How to Locate a Leech Bed

Leeches can be difficult to find because they can hide well in their environment due to their camouflaged appearance. Leech beds are found in almost any type of natural water source such as rivers, lakes, marshes and ponds. Leeches also can be found in salt water. Their are more than 700 types of species of leeches. Leeches are ideal for live bait for fishing because they resemble lures but, unlike manufactured lures, actually create movement to attract fish.

Things You'll Need

• Metal coffee can
• Fish heads (perch or sunfish)
• Pliers
• Three to four4 3-inch rocks or pebbles

Instructions

How to Locate a Leech Bed

1. 

   Leeches cling to vegetation.

   Locate a natural body of water to begin your search. This can be a stream, lake, pond or marsh.

2. 

   Pebbles keep the coffee can from floating away.

   Take and empty metal coffee can and place your three to four medium sized rocks or pebbles into the bottom of the can. This will weigh down the coffee can so it sits beneath the surface of the water.

3. 

   Sunfish heads attract leeches.

   Place two fish heads into the coffee can as these are great lures for leeches to feed off of.

4. 

   Crimp the top of the coffee can edges together using pliers.

   Crimp together the center of the top of the coffee can to create a thin slit at the top for the leeches to enter into the coffee can. Use pliers to bring the crimped edges closer together, creating small slits at the top of the can.

5. 

   Leeches can live under submerged wood.

   Let the can sit submerged under water near the edge of the water source for at least 24 hours. Remove the coffee can and uncrimp the top edges of the coffee to see if you've caught any leeches. Based on the number of leeches you have captured, you will know if you have located a leech bed. If you only caught one or two, then you should try a different location.

References

• Ppfishing: Catch a consistent supply of leeches
• Access Excellence: Lovable leeches
• Northern Arizona University: All about leeches

Resources

• You Tube Animal Planet TV:Top ten bloodsuckers leech