eyes and perch

[jvjohnson]

was planing on going to milacs but with the bite beeing so slow out their thinking about making my first trip to leech. is it worth my time or should i tough it out on the big pond. How is the bite and maybe some depths.

[ImissReeds]

You can probably have lots more fun on Leech this year than the pond. Jumbos, walters, and super sized slime rockets. Depths vary by the day, but don't be afraid to look shallower than 20'.

[CB34]

I have had pretty slow luck so far this season. We caught a numbers of sunnies and northers on walker bay early in the year. I have fished the main lake a few times also. One walleye too big to keep is all I have to show for it. The perch I caught on the main lake have been pretty small. It is a very big lake that I am just starting to learn I guess. I am hoping to try my luck again this weekend for Eelpout Fest. I have never been to it before.

[ImissReeds]

Try a camera and moving around a little and I would think you could do better on the jumbos. I know someone recently who was up and said there were tons of little ones on the camera to keep it away from, but eventually the sumos showed and were eager to eat...

[CB34]

When I find the perch I seem to get into a school of small ones that dont even have large ones mixed in. I have got a few nice fish in the 9" range out of these schools but hardly a jumbo. I have watched a few guys with cameras but, I have not developed alot of confidence in them. I like to fish with my vexilar and adding a camera to the house floor it gets a little crouded.

[JigginIsLife]

with the past expirence that i have had, any where on the lake is a potential hot spot, if you got a camera use that and search for any type of structure. finding the perch late morning into early afternoon has always been good, especialy up shallower 14'-19'. havent been there this year, but earlier i heard walker bay was lighting up, no sense in going this weekend though, pout-festers will be tearing that up.

[ImissReeds]

CB34, if you so set on arguing the use of a camera and the "fact" there are no jumbos in Leech, so be it. Just trying to help clue you in a little. If you don't believe me, your loss. Its not worth my time to try and convince you anymore.

MMMM... Chef Roberts breaded on 10-13"er fillets.......

[CB34]

I was not trying to argue anything maybe my post came off wrong. I appreciate your suggestions. I believe the jumbos are there, thus I keep trying. I usually go out with my kids and wife so setting up the portable and getting everything set up once is quite a bit of work and moving once is about the limit for me in an outing. Sorry if my post came across negative.

[JigginIsLife]

Well i didnt take it that way CB34, but i can deffinatly understand the not wanting to use it becuase it takes up space. when your on the ice, space is limited especially with your family. a camera is nice to use, if you are excellent at using your vexi then a camera can be obsolete (sp), except with a camera you can see alot further along the lake bottom. my .02

[ImissReeds]

Cameras work great if you use them smart.

If all the fish coming in are a size your interested in hooking, the bite is aggresive, and you don't have a 1ft x 1ft space in your floor plan, then they have no application.

But, what I'm getting at is, they are great for weeding through packs of smaller more aggresive fish to get the big sloppy jumbos who are slower to bite sometimes. Cameras also let you know from fish's body language which moves are working and which ones you need to tone down. Plus there are invaluable when the fish are hitting lightly and only taking the minnow or worm barely into the mouth, since they allow you to wait for the second gulp to set the hook.

I use them all the time for scouting panfish by just poping around in holes looking for and IDing fish before I set up the house.

If I had to pick a vex or camera only, it would be the vex for sure, but if you don't know how to properly use both, your missing out on a lot of added success and fun.

[JigginIsLife]

 Originally Posted By: ImissReeds

If I had to pick a vex or camera only, it would be the vex for sure, but if you don't know how to properly use both, your missing out on a lot of added success and fun.

I agree with that %100 there is no substitue for the combintation (except possibly old timers who know exactly where they are going)

[ImissReeds]

Nature Vision hasn't patented the "old-timer with decades of experience" model yet, but they'll probably try soon enough.

[jacobj12k]

What's the latest word on perch/walleyes in Walker Bay? I was there partying last weekend and fished a bit on Kabetogoma (sp?) and caught a bunch of tiny perch, but nothing else. I'll be simply fishing this weekend looking to find some decent perch action for my kids during the day and hopefully some eyes before the season closes.

[jacobj12k]

Any other lakes around Leech worth driving to for an active bite currently? My 9 yr old son and 5 yr daughter would appreciate their dad not boring them by staring at a hole in the ice

My username @yahoo.com will accept advice

[jacobj12k]

Well, seeing as I recvd zero replies to my request for a little guidance on Leech Lake I went out and drilled holes in a place I thought could produce away from other houses which wasn't that difficult with all that ice and so little pressure.

I didn't get into em good, but managed a couple small eyes and my first eelpout.

[12345]

that pout is huuuuge how big was it?

[trollenslow]

WHOAAAA... now that's a pout. easily would of been the big fish on pout wknd. Betcha that made the heart race before knowing what was on the other end!

[jacobj12k]

I didn't have a scale so I don't know what it weighed.

It was a blast to catch. I was using a super light action rod and I thought I hooked the bottom when I set the hook because I couldn't get the fish to move off the bottom for a while. I had set up quite a ways away from anyone else and was alone so it was a bit of a challenge getting the pout through the ice by myself. I think I may have to try fishing for pout sometime.