You know why?
Because you would already be dead! The leech would be the least of your problems!
Lake leeches, like the one on a boat seat in the photo, are scavengers; they only feed on dead matter.
And it has been my experience that they make exceptionally poor bait. I think fish find them as appetizing as we would a vulture.
The good leech species for bait are the ones you get at the bait shop, are only a few inches long, are usually black but sometimes can be brown. They work excellently for walleye, especially when the water is warm.
Incidentally, leeches in bulk are sold by the pound, and one pound is about right for four anglers for a week.
The lake leech is probably eight inches long, when swimming. They sometimes have fluorescent spots on their backs and are really quite beautiful. They usually travel alone and their undulating, ribbon-like swimming motion always makes me think of some creature from Star Trek.
I have never seen the good bait type in the wild. They apparently only come out at night, and only in marshy areas. The prospect of trying to trap leeches at night in swampy (read this buggy) areas makes me appreciate the bait vendors.
Bait leech collectors everywhere -- thank you!
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1 comment:
Interesting. I have a brother that tried this once, using lake leeches, obviously didn't work so well...
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