Leeches or minnows for late spring/early summer ? May, June-ish.

LEECHES based strictly on durability.

Leeches are by far easier to keep and will catch just as many fish for you.

Water temps can make a difference, if too cold leeches will ball up.

Minnows in May leeches in June..

What Yogi said.

I third what Yogi said

Minnows, specifically rainbows. They won't be available in June so fatheads or other. I have never had a problem transporting or keeping minnows alive, even in August. Consider bringing nightcrawlers. They keep very well if kept out of the direct sun.

Fished opener for 20+ years. Stopped getting minnows about 10 years ago. Never had a leech ball up- and that includes 38F water2013 and 2008. If you want minnows- Gulp work just fine, just maybe not under a slip, but my .02 is leeches ALL the way.

I'm a fan of leeches but you'd do well with either.

May - I'd 100% bring minnows. They are not hard to transport and keep alive. I'd even say minnows in June too. Leeches and Crawlers come late June / July and August.

I've only tried Gulp leeches once; and I'm not sure I would ever again.

Harv: "May - I'd 100% bring minnows. They are not hard to transport and keep alive. I'd even say minnows in June too. Leeches and Crawlers come late June / July and August.


I've only tried Gulp leeches once; and I'm not sure I would ever again.
"

I didn't have any success with Gulp leeches either.

I've never used a Gulp leech. Live leeches and crawlers are so easy to keep, I couldn't justify going the artificial route ones unless live bait was not allowed.

The moral of the thread is to start with your confidence bait/tactic and have a back-up plan, or three. There is no hard and fast rule that allows you to look at the calendar and say "ah, yes, it's a leech week." Way too many variables. Some years we can't keep fish off the leeches, other years we can't buy a bite on 'em. We typically go between June 1 and June 15.