June 16th-23rd Fishing Report

[Walleye #1]

Versatility is the name of the game right now on Leech Lake.  This past week the lake has been met with many bug hatches and changing conditions from day to day so being versatile is the name of the game.  By this I mean, having the different kinds of bait such has minnows, crawlers, and leeches in the boat, and the different presentations set up and ready to go in your rod locker.

 

Walleyes throughout the lake are gobbling up mayflies, molting crayfish, and little perch which means the feed bags are one.  Don't let these things deter you because it can be really good fishing.  

 

On the west side of the lake, fish are being caught on Grand Vu Flats, Big  and Little Hardwoods, and within Traders Bay on the breaklines in 11-16ft of water.  Dragging lindy rigs with crawlers or leeches is by far the best presentation.  Spinners with crawlers or minnows has been working on flat calm days when you need to cover ground.  Walker Bay has been on the slow side.  Fish are being caught with many being slot fish, but some keepers are showing up on the Cedar Shoreline and within Agency Narrows in 18-22ft of water.  

 

On the main lake, the rock reefs such as Submarine Island, Annex, North Bar, Red Rocks, and the areas off of Pelican Island are also producing fish in 10-18ft of water.  The bigger walleyes are showing up more on the tops and edges of the reefs, where as the keeper fish are being caught in the mud as they are feeding on bugs.  Look for scattered boulders in these areas and try trolling spinners with crawlers or leeches at 1.1-1.4mph.  Colors that are good are orange, gold, green, and sometimes even throwing on something that is out of the ordinary to change things up.  If spinners aren't working, slow down and rig them with crawlers or leeches or try pulling slow death set ups at .8 to 1mph.  Slip bobber fishing the edges of the reefs during the evening hours is also a good way to put some fish in the boat.  

 

Lots of great fishing is yet to go this summer.  Things may slow down a little bit after all of the hatches take place, which is normal, but the challenge is there are walleyes always biting somewhere.  Gotta love the CHASE of it all.

 

Some crappies are being caught off the weed edges in the early morning and evening in Shingobee and Miller Bay with panfish also being caught in the cabbage in Steamboat Bay.  

 

Tight Lines

Jason Fred

Leisure Outdoor Adventures