Hi all. I have been using a Lindy leech tamer for a few years now. I find that the velcro is of low quality. I basically lose leeches through it. Can anyone recommend an alternative? I really like the leech tamer with the exception of the poorly designed velcro . Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

I hadn't the same issues as you so I switched to the Bait king

Haven't lost a leech since. It's a little bulky to pack but you can stash things like your stringer and basketball net inside when packed so it's kind of a wash.

quote tarnkt: "I hadn't the same issues as you so I switched to the Bait king


Haven't lost a leech since. It's a little bulky to pack but you can stash things like your stringer and basketball net inside when packed so it's kind of a wash."

I like the bait king as well. When going through the leeches quickly, put a handful in a small Ziploc with a little water.

Bait King here too.

You're talking about the mesh bag with velcro closure, right? Critters getting out, or what? I've never had any problem with the closure. Mine is actually a Frabill, but not sure if that makes much difference. I just don't leave it hanging in the water all that much. Just an occasional dunking to keep it wet while out in the canoe, back to the Leech King while back in camp.
See my post near the bottom of this thread

We use the leech tamers for boat fishing and I agree the Velcro wears out waaaayyyy too quickly. A free alternative would be any wide mouth pastic jar (i.e. Kool aid, peanut butter, etc....) just drill holes or heat up a piece of wire/nail and melt holes in the lid for water circulation and one in the center to run a piece of cord through with a knot on the end to attach to canoe. When you want a leech just turn it over drain the water and more than likely have a leech stuck on the lid ready for use. I have done this with Nalgene bottles, but I think that's overkill and the food jars are everywhere and free. As others have mentioned you can store some fishing gear or whatever in the jar when traveling so its not wasted space. Or use one lid with holes for daily use and an extra solid (undrilled) lid for transporting leeches in your pack. See the thread Schweady listed this is not my original idea and Just a thought.

quote Markuss: "Hi all. I have been using a Lindy leech tamer for a few years now. I find that the velcro is of low quality. I basically lose leeches through it. Can anyone recommend an alternative. I really like the leech tamer with the exception of the poorly designed velcro . Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance."

+1 The Bait King is nice with the screw on lid. I have two of them (big and little one) You can get them from Intruder's website or at L & M Fleet Supply which has several locations in northern Minnesota.

Learned about the Nalgene bottle for leaches here last year. Drill holes in the lid and you're set. Added bonus is you can buy a second lid for the nalgene and put it on the bottle along with the lid with holes. Swap the lid on portages and pop it in your pack. One less piddly item to carry over.

We also just use ziplocs with water in the canoes for easier access when fishing. For bulk storage, small Coleman water jugs. I think they are called the 1/3 gallon beverage cooler. 1 pound per cooler to start out with. Just be sure to refresh the water a couple times a day, keep in the shade when possible, and refresh again in the evening. No problems for spring trips of 4 - 5 nights. May switch to 1/2 gallon coolers at some point for ease of getting hand down inside. I just happened to have the 1/3 gallon jugs around that were promo items from companies.

I have had one for about 5 years now with no problems. Even if it did fail at the Velcro I would just get another. At $10.00 that is $2.00 a year, good value if you ask me.

Could you sew new Velcro to it?

I'm not sure where I bought it from (maybe Fleet Farm) but they do make a leech tamer with a zipper instead of velcro. Works much better.

For traveling and in camp, I use the Bait King. On the portage unscrew the lid place a gallon zip-lock bag upside down over the bottom part and screw on the lid. Won't leak if knocked over.
Edit: It's called Leech Mate not Tamer.

Bait King is KING!!

I attached an eyebolt to the side of the bait king to be able to tie the lid shut, last year sitting in the water the wave action somehow unscrewed the top and about 2/3 of my leeches were set free.
On the plus side we had some great smallie action later on in the day.
I had trouble with the leech tamer not closing very well which is why I got a bait king.

+1 Bait King, Have had mine I think for more then 10 years, and yes learned the hard way, our group had three of them tied up to rocks, wind came up that night and unscrewed everyone of them. Just drilled holes through the threads on the cap and run a chunk og bailing wire through it. Problem solved. We put a pound of leechs in the short one for a week trip.

fishtales: "Learned about the Nalgene bottle for leaches here last year. Drill holes in the lid and you're set. Added bonus is you can buy a second lid for the nalgene and put it on the bottle along with the lid with holes. Swap the lid on portages and pop it in your pack. One less piddly item to carry over."

Winner winner chicken dinner. We've done this method for quite a few years. Have 2 lids on it, use the one with holes if we need to change water or keep them at camp. Switch to the regular solid lid for portages or other times you don't want water all over.

tarnkt: "I hadn't the same issues as you so I switched to the Bait king


Haven't lost a leech since. It's a little bulky to pack but you can stash things like your stringer and basketball net inside when packed so it's kind of a wash."

