Live Bait: article # 8 Leeches Catch Walleyes Check It Out Here!

Posted in Fishing Tips - by Fishing_tips | December 9th, 2009

leaches as live bait

Old School Walleye Fishing Family Secrets

It has been estimated that live bait accounts for about 75% of all walleyes that are caught on a hook. One of the favorite foods that walleye like to eat on a regular basis is the ribbon leech And ribbon leeches make an excellent live bait. Amazingly few fishermen use leeches when they are walleye fishing. Probably the biggest reason is the bad reputation that they have as being thought of as blood suckers. Actually the leeches used as live bait to catch walleye or any other gamefish are not blood suckers at all.

The popular leeches such as the ribbon and tiger Leech feed on small worms and other aquatic organisms, but they do not bore through the skin of live animals to suck blood. Actually when leeches get on your skin they are using their powerful suction cup on their tail to hang on. The Leech that gave all leeches a bad rap as a live bait is the medicine leech and it was used to suck blood from humans many years ago.

If you are going to fish with leeches as your live bait selection for walleye it is probably best to use them in late spring or summer because leeches do no work well if the water temperature is below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Leaches tend to curl up around your hook if the water is to cold. You need your leech to be as lively as possible and swim as natural as possible to entice any nearby walleye. Just remember leaches work better if the water temperature is above 50 degrees.

One of the best ways to fish leaches as a live bait presentation for walleye is by using a slip sinker rig with a plain short shank or circle hook or a floater size number 8 through number 2. The best leaches to use are the ribbon and tiger leech about 2 to 2 1/2″ in length. The best way to hook leaches is through the tail, through the tough skin on the back of the leaches neck head area, and through the middle of the leech.

Well that concludes my article about leeches as live bait. We wish you the best of luck on your next fishing trip!

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Old School Walleye Fishing Family Secrets