Crawdads & Leeches

[eiderz]

Anybody use crawdads/crawfish or leeches under the ice for walleyes? I know they're hard to get in winter, but we have a possible source and wondering if it's worth the effort.

Oops, just saw another thread regarding crawdads but any additional info would be appreciated.

[Melbs7]

in my experience, leeches just pretty much ball up and don't do anything... not saying that they couldnt catch a fish... just not nearly as effective as in soft water....

[some1outhere]

i have had good luck with leeches or walleyes und the ice. i normally use raplea or a pimple.

[PyroZuki]

I've personally found that the leaches don't have much movement (like a nightcrawler) when on the hook. I've used crawdads with pretty good luck. There's a pond by the house (Beavertail Pond) that has billions of crawdad between 4" & 6", put a can of cheap cat food in a crawdad trap over nite, and you'll have a boat load of bait. Just make sure you get your hook as close to the tail as you can (without hookin the tail) in order to keep the bait on, and also so it can swim almost freely.

Good Luck & Tight Lines!!!

Pyro

[Swift]

Not much in Walleye through the ice near me but Gulp 3" and 5" Leeches on 1/8 to 1/2oz jig heads have been lethal on Perch, Bass and Pike. Have tried live ones in the past but they curl up and look like a blob unless they are totally acclimated to the water temp, and it's still marginal

[eiderz]

Sounds like game on with the crawdads!