live bait

I am not even sure that we will be allowed to buy live crayfish anymore ,but I am sure that they will be more expensive if you can. Also I was told by 2 bait dealers to-day that all live bait,especially crawlers, just went up in price. For those that use live bait now would be the time to build a crawler farm & wait for the first warm nites. I am glad that I use mostly lures,but they are also going out of my price range.   sam

Shad raps, tail dancers, husky jerks. Just when you feel good about your selection of artificals. You lose that "one" lure that was working! At least gas may be down right?

I've been throwing coffee grounds in my garden for years and can always find crawler. Problem is I'm too old, too slow! By the way the only solution I use for insects is dawn with water, sometimes a little vinegar.

BeenThereDoneThat.
Leeches........... Easy to catch (trap).

Great for Walleye, Perch, Bass, etc.

Will survive easily in a cooler with little aeration and a small change of water once in a while. Feeding...... a chunk of red meat about once a month. Beef liver works well and of course the number of leeches will determine the size of chunk of meat.

Traps can be made from a 3 pound coffee can.

Simply place a finger in the live well to catch the bait then push your hook straight through the sucker of the leech. (remove the leech from you finger before attaching the leech to your hook.)

Tomorrow: How to catch Helgramites........ uh, hellgramit...... umm, himgromet........ Ahhh heck, Dobsonflys'.

I've never seen a leech in the wild or used one as bait. Are they very common in our waterways? Always wondered.

How do you make a trap for leeches and what type of water would you put it? I've seined thousands of minnows over my lifetime and I can count on one hand the number of blood suckers I've caught. A little more input if you would please.

Must have been wearing hip boots or a least long pants. Try wearing shorts you'll probably find a few.

Good thing I practically live on a crawler farm. My front yard looks like it's moving at night after a warm rain. Those buggers are quick though and I rarely use worms. I need to find somewhere local to trap leeches.

Addendum to:
 
Leeches.  
 
Silly me how could I forget................!  For yinz never fishing leeches, they do hide under rocks and logs and other things that will make you stuck on the bottom.   Keep em floating using a dropper weight and/or floating jig.  

Soon as I figure out how helgarmite....................  err, helgromit.............  ugh, hellograndma............. dang......  I can't look it up in the dictionary until I get it spelled rite!.

Alright, moms and dads.....,  guys and gals......, boys and girls.........,  fisher dudes and fellow anglers.
 
Time again to............  sit down and shutup!  Thank-you very much!!!!!!!
Today we will be talking about the hilgamit........, helgomite........, hermorphadite .....................  Dobsonfly Larva.
 

This little jewel is a great live bait for just about all species of fresh water fish native to PA. and adjoining countries.
 
There is two ways in which to catch/trap the h.......,  Dobsonfly/larva.
 
1.  Find a bridge (with a street light) crossing a stream/crik/river (the closer to riffles the better(from May to September)) or, any other street light in close proximity to said waters.  Anytime during the night, stand beneath the street light with a butterfly net (having a long handle (metal not recommended)), remember "patients is a virtue".  Recommendation; have the phone number for your local bail bondsman handy.............  just in case.
 
2.  Two people work better but, a single person can do this using a net/sine fabricated from door screen or using actual fine mesh netting.  I use a piece of screen about 18" high by 36" wide attached to a frame made from 2" x 2"s.   Find a good set of riffles having sizable rocks (using common sense).  Starting down stream, place your trap just below a rock and as close to the bottom as possible and have your help (or you) lift the rock, (remember to return the rock as you found it).  Wait til the mud/sediment clears and quickly lift your trap/net.  That ughly multi-legged critter with the needle like pincers on it's face is a Corydalus cornutus (aka: Hellgrammite).
 
Being careful, but quick to grab the little fellas for they will be back in the water before ya know it and, you ain't been pinched by anything compared to these guys.  I place my thumb/finger just behind the head and work a finger/thumb on the underside to pick them up (just as you would a crab).  However, be aware these things will curl around your thumb/finger and if not prepared, you will be surprised at just how far you can fling one of these bugs while making weird noises doing some kind of dance standing in water  (on slippery rocks).   Also, the hellgrammite contain small hooks/barbs on their tails, by which they grab onto rocks etc. but, these do not pose a threat other then getting you 'hung-up'.  These barbs can be dealt with, when your ready to bait the hook, use a pair of nail clippers to remove the tip of the barbs, being careful not to cut back too far.
 
Baiting the hook is nothing more then pushing the hook through the segment just behind the head.   Once again, remember these things will wrap themselves around your fingers.  Being pinched (because you panicked) with needle like pincers from a critter impaled by a hook that is now sticking in your finger..........  may ruin your day.
 
For the squeamish, tweezers, forceps or, pliers can be used (sissy's) to hold the bug.
 
Do not  let these guys hit the bottom, when using them for bait, they will introduce you to the nearest rock, log, etc.
 
Some food for thought.......... a. The military style shovel comes in handy for lifting (and replacing) rocks.
                                             b. These guys will form a ball (clumping to each other) when placed in your bait container.  
                                             c. Bumping them will cause them to break apart, or if you feel froggy, pick up the ball.
                                             d. Ever seen those white powdery looking clumps of eggs attached to bridge abutments, boulder's,
                                            boat docks and, even boats?  Dobsonfly eggs............  so they are.
                                              
 
Last but not least; please remember to replace the rocks as you found them...............  I may be along tomorrow hoping to find some hellgrammites.
 
Tomorrow; how to catch frogs.................
 

masterbaiter1983
Yeah ya need em like 4 to 6 inches them little guys might catch ya a trout lol

Little ones are great to use with a fly rod........................  if ya like to trout fish, that is!

I've tried several times to gather leeches, zero success.  I have what should be perfect water across from my house and it HAS to have leeches in it.  SIGH.  End of the day they are cheap and really haven't done us better than other baits locally.  
 
As for bait prices, we try to support the old dude in Zelie.  If he has to raise his prices, so be it.

Agree with ya Fisher, lots of other baits available today made from plastic and rubber. We got spinner baits, buzz bait, raps, bombers, skirted jigs and so on.

But, back in the day, CP Swings, Bucktail jigs, Jitterbugs, Riverrunts, Red Devil spoon, and a few Rapalas were the main staple of the tackle box. (if ya was lucky)

Live bait, consisted of crawlers, minnows, leeches, hellgrammites, and crayfish.

Many of us couldn't afford a box full of artificial baits or, buy live bait. So, the night before we watered the grass at sunset and be crawling around the yard, with flash light and coffee can in hand a few hours later.

We always took time to catch crayfish and hellgrammites to use or, stock up on, during our trips.

We didn't have the electronics of today so, we spent our time along the creeks and streams catching minnows and leeches.

I was very fortunate as I had people (young and old) teach me what fishing was really about. The decision we made back then involved what fish we were after, what bait we wanted, an what method would be needed to catch it.

Today, we walk into a store; head for sporting and, scratch our head over what color size and manufacturer.

Or, order it on line and this includes crawlers, leeches, maggots, etc.

If by chance I'm reincarnated, after I pass, I'm coming back as kid in the 50/60s. Umm, wait, there's nothing stopping me from doing these things today. Where's my flashlight, sine, and coffee can. Lookout Frenchcreek....... Here I come(lol).

Sorry........ I guess I'll talk about catching frogs........ another day.

Oh yeah, stop in at Gianiggle and get some ........ VELVEETA CHEESE!

masterbaiter1983
Big salamanders = big trout

so long as you know your different species and only want to catch 1 trout. http://fishandboat.com/fishpub/summary/repamp.html