Had the same issues with my 2 tamers. I have the king also but terribly bulky. I devised something out of an old generic nalgene bottle. I will try to post a pic.

fishtales: "Learned about the Nalgene bottle for leaches here last year. Drill holes in the lid and you're set. Added bonus is you can buy a second lid for the nalgene and put it on the bottle along with the lid with holes. Swap the lid on portages and pop it in your pack. One less piddly item to carry over."

Rat her than buying another lid I carry a ziploc quart bag and form a double seal top as I put it over the hole and screwarding the lid back down over top of it.

I agree with others here. A dedicated nalgene takes the cake! I personally haven't drilled holes in the top, haven't found it necessary and don't have to worry about water leaking out. I keep the nalgene in the shade and change the water every few days. Leeches are hardy and don't need fresh water often if kept cool.

We started doing this a few years ago after loosing a lot of leeches through the velcro tamer.

frlu0501: "I agree with others here. A dedicated nalgene takes the cake! I personally haven't drilled holes in the top, haven't found it necessary and don't have to worry about water leaking out. I keep the nalgene in the shade and change the water every few days. Leeches are hardy and don't need fresh water often if kept cool.

We started doing this a few years ago after loosing a lot of leeches through the velcro tamer. "

In July trips, my leeches seem to go bad in a matter of hours in they are in an airtight container. I usually try to float it in a shaded part of the water on shore to keep it cool....but still change the water completely several times a day.

My leeches do not seem so hardy in July.

treehorn:
In July trips, my leeches seem to go bad in a matter of hours in they are in an airtight container. I usually try to float it in a shaded part of the water on shore to keep it cool....but still change the water completely several times a day.

My leeches do not seem so hardy in July."

Correct, if kept cool they will be fine for several days. I stick to the spring and fall for my BWCA trips, I can't attest to warmer months.

Heh... leech tamer

Thanks - I'll be here all week!

fishtales: "Learned about the Nalgene bottle for leaches here last year. Drill holes in the lid and you're set. Added bonus is you can buy a second lid for the nalgene and put it on the bottle along with the lid with holes. Swap the lid on portages and pop it in your pack. One less piddly item to carry over."

This. It worked well for me and the interchangeable lids are a good way to go. Change the water regularly and keep it in the water with the holey lid while in camp.

Tuna

I have the flabil leech mesh bag for my daily bait needs. I’ve never had a problem with this Velcro. Then the weeks worth of leeches get stored in the smaller size Bait King.

Savage Voyageur: "I have the flabil leech mesh bag for my daily bait needs. I’ve never had a problem with this Velcro. Then the weeks worth of leeches get stored in the smaller size Bait King. "

+1 on both counts for me as well.

I've just taken a typical aluminum water bottle with the screw caps and a wide mouth and drilled a whole bunch of small holes all over the bottle. I 've tied paracord to the loop in the cap. I just fill it with leeches and Chuck it overboard when the leeches need a drink. Portaging is easy since all the water drains out when you take it out of the water. I just tie it to a tree and sink it for the night and leave it until I need them again. When fishing I tie it to the thwart and leave in the water. Kept leeches for a long time this way.

Pick up a water bottle for 25 cents at a garage sale...

TeamTuna06: "

fishtales: "Learned about the Nalgene bottle for leaches here last year. Drill holes in the lid and you're set. Added bonus is you can buy a second lid for the nalgene and put it on the bottle along with the lid with holes. Swap the lid on portages and pop it in your pack. One less piddly item to carry over."

This. It worked well for me and the interchangeable lids are a good way to go. Change the water regularly and keep it in the water with the holey lid while in camp.


Tuna"

I have a Bait King as wel, works great but can be an anchor when towingl. I tried the Nalgene option. Make sure that the holes you drill are as small as possible. I lost ALL of my leeches by the second day. I mean really small holes!

How big of Nalgene bottle is everyone using for their leeches?
Can you fit your hand down into it?

PowerLizard: "How big of Nalgene bottle is everyone using for their leeches?
Can you fit your hand down into it?"

I'm not sure, just the usual size with wide mouth. I can't get my hand in, normally don't need to since when the bottle is on its side they stick to the lid. Normally I twist the lid off and there are a few right there. Pluck one off the lid and go

PikeEatPike:".........our group had three of them tied up to rocks, wind came up that night and unscrewed everyone of them. "

So...............do you think water action and wind and so forth has some magic ability to make things twist counter clockwise?
Why doesn't it make it tighter instead?
Because it isn't the wind or the waves.
It's otters. They've learned what's in those containers. And they're smart little critters.