I am making my own container for leeches. How small should the holes be? I was gonna make them with an 1/8 inch drill bit. But now I'm wondering if a leech could squeeze through this or not?

The screen openings in both my Leech King and my Frabill Leech bag are 1/16th inch.

Trailchief, is this for camp storage or for bringing on the boat? I am curious about making one to bring on the boat as I don't have a leech tamer or w/e the little bags are. Seems easy enough to make a velcroey mesh pouch. Has anyone attempted this feat?

The smaller the holes the better. The little leeches can squeeze through 1/8th holes.

Never seem to be able to get my hands on a Leech King, so I've started using an old Nalgene fitted with a GSI coffee filter. Doesn't work too bad for $10.

quote Xand: "Trailchief, is this for camp storage or for bringing on the boat? I am curious about making one to bring on the boat as I don't have a leech tamer or w/e the little bags are. Seems easy enough to make a velcroey mesh pouch. Has anyone attempted this feat?"

You know they sell these, right? Gander Mountain has them for under $15, I think. If you really want to make a custom job, make sure to weave in some floatation. Unless you want it to sink, then maybe you put in some weight to sink it down.

The only problem with the velcro on mine is that if it gets sandy, the velcro won't hold and I'm chumming the water.

quote Ingvald: "

quote Xand: "Trailchief, is this for camp storage or for bringing on the boat? I am curious about making one to bring on the boat as I don't have a leech tamer or w/e the little bags are. Seems easy enough to make a velcroey mesh pouch. Has anyone attempted this feat?"

You know they sell these, right? Gander Mountain has them for under $15, I think. If you really want to make a custom job, make sure to weave in some floatation. Unless you want it to sink, then maybe you put in some weight to sink it down.


The only problem with the velcro on mine is that if it gets sandy, the velcro won't hold and I'm chumming the water. "

I do indeed, but I am trying to keep additional expenses down and I like fashioning my own gear, at least i do assuming it will be useable. It is kind of a fun challenge for me. I will have to brainstorm and see what i can come up with..

Had to outfit my girlfriend and myself in fishing gear from the ground up so anywhere I can trim expenses is welcome :)

Have her sleep in the lake overnight and pull leeches off in the morning. That way you won't have to buy any nor worry about keeping them alive for longer than a day. :-)

The one I'm making is for Portages and storing at camp.So i want it to sink. I already have a leech tamer mesh bag for the canoe. I'm making mine out of jug of cheap juice. it has a handle molded on to it so it will be easy to cary, and has a place to attach a rope.

I used 1/8" holes drilled in a nalgene lid and havn't lost a leech yet. I use another lid when portaging, works great.

I made one out of a plastic peanut butter jar with a piece of para cord poked through a hole in the lid and tied in and overhand knot so it doesn't slip back through. I drilled 1/16 holes and the minor problem is it takes it a while to fill when you just toss it in. If i did it again, I'd drill slightly bigger holes for better "flowage." That thing has worked for years.

quote Arlo Pankook: "I used 1/8" holes drilled in a nalgene lid and havn't lost a leech yet. I use another lid when portaging, works great."

That's what I wanted to hear! Thanks for the input guys!

Leech cooler

I am using one of these with holes drilled in the top.

quote wannabeoutthere: " Leech cooler


I am using one of these with holes drilled in the top."

I thought about one of those. But isn't I going to float? I wanted mine to sink.

quote trailcheif: "

quote wannabeoutthere: " Leech cooler



I am using one of these with holes drilled in the top."

I thought about one of those. But isn't I going to float? I wanted mine to sink."

if you fill it with water it should submerge... I think. You could always put a rock in the bottom to insure it sinks. I was actually planning on bringing one of these to store them in while portaging, i just need something to use as a camp container and for in the boat. Unfortunately I only have one lid so i cant pop holes in it ans still portage. Then again, it might be leaky so maybe i should test that before i stick in a pack, hah.

Maybe I will just bring a large gatorade bottle for camp and a pop bottle for the boat. Poke some holes in them, tie a rope to it, submerge and voila.

I am planning on tying a rock to it in order to make it sink. When I get the leeches I am going to put them in an oxygen bag in the container so it will not leak even with the holes in the top. In theory it should work, we will see. If I could find a leech king I would just get that.