Question, has anyone had any luck with artificial leeches? I'm heading into Lake One and hope to get down to Lake 3 or 4 for camping and fishing on the 20th. Plan on doing some slip bobber fishing, I have a bunch of fake leeches I can bring, but just wondering if anybody has had any luck with them or if I should just leave them home and go with live leeches. Will probably bring some crawlers along as well.

Any advice would be appreciated, bringing my daughter on her 1st trip and would love to get her into some fish, not sure if there is any smallmouth in the area or not, plan on bringing some lures for those as well and also for some northerns!

According to MN DNR, there are smallmouth, pike and walleye: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/lakefind/lake.html?id=38060000

I've had some, but little success with fake leeches, mostly by using a drop shot, where I have more control of the action. Personally I'd say nothing is better than live leeches or crawlers on a slip bobber.

Liquid leeches are the only ones I’ve had good to great luck compared to uncle Josh, gulp, gulp alive.

I have caught a few walleye and SMB with them, but nothing compared to what those near me have done with a live leech. All those I have caught have been while actively jigging. Not a single fish under a bobber with them despite quite a bit of trying. I’m not saying don’t try them, just don’t expect them to have the same results as a live leech.

Live leeches all the way

ok thanks!! Live Leeches its going to be then, will have the artificial as back up in case we run out or critters get into them!

wolf24: "ok thanks!! Live Leeches its going to be then, will have the artificial as back up in case we run out or critters get into them!"

Arrowhead Outdoors posted that leech trappers are hanging it up for the season, so you might want to call places to make sure leeches are available.