How to Catch Leeches in a Minnow Trap
While it's true some leeches feed on blood, most are scavengers, feeding on aquatic worms, insect larvae, or dead animal matter. This is the case with ribbon leeches, which are an excellent bait for game fish, including panfish, perch, and walleye. Leeches can be easily caught using a minnow trap. The best minnow traps for leeches are made of either plastic with solid sides, or wire mesh that is small enough to prevent the leeches from passing through and escaping. Fresh beef liver, raw fish or meat can be used as bait.
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Instructions
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Locate a pond that regularly freezes down to the bottom during winter and has no game fish in it. This will ensure a good population of leeches to capture.
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Cut a few chunks of raw fish, meat or beef liver and place them in the minnow trap. Ensure that a weight is tied to the trap so that it will sink properly.
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Tie a long string onto the trap and fasten it to a float or dock for easy recovery. Sink the trap into the pond. Allow it to remain there overnight. The leeches will enter the trap but will be unable to exit.
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Retrieve the trap the next morning, before dawn. Open the minnow trap and shake out the leeches into a container and seal it to prevent them from escaping.
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- Photo Credit fishing image by Brett Bouwer from Fotolia.com
