How to Catch Leeches for Bait

Keep leeches submerged in water and in the refrigerator until you are ready to take them fishing.

Leeches are freshwater parasites that attach themselves to their host, sucking their blood before becoming engorged and falling off. Though they are pests in the pond, they are an excellent bait for fish like walleye and catfish. While some bait shops carry live leeches, it is a straightforward task to catch your own if you have access to a wet, marshy area.

Things You'll Need

• Coffee can with plastic lid
• Nail
• Hammer
• Rocks
• Meat

Instructions

1. Punch five to 10 holes in the sides of a metal coffee can by pounding a nail through the metal. Ensure that the punctures are smooth on the outside of the can where the leeches enter, but jagged from inside the can.

2. Put a few medium-sized rocks into the can for weight.

3. Place 1 oz. of raw meat into the can. Choose meat that is out of date or otherwise has a strong scent.

4. Place the lid on the can, snapping it firmly into place.

5. Put the can into shallow, marshy water and leave it overnight.

6. Check the can the next morning to see if you've caught any leeches.

Tips & Warnings

• Leeches swim through the smooth entrance holes of the can to feed on the meat but cannot escape through the jagged edges bordering the holes inside the can.

References

• Thurston County Washington; Leeches!
• Fishing Michigan's Upper Peninsula; Catch a Consistent Supply of Leeches
• Biopharm Leeches; Fishing Leeches