I have a Wood Lake permit for September 10, and after searching the forum for a bit it sounds like leeches probably won't be available that time of year. I don't want to mess with minnows, so crawlers will probably be my only live bait option. Can I get away with just sticking the crawler containers in my pack, or would some other kind of container for them be a good idea? Thanks in advance.

I've always just stuck the crawler container in my pack and it was totally fine. Once at camp, just find a place for it out of the sun, cool damp area back in the woods.

Here is what I do with crawlers. Go buy a cheap plastic insulated lunchbox and put all you crawlers in it. Keep it out of the sun, under a tree. Then for your daily bait needs remove enough bait and put into a styrofoam container made for crawlers. This way everything die from the heat. This lunchbox fits in a pack for transport. If you are worried about heat, put a cold pack in there and you will prolong their life.