Are you guys using leeches in the BWCA in May? or is that to early? Also these people i read about using minnows, how are they transporting them and keeping them alive. We plan on bringing a couple of those yellow and white leech tamer buckets. Any advice is appreciated.

May is still pretty cold water temps. I’ve found the Leeches tend to curl up on the hook and around the line. Might be hard to find them. I suggest bringing some plastic Leeches and Minnows from gulp. Also you might want to bring some crawlers and Minnows. Minnows will be fine that time of year. I’ve just left them in the bag that the bait shop gives you until camp. Then the cold water of the lake will keep them until you are out of bait.

Be sure to sink your bait bucket with the Minnows out deep when not in use. I’ve had turtles and Otters get inside the minnow bucket. Ive had no problem since I’ve been doing this.

Never had any problems getting leeches for the opener in 20+ years. Never had them curl up either- even with water temps in the Upper 30's. Minnow works, but nothing beats a leech under a slip imo. HInt:- get small leeches, at the biggest medium in warm or early ice out -- match the hatch.

I have went up almost every Memorial day and a few fishing openers. I STRONGLY recommend leeches. I have never had a problem with them curling up or with them not catching fish.

I have had at least two different batches of minnows completely die. Imagine getting to your first campsite and finding ALL your minnows dead. That happened to me twice even with following all the directions from the bait shop...

I also recommend bringing some frozen smelt. It is nice to toss them out while hanging out at camp. In the spring, pike and trout cruise the shallows looking for fish that died during the winter.

Mad_Angler: "I have went up almost every Memorial day and a few fishing openers. I STRONGLY recommend leeches. I have never had a problem with them curling up or with them not catching fish.


I have had at least two different batches of minnows completely die. Imagine getting to your first campsite and finding ALL your minnows dead. That happened to me twice even with following all the directions from the bait shop...


I also recommend bringing some frozen smelt. It is nice to toss them out while hanging out at camp. In the spring, pike and trout cruise the shallows looking for fish that died during the winter."

Is it legal to bring in frozen smelt? and if so, where do i go about getting them on the way from duluth to the end of the GFT?

rusteegmc: "
Is it legal to bring in frozen smelt? and if so, where do i go about getting them on the way from duluth to the end of the GFT?"

Bucks in Grand Marias has frozen smelt

I believe the bait to use is what the primary forage is at the time. Fact - In early spring the primary forage is minnows (match the hatch.) Leeches are not yet fully active with most still buried in the mud where they spend the winter. Use them if you want, but I've had much more success with minnows during cold water periods. Good luck!

AndySG: "I believe the bait to use is what the primary forage is at the time. Fact - In early spring the primary forage is minnows (match the hatch.) Leeches are not yet fully active with most still buried in the mud where they spend the winter. Use them if you want, but I've had much more success with minnows during cold water periods. Good luck!"

That is what I was originally thinking but some people think leeches would work fine. I still dont know if we'll bring live minnows just because they could be a little more cumbersome and hard to keep alive during transport. Thanks for the advice!

I used to be a big minnow guy ( and my group) for opener. Haul in those minnows in 5lbs (at least) bags. Babying them. I was told leeches will not work till later.

No more minnows. If I need the itch for a minnow a gulp alive minnow does enough on a jig. Warm water - back bays (away from current which gets over fished) is where your big girls are at after Spawn- and they are feeding on lots of stuff- including small leeches.
Back bay. May 2011. Leech under slip.(remote BW area) Broad daylight.

We've had much better luck with rainbow chubs than any other live bait, including leeches for trips in May. Have them put double plastic bags in the minnow bucket and fill it with compressed air with the minnows. We've taken minnows in this way for at least 15 trips and never had a problem; it's been the safest and easiest way to transport them.

rusteegmc: "

AndySG: "I believe the bait to use is what the primary forage is at the time. Fact - In early spring the primary forage is minnows (match the hatch.) Leeches are not yet fully active with most still buried in the mud where they spend the winter. Use them if you want, but I've had much more success with minnows during cold water periods. Good luck!"

That is what I was originally thinking but some people think leeches would work fine. I still dont know if we'll bring live minnows just because they could be a little more cumbersome and hard to keep alive during transport. Thanks for the advice!"

+1 on minnows over leeches during early season.

Seems to be pretty well divided. I have been using leeches for the past 20+ years that I have been going in on the opener. I use a Nalgene bottle and I believe I can get 1-1/2 to 2 lbs. in a quart bottle. Slip that in one of your bags during portaging. Change water 2-3 times per day while keeping them out of the sun. I haven't used the leech tamer bags but the Leech Locker hard plastic that separates into 2 pieces is a big mistake unless you sink them off shore. In windy waves, a bang against a rock will pop those wide open. Lately I have been bringing a separate smaller Nalgene for day use and keep my full supply buried in the shade in camp. They also work great from shore in camp under slip bobber.

If we were talking about the opener I would say minnows hands down but Memorial Day it would be a fifty fifty proposition which to bring it would depend on when ice out occurred and what the weather had been like since then . Ps There is no rule against bringing both .

thlipsis29: "We've had much better luck with rainbow chubs than any other live bait, including leeches for trips in May. Have them put double plastic bags in the minnow bucket and fill it with compressed air with the minnows. We've taken minnows in this way for at least 15 trips and never had a problem; it's been the safest and easiest way to transport them. "

Use Rainbows. They last a long time and are way better than leeches this time of year. thlipsis29 and I have done dozens of trips and nothing compares. Walleye, pike, smallies, crappie, and big perch. Minnows are a lot less hassle than most people on this site claim.

buzz17: "

thlipsis29: "We've had much better luck with rainbow chubs than any other live bait, including leeches for trips in May. Have them put double plastic bags in the minnow bucket and fill it with compressed air with the minnows. We've taken minnows in this way for at least 15 trips and never had a problem; it's been the safest and easiest way to transport them. "

Use Rainbows. They last a long time and are way better than leeches this time of year. thlipsis29 and I have done dozens of trips and nothing compares. Walleye, pike, smallies, crappie, and big perch. Minnows are a lot less hassle than most people on this site claim.
"

+1
I think traveling with minnows is as easy as you make it. Never had a problem bringing in minnows AND leeches for opener. This includes a border lake that requires 6-7 hours of paddle and portage MINIMUM. However, early season is hands down minnow time (Walleye focused). Leeches are hardy and I do not agree that the leech locker breaks a part when banged against a rock, that sounds like user error? Been using the Leech Locker for many years and never had a problem with losing leeches to bangs or Otters, which some claim to have happened. Tighten it as designed and should be good to go...!

I really like minnows but hate to fool with them much. Usually it is near Memorial Day and I like leeches and crawlers just because I keep them easier. If I were motorboating, especially earlier, I would bring minnows too. Just me.

IMO- if you plan on fishing classic spring spots for #'s of eyes (current/ inflows/ basically rivers) I agree that minnows are likely best. But if you fish just outside these areas in shallow mud bays adjacent to deep water and looking for a big pig- small/medium leeches are the ticket. --- both baits work but for me- leeches are the king as the Gulp minnow when jigged is great- but as mentioned that wriggly leech under a slip is the clutch hitter...

I usually don’t bring or use any live bait. I would say bring some gulp and some plastics and leave the bait at home. The fishing is outstanding in the bwca and finding the fish is more difficult than catching them.

Mnpat: "I usually don’t bring or use any live bait. I would say bring some gulp and some plastics and leave the bait at home. The fishing is outstanding in the bwca and finding the fish is more difficult than catching them. "

You make alota sense on the finding/catching.. Especially on a big or new-to-you lake.