Swamp Parasites and Habitats
In the flooded wetlands of DREADMOOR, parasites thrive across stagnant channels and contaminated shallows. 
Leeches are omnipresent inhabitants of the swamps, poisoned by the Sickness.
They particularly like to latch onto peaceful, slow-moving fish, feeding on their fat and essence particles. On the surface, they give off a pungent odor, which is highly valuable for making lures. Gathering these parasites provides vital crafting materials for anglers seeking larger catches.
Harvesting and Grinding Fish for Leeches
Anglers can collect specimens directly from waterlogged riverbanks or extract them through the fish grinder aboard the vessel. Processing fish in the Grinder yields valuable ingredients. Drag a fish from your boat’s hold into the processor slot.
Processing begins automatically and takes some time. Press and hold [F] to collect the processed resource. Several fish species yield parasites when reduced in the processor. Trophy catches like 
Cryptmaw, 
Gravedigger, 
Stonegnawer, 
Sawfin, 
Rammfish, and 
Swallower provide leeches upon completion. Predatory and peaceful fish require different bait and different fishing techniques.
Crafting Specialized Baits at the Craft Table
Leeches serve as a core ingredient in several advanced tackle recipes assembled at the Craft table. The first key recipe is 
Clinging Pincer, an improved bait for bony fish, both predatory and peaceful. A special expanding system of struts and hooks catches larger specimens more securely.
Crafting Clinging Pincer requires one 
Mutant Fish Meat, two pieces of 
Metal Plate, one 
Cable, and one unit of leeches. Another essential lure is 
Pipecross, recognized as universal bait for any bony fish. Its unusual shape lets the hooks catch on the hard growths around their lips.
To assemble Pipecross, anglers combine one 
Fish Meat, one 
Gear, two pieces of Metal Plate, and one unit of leeches. Both lures attract formidable species such as Stonegnawer and Rammfish.
Rigging Lines and Settlement Quests
Beyond specialized lures, leeches are utilized to construct durable fishing line. The 
Sliding fishing line is a thin fishing line twisted from hemp fibers and impregnated with a mixture of crushed fish scales and mucus. It becomes almost transparent in water, blending into the murky depths. This specialized rigging helps prevent frequent line breaks during intense struggles. Crafting this line at the Craft table consumes one unit of 
Coral fibers, two lengths of 
Rope, one unit of 
Chromatic Scales, and one unit of Leeches.
Furthermore, cloth fibers can be treated with leech extracts to imitate natural aquatic prey. A scrap of dense fabric with hemp fibers does a fine job of imitating the movements of worms, leeches, and small fish. Soaked in pungent liquids, 
Cloth becomes an important part of the perfect bait. Leeches also feature in local settlements, where quests task players to bring the Leeches to Bubtitsky. Maintaining a stockpile of leeches ensures steady access to resilient tackle and high-tier bait for deep-water expeditions.