Can anyone explain the use of a leech locker and how best to keep the little fellows happy and lively? Also, is there a bait and tackle store in Ely that sells leeches and leech lockers? Thanks in advance for the help. Rick

TGO is the man for this situation. Not only does he have the best leech lockers made he has the leeches to fill it as well. The locker is basically to leeches what a minnow bucket is to minnows. What makes the ones TGO has better is that the lids screw on so they don't accidentally come open and dump your leeches out.

+1 for TGO's leech lockers :)
I'm picking one upfrom him on my way into Ely next week :)

Leeches need cold fresh water and thats about it.

TGO is new to me. Please explain. Sounds like The Great Outdoors.

TGO is the go to place for bait in Ely. If I remember right he's about a block east of Zup's grocery store on the north side of the street in the log cabin looking shop. You nailed it, TGO is short for The Great Outdoors.

quote drrick: "TGO is new to me. Please explain. Sounds like The Great Outdoors."

Bingo!!! I use a Nalgene bottle with two tops. One top is normal for inside the pack, then when we get to camp- I have a second top with a rope on it, with tons of tiny holes drilled through the top for water exchange. A liter Nalgens holds a pound of leeches no problem!!

Paging TGO to the white courtesy phone...

Hello, hello, anyone there?? :)

TGO, Are you open on Sundays? We will be looking for some tackle, leeches and crawlers Sunday Aug. 3rd. Please advise. Rick

Purchased locker and leeches at TGO in June. Leeches were lively and locker was secure.
"Don't forget to drain water between lakes!"

quote drrick: "TGO, Are you open on Sundays? We will be looking for some tackle, leeches and crawlers Sunday Aug. 3rd. Please advise. Rick"

Yup, about 6 am until 3 pm. Just picked up 150 pounds of leeches today, hopefully able to get more in another two weeks because the trappers are having trouble getting them.

I have a few leech locker tips...

I like the lockers that TGO has or even slightly bigger one.

Tip: leave the leech locker securly tied at camp. Put a few dozen in a leech tamer for fishing. That way, you won't lose all your leeches if it tips over while fishing.





Also, replace your leech tamers every few years. The velcro gets weak and the leeches will find a way to escape.

The screw on leech lockers are great, however:

Make sure you check on the lid once in a while because the rocking motion of the water can slowly twist them loose.

(copied here) *** Tip: leave the leech locker securly tied at camp. Put a few dozen in a leech tamer for fishing. That way, you won't lose all your leeches if it tips over while fishing.****

I'd suggest if you have any locker in the canoe while fishing, open it up over the inside of the canoe, so if it spills, they are all inside the canoe. (Or did you mean if you canoe tips over?)

Stopped in at TGO last Saturday, picked up a couple of leach lockers and leaches. He threw in a bunch of free advice that really paid off for us.

All right!!!
But, did you catch any fish?? :)

Is there anywhere else to get this highly recommended leech locker or is it something TGO makes? I'd love to get one but not sure when I would be in Ely!

I'm sure if you called one of us (TGO or us, VNO) you could order one to be mailed.

But I'm assuming they must sell them somehere else too.

I have a velcro-type leach bag and used it last time I was up. Maybe my mistake was that that was the only container I had for them. They all escaped overnight. I think they got around the velcro somehow. It was a brand new leach bag, so the velcro shouldn't have been too old. What are these leech lockers from TGO like? Are they a hard container with holes?

The Leech King (Bait King) is a hard plastic container about 7 inches in diameter, and 11 inches high.
It has a screw on lid that is far superior to other brands that have the handle that locks the lid on.
The leech bag with Velcro is intended for use in a live well.

TGO, do you still sell the leech lockers and leeches? Prices? We will be coming through Ely Saturday 7/23 and taking off from Moose Lake 7/24 with two groups of Boy Scouts. Would love some fishing pointers to get the boys on some good fishing.

Driver42: "TGO, do you still sell the leech lockers and leeches? Prices? We will be coming through Ely Saturday 7/23 and taking off from Moose Lake 7/24 with two groups of Boy Scouts. Would love some fishing pointers to get the boys on some good fishing. "

This is an old thread. Sorry to report that TGO passed away a few years ago. Yes they still sell the Bait King leech holder. Two sizes, holds one pound, and two pounds.

Yes...run the Bait King. Tie a rope on it long enough to retrieve, place a rock in it, and sink it while at camp. Especially if water is warm? Works good for minnows too. We started taking 2 of them in. Keep one at camp sunk with bulk of the minnows and just take out what we would need for fishing in the other.

Sorry to hear that. Is that bait shop still open?

This is what I use for leeches. The picture doesn’t show it, but on the top there is a flap which has a Velcro seal. We keep it at camp and just transfer some when we go out fishing. I like it because it is smaller and can be easily packed on the way in. This past week the water temperature was as high as 76 degrees and the leeches were as lively after 6 days as when we started.

If we have leftovers when we leave, we just keep it in the bottom of the canoe and dunk it every so often. When we portage we stick landing nets vertically in a pack and throw light items in them. And hopefully we pass someone who can use them.

Fritty