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> “Leeches come in several sizes from medium, large, extra large and jumbo. They all work, and just as you wouldn’t leave the dock with only one kind of bait, always take more than one size of leech along.
> “The size of the average walleye in a body of water dictates the size of the leech to use. You’re in for a long day if you fish with extra-large or jumbo leeches in a lake that has walleyes averaging 17 inches.
> “Many anglers are misled about using jumbo leeches to trigger trophy walleyes. That only works where trophy walleyes live. If the lake is dominated by small fish, it may be one of those bobber-watching days if jumbo leeches are all you brought. You can go from a no-fish day to hauling in fish after fish just by downsizing the bait. I’ve had other boats move closer to me after watching me catching fish. They thought I was on a hot spot. But, the truth was their spot was probably just as good. They were just using the wrong-sized bait.
> “Stick with medium and large leeches where walleyes average 14-20”.... An exception is when you target weeds filled with panfish. Try a bigger leech to discourage them.
> “Another exception comes when you’re fishing for trophy walleyes on deep rocks. That’s when you super-size the bait. Imagine a size #4 bleeding-red hook with a 6-mm Northern Lights ruby glass bead tipped with an extra-large or jumbo leech ribboned out and swimming over boulders in 22’. It’s killer! But, forget about catching 14” walleyes. Only big walleyes will touch it. The average size fish on a jumbo leech in trophy locations will measure 25” and weigh more than 5 lbs. Be prepared for less action. I’ve had clients who wanted to catch a 10-lb walleye and did, but it was the only bite they had all day.
> “Leeches work best on aberdeen style and live bait hooks paired with ruby red glass beads. Heavy jigs limit their ability to swim naturally. Use 1/16-oz. Jig Bugs with size #4 aberdeen hooks.
> “Popular thought says to hook a leech through the suction cup. But, that often ends with a leech that’s cast off or ripped off by pesky panfish. Instead, hook the leech just slightly behind the suction cup. It doesn’t reduce action or life span. The leech also appears to be swimming away from the hook as if trying to escape. When used near wood or rocks, the leech senses the safety of cover nearby and tries to reach it. The result is enticing.
> “Check the leech at the side of the boat before you cast. If one doesn’t swim well, change it.
> “If you get no action after a while, retrieve the rig and examine it for problems. The knot may have slipped or the leech may be gone. Some leeches also seem to give off a walleye-repelling odor. Change the bait and see.
> “Beware of the leech death roll. Leeches will sometimes ball up so tightly you can’t get them off the hook. They can even knot the line. They may have been hooked too far behind the suction cup. They might have been frightened by a walleye into a protective ball. Whatever the cause, a leech will never return to the swimming action you want once it starts the death roll. Get rid of it, and keep fishing in the same area. A walleye might be nearby.
> “Buy as many leeches as you can care for early in the season when their quantity and quality are at their peak. Choices diminish later in the season. By the end of summer, you’re lucky to find any at all.
> “First, sort through the container and look for the bloodsuckers, which are often mixed in. They have teeth surrounding the suction cup, they have a blob-like appearance and they are often spotted with an orange underside. Toss them out. Walleyes don’t like them.
> “Caring for bulk leeches is easy. Put them in a plastic pan with a half-inch of water over them and put them in the refrigerator at 37-42 degrees to mimic winter conditions. They’ll hibernate. If you add too much water or store them at too high a temperature, they’ll fade in color and look worn as they swim themselves to death.
> “Just rinse them off every two days to prevent them from suffocating in their own slime.”
And believe it or not (believe it!) there’s way more info in the full write-up. RIP legend  and thank you for sharing your secrets with the rest of the walleye world.
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