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Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Fishing Forum :: Frabill or Bait King for leeches?
 
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Savage Voyageur
05/23/2020 07:57PM
 
Bait King by far is the best. Just drill a hole and insert a bent cotter pin do it does not come apart.
 
PikeEatPike
05/23/2020 06:06PM
 
Bait king all the way. We have had 3 units all unscrew one night. It's from the wave action against the rocks. Still using the same one from 10 years ago. Drilled a hole through the lid and run a wire through it

 
mcsweem
05/24/2020 05:52PM
 
bait king, put a rock in it and sink it once you get to camp. I always take a little container to take leeches on day trips and leave the bait king back at camp.
 
schweady
05/23/2020 05:11PM
 
KarlBAndersen1: "schweady: "Bombproof against critters who consistently robbed from any Frabill design we tried."



Odd. I've had mine unscrewed twice now by what I assume were otters.
And they're so friggin' big. That huge lid seems like a waste to me."

I've found ours with the cover slightly loosened overnight. We've debated whether it was otters or from bouncing in the wind and waves. I hold that it was a careless trip mate, but have always kept my mouth shut. We'll occasionally consider putting a large rock inside and sinking it, but I think maybe that gives snappers some leverage. Anyway, zero leeches lost so far.

 
BnD
05/28/2020 01:17PM
 
Absolutely Bait King for camp storage. In the canoe we use these Nalgene wide mouth storage drill many small holes in the lid and leave under canoe seat (shade) refresh water once in a while. Waayyy better than standard Nalgene bottles+++++ Easy to get into to retrieve a leech while fishing plus no more lost leaches from leech tamer BAD velcro (Yes we've been through many and lost many leeches as the velcro doesn't close tight. We've tried all the different velcro mesh leech tamers.... NO Good too much bait loss no matter how careful we are resealing.


The wide mouth Nalgene storage containers are the best way we've ever had for leech storage while fishing without question. Try one. Cheap too.
 
KarlBAndersen1
06/08/2020 01:23PM
 
Now I feel safe - a D-ring and some 1/4" shock cord with a stainless eye bolt.



 
KarlBAndersen1
05/23/2020 02:16PM
 
schweady: "Bombproof against critters who consistently robbed from any Frabill design we tried."


Odd. I've had mine unscrewed twice now by what I assume were otters.
And they're so friggin' big. That huge lid seems like a waste to me.
 
Cc26
05/23/2020 07:11PM
 
Can you post a picture of yours with the wire?
 
Mad_Angler
05/28/2020 11:37AM
 
I have a big bait king that I love. I use it to bring in 1-2 lbs of leeches in at the start of each trip. I also use it to store leeches while at camp. If you tighten the big lid pretty tightly, the lid will not come off from waves or critters.


I like to leave the bait king at camp and take a few dozen leeches with me while fishing.


What do you use while fishing? I have a leech tamer. It is very easy to get leeches out during the heat of fishing action. But the velcro has started to fail. Now, my leeches escape.


Should I just buy a new leech tamer or is there a better solution??


Leech tamer
 
schweady
05/29/2020 03:05PM
 
Wables: "BDB to the rescue!"
Of course. Once again!

 
schweady
05/23/2020 12:37PM
 
Leech King. I guess mine was labeled with that name back in the day to differentiate it from its larger cousin, the Bait King. I got a second one a couple years back, same smaller size, labeled Bait King. Go figure.


Bombproof against critters who consistently robbed from any Frabill design we tried.


 
fishEH
05/25/2020 09:31AM
 
Many years of use from my bait king. Never had any issues, except when we had to paddle back across Burntside because we left it at the portage!


Tried a Magic Leech Locker and it was trash. The little tabs get worn very easily and the handle can open from swaying on portages. https://www.amazon.com/Magic-Leech-Locker/dp/B0000ATL7T


Never tried the Frabill but the Bait King just plain works. KISS!
 
schweady
05/25/2020 02:33PM
 
fishEH: "Tried a Magic Leech Locker and it was trash."
True that. All here should take a look at the product in your link to know exactly what NOT to trust. A buddy lost every leech the first night after leaving the entire supply for the trip in one of these. Painful.

(Not So) Magic Leech Locker
 
Oldtown13
05/23/2020 11:59AM
 
I have only used Bait King, but hard to imagine the Frabill would be any better. Bait King works very well.
 
Wables
05/28/2020 10:08PM
 
BDB to the rescue!



 
KarlBAndersen1
05/23/2020 10:43AM
 
For those with experience using both - which one do you prefer - and why?


 
WhiteWolf
05/23/2020 10:49AM
 
bait king. Seems tougher and more leech security.
 
Captn Tony
05/24/2020 06:29AM
 
The bait king lid does come unscrewed in the waves. I put an eye bolt in mine and use a small bungee to keep it from unscrewing.
 
Me2012
05/23/2020 01:39PM
 
Used both.
Will only use the bait king in the BWCA. 5 years without a problem.

 
schweady
05/28/2020 01:12PM
 
Mad_Angler: "What do you use while fishing? I have a leech tamer.
Leech tamer "

Yes, this. It's our go-to in each boat while out fishing, but never overnight or long-term in-camp storage. Sometimes, cleaning threads and gunk out of the hook side of the velcro will bring it back to near-new. Otherwise, bite the bullet and replace.
 
halvorsonchristopher
05/29/2020 10:14PM
 
BaitKing
 
schweady
05/23/2020 07:30PM
 
PikeEatPike: "Drilled a hole through the lid and run a wire through it
"

Smart mod! Where the two pieces thread together, the overlap measures nearly 2 inches. A simple loop of wire through there would do the trick, indeed. -- No concerns with introducing leakage?

 
DeanL
05/25/2020 09:29AM
 
If your mind isn't already made up I'll add my name to the bait king list. We've never had issues with ours but I like the preventative mods you guys mention.
 
Zwater
05/23/2020 11:52AM
 
Bait King by far.
 
fishEH
05/28/2020 08:08PM
 
I just place the Bait King in the bottom in the bottom of the canoe and take the lid off. Refresh the water every hour or two.
On a side note, Frabill irritates me as a company. They are quite big and well known, but their website is awful. It lacks pictures, videos, and details of the products.
 
WhiteWolf
05/28/2020 08:35PM
 
"On a side note, Frabill irritates me as a company. They are quite big and well known."
Much like a net to a fish. And the only thing I think Frabill makes well...