Walleyes this time of year – Leeches or Minnows????

I haven’t bothered to fish with live bait this early in the year for walleyes for many years. The Fast drop in water temps and still rather cool water seems to have the fish in a rather lethargic mood and not hitting jerkbaits like they normally will. I think tomorrow I’ll take the wife out and drown some live bait. Maybe a bobber and bait or a jig and bait will be a little more successful. This time of the year am I better off with Leeches or Minnows? I’d prefer minnows because I can get them tonight and not have to stop in the morning. But if minnows is a better option I’ll make a stop in the morning.

Minnows are often effective until the water temp reaches 50 degrees. Anything getting above that then the minnows can be harder to keep alive since the tank temperature they are kept in is often near or below that. Leeches and crawlers are often considered more of a “warmer water” bait because of this reason but I wouldn’t discount any type of live bait right now to be honest. The only issue using leeches if is the water is TOO cold. They ball up and then they aren’t effective. So the short answer is highly dependent on what the water temps are.

Water Temps are currently 52-54 ( Down from over 60 not long ago ) But up a few Deg. since opening day.

I would say switch over is coming maybe next week?

I run live bait all year, this time of year in colder water minnows are good, but I always prefer a leech under a bobber, on a lindy minnows. But I will switch that at times. On opener we tried both and could not produce. I thinks leeches work in colder water than people think, they may need time to adjust to relax and unball.

I like to have all 3 (Crawlers too) and let the fish tell me what’s on the menu at the time.

It will most likely be under a bobber. I don’t think I’ve ever bobber fished eye’s with minnows. I have with leeches many times.

Normally I will start with jig and plastic. Then down size jig and minow. Leaches are fine to use above say 40°, but I normally don’t use them except for on a bobber or lindy/spinner, I will jig with them in the bwca, but only because they are much easier to keep alive than minnows, don’t forget about crankbaits right now either casted or trolled. What body of water are you targeting or kind of body of water? Minnows on a bobber can be very effective as well, just not covering much water. So I f you know where they are, I would have a bobber with a minnow and 1 with a leech and let the fish tell you what they want. This time of year, no problem getting minnows the night before if you keep them cool and aerated. My bucket is still full from last Friday. Different story once it gets warm in the garage.

BigWerm wrote:

I like to have all 3 (Crawlers too) and let the fish tell me what’s on the menu at the time.

So do you still use minnows during the middle of July when the water temps are pushing 80 degrees? How do you keep them alive in that sauna?

Water temps under 50 degrees= minnows and plastics exclusively

Water temps 50-70 degrees = leeches as they will now unravel and entice fish, they are far easier to keep alive than minnows, I will lindy rig them with a floater, drag jigs with them, vertical jig while drifting,

Water temps over 70 degrees = crawlers on the river as crawlers put more fish in the boat once bug hatches start to occur, best bet for me is behind bottom bounders on various spinner rigs or dummy rigged on wing dams (willowcats on wingdams on occassion in the late heat of summer)

Water temps 75 degrees+ = I rarely fish for walleyes as released fish are less likely to make it, obnoxious pleasure craft are everywhere, and football coaching has started

***I find myself using less and less live bait each year. I’ll pull crankbaits in temps as low as 50 degree water with success or 3 way them. These temps are just rough estimates if weather and flow is consistent on the river where I predominantly fish when using live bait

Mille lacs today both leeches and minnows worked well. Hard to tell which one would have been the best as i was fishing solo, so couldnt do a simultaneous comaprison.

Minnows for me today.