psegriz (edited 04-28-2004).]

[Spunky]

Well I grew up following my grandad around while he did his leech trapping and minnow trapping. What he used is a coffee can with both ends cut out of it and two plastic lids. He would cut a round circle in the lid, about a three inch circle, make a cone out of some wire screen, similar to minnow traps. Staple it to the lid with a stapler. The hole in the end of the cone would be just big enough for a leech to get in. Throw your bat inside the can, since the can has two open ends it will sink on its own. With the screen cones in each end the leeches can enter from either way, but have a hard time getting out. Since the screen will poke them when they try to leave. Worked great, could even check them after sunrise because there was no escape.
GoodLuck!!!!

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Rip sum Lips

[LocalGuide]

I might have to try that once Spunky!

I'll try Spunky's, the burlap sack, and the coffee can at the same time to see which one I like the best.

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And keep those hooks sharp!

[MnRon]

hey i was watching minnesota bound one time, and there was a topic about a guy who trapped 50 percent of all leeches. He used old license plates that were folded in half and pinched off at one end. I remember that he said that was the best thing that ever worked for him. just my 2

[Bobb-o]

Thought i would experiment with some new ideas for traps for leeches. Went out and got some metal duct tubing that was about 3" by 26" and cut it in half length wise, then took some aluminum window screening and on one end made a funnel that goes into the trap and on the other just a sort of cap to cover the end, both ends are secured by rubber bands and i throw a chunk of sucker in there every couple of days. Me and my buddy have three traps out currently that we check aboot twice a day and we are getting anywhere from a half pound to a pound of leeches a day out of these things, I have three 32 oz Nalgene water bottles full of them in my fridge and my buddy has a rubbermaid container full in his fridge.

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a Leap year huh? sweet, an extra day of fishing!

[Duckman8]

It is not about saving money on trapping leeches. It is the fun and learning of the whole thing. I am using burlap sacks and an ice cream pail with holes in the bottom and side. I am using chicken legs and thighs as bait and doing very well. I get about three to four dozen each time I check. The ice cream pail seems to be out producing the sacks, but I am experimenting to see which works best. Good luck in your adventure!