Water Temps and Leeches

Gregg K. Posted 5/27/2010 2:14 PM (#91453) Subject: Water Temps and Leeches How warm does the water need to be before you should start using leeches for Walleyes? Will they stay active if the water temps are in the upper 60's or will they just curl up? Guest Posted 5/28/2010 9:55 AM (#91479 - in reply to #91453) Subject: RE: Water Temps and Leeches Don't use Leeches at all. se Gulp. Live bait is for losers. Jim Ordway Posted 5/28/2010 11:34 AM (#91482 - in reply to #91479) Subject: RE: Water Temps and Leeches Member Posts: 538 Once they are available in the bait shops, they will be good for fishing. I like to use them anytime they are available. Take care, Jim O GNWC Rookie Posted 5/28/2010 12:36 PM (#91487 - in reply to #91482) Subject: RE: Water Temps and Leeches Member Posts: 625 Location: LaCrosse, WI I usually use them as soon as I can get them, but prefer th 55-75 degree range. The only reason for the 75 degree cap is that once those temps hit, I usually like to fish faster looking for crank bait casting bites. That's not to say they won't work in those temps because they do. I feel that 55-75 is their prime time because it's a spring/summer transition where the active live bait shines. We never got very warm water temps last summer on the Mississippi so I used leeches a lot more than normal. Now days, crawlers cost as much as leeches, so I use them equally. I occasionally pick crawlers, but haven't had the stones to climb into a scummy pond to get leeches.