Our group of 4 will be base camping on Alpine the first week in June and I wanted to know what live bait we should bring. We will be mostly targeting SMB and walleyes. Nightcrawlers, leeches, minnows or something else?

Thanks.

SE

Leeches are the easiest by far...Just bring a nice leech tote/tamer and keep them in the lake when not in use. They also work very, very well.

That time of year it shouldn't be *too* warm, so crawlers shouldn't be too hard to keep alive.

Minnows also work, but they're the hardest to keep alive/transport. I usually avoid them. Deadbait like smelt can be great for trout, but that obviously doesn't entail any problems with keeping them alive. :)

Leeches for sure. All you need and easiest to keep alive

First week of June-artificial topwater lures for smallmouth.

Quart or 1/2 gallon thermos to carry leeches, they catch fish. Just change the water a couple of times a day and keep out of the sun......and don't mistakenly drink out of the thermos!

Just don't use a regular minnow bucket for leeches, be sure to get a regular leech locker or other container.

The holes in a minnow bucket are larger than those in a leech locker. You'd never think so, but those little suckers can squeeze their way out through those holes, even though their bodies are about 4 times wider than the hole. Take it from me, I lost about 60% of my leeches first night on a trip. When I got up the next morning, about 6 leeches were about halfway out the holes on their way to freedom.

I always bring all 3, leaches, minnows and crawlers. There is always one bait that stands out amongst the rest. I always assumed minnows in spring and fall and crawlers/leaches in the summer but that’s not always the case.

If I were to use live bait up there it would be leeches.

If you would like any help with what lures to take, send me an email at - queticomike@yahoo.com - and request the Grand Slam Lure article.

For me it would be leeches and crawlers.

I'm with Pinetree on the top water bite for smallies. Super fun and effective.

Everybody says leeches but I guess I am a crawler man. A word about leeches and your leech locker..........watch where you put that thing, I had a snapper rip mine open and eat them all.

As per minnows......yup major league hassle in a canoe but they can super effective. For several years we would go to a fish camp near Sioux Lookout and hammer pike and walleye by drifting main lake offshore reefs with bait runner reels and big minnows. That was a lot of fun.......but I had a big tank and battery and pump.

What would be neat would be to catch minnows on site.

Leeches work great this time of year. You want a big leech locker or two. Then every person in your group get a leech bag to go next to your seat in the canoe. You just fill the leech bags with a few dozen per bag and leave the rest at camp. For 8 guys we bring 3 pounds of leeches. For 6 guys we bring 2 pounds, 4 guys 1 pound. This is assuming you are on a 5-6 day trip. For top water fun throw a super spook, or PopR lure. The bass should be done with the spawn and will be hungry.

Mastertangler reminded me of something I need to tell you. He said that a snapper got to his leech locker. We had an otter unscrew the top of our leech locker and returned to not much bait left. If you bring one of the screw on tops you need to put a cotter pin in a hole that you will drill through both ends. You then just pull the cotter pin out and unscrew the top to get bait. You might want to toss the bait container in deep water at night. Leeches are a tasty easy meal to lots of animals up there.

An otter unscrewed your leech locker? Get out of town! Sneaky critters........I know down in the Everglades you had better have your food and water locked up tight against raccoons which seem to be able to open all sorts of latches.

Not to put to fine a point on stashing your bait but I like to stash it in some submerged brush near the bank. I have never lost any fish on a stringer or bait that way.

Stringers of fish or bait left in the open will certainly invite unwanted company.