2017 Leech Lake Fishing Reports (May)

[Walleye #1]

 

Walleyes on Leech Lake found themselves spread out but actively feeding on shiners.  A Jig and shiner or a plastic and lindy rigs with shiners and leeches were the go to presentations during the course of the week.  Somedays walleyes were wanting it dragged along which is where lindy rigs worked well and other days snapping or twitching a jig and minnow was the ticket.  So being diverse in your presentations, changing up colors and cadences, and getting away from the crowds is the ticket.  

 

West End - Fish were found on West Goose Flats, Star Point, Grand Vu Flats, Duck Point, Pine Point, Stoney, and on some of the breaklines in Traders Bay.  Depending on the day depths changed, but it seemed the best bite was in 8-14 feet of water.  Find the shiners and you found walleyes closeby!  

 

East End/Main Lake - Main Lake Rocks are still producing a large quantity of fish in the 20-26” protected slot, with some keepers mixed in.  Annex, Submarine, Five Mile, Pelican Island, and Rogers Point all had decent bites. Fish were typically found in that 8-12ft range on this part of the lake and finding areas with sand and boulders was the key.  Portage Bay also reported a good bite up near Federal Dam.  Look for emergent cabbage in Portage, especially on those bright and sunny days where those walleyes will look to find cover.  Pitching a jig and minnow or jig and plastic for these Leech Lake Walleyes in the cabbage is fun way to catch them.  

 

Jumbo Perch are also showing up with the walleyes, but often times will be shallower.  Found some of our best perch bites in 6-10ft of water, with some really nice jumbos mixed in.  

 

Jason Freed

Leisure Outdoor Adventures Fishing Guide Service

[Stick in Mud]

Quote

 

Thanks for the great report.  We fished up there all last week, and we found shiners to be the only bait we *couldn't* get bites on. Very, very strange, but by far our best bite was on crawlers.  I think our total was something like 8 fish on shiners and 80 or 90 on crawlers (between two boats).  We didn't start fishing with crawlers until Thursday, either, so all those fish came on our last two days, with the windier Thursday being best.

[Walleye #1]

Stick in the Mud

 

I do think sometimes that those fish see so many jigs and shiners that something such as a crawler or leech is a great change up and will get bites.  Also with the bug hatches that are happening, those are two great baits.  

 

 

Leech Lake

 

Leech Lake Walleyes once again found themselves spread out and in different areas and related to different pieces of Leech Lake structure.  Shiners and Leeches seemed to be the bait of choice for those Leech Lake Walleyes, but plastics are still catching some fish.  Be sure to stop in at Full Stringer Bait and Tackle, Swansons Bait and Tackle, Tutts Bait and Tackle, or Sportland Bait and Tackle for all your bait and tackle needs.  

 

West End

The LOA Fishing Guides found much of their success on the West End of Leech Lake.  Focusing in on the flats around West Goose in depths of 7-10ft of water, as well as the wind blown points such as Duck, Big Hardwoods, Ottertail, Pine, and Bowmans.  Sucker Bay also proved to have a good wind driven bite throughout the weekend.   A Jig and Minnow was the best presentation by far, but in most instances instead of jigging it, dragging or swimming it along the bottom seemed to work best, but when the front came in on Sunday the Leech Lake Walleyes were snapping and aggressively jigging was provoking the bite.  When things slowed down, slowing down with a lindy rig and leech put fish in the boat as well.  Green cabbage once again was a key to finding active walleyes and jumbo perch in 5-8ft of water.  Pitching an 1/8th oz KenKatch jig with a shiner caught Leech Lake Jumbos, Walleyes, and pike.  Slip bobbers and leeches/shiners also have put fish in the boat being either fished in the weeds or windblown points.

 

East End/Main Lake

On the Main Lake, the rocks still were producing a great bite as well as some of the East End points such as Battle, Sugar, and Five Mile when the strong Westerly winds were blowing.  Annex, Submarine, Pelican, and North Bar were all producing fish in 10-14ft of water. Lindy Rigs with leeches or shiners seemed to work best, but the biggest fish still seem to want a 1/8th or 1/4oz jig and shiner.  

Leech Lake Crappie and Bluegill fishing still remains strong.  When the weather warms up for a couple days both species are moving onto their beds and are actively feeding.  Looking to Boy Bay, Millers Bay, Shingobee, and Steamboat for the best action in 3-6 feet of water.  Just remember to use selective harvest as these fish are more vulnerable.  

[Walleye #1]

June 5th

 

Here is your Leisure Outdoor Adventures fishing guide report for Leech Lake.  This past weekend many of your Leisure Outdoor Adventures Fishing Guides participated in the Leech Lake Walleye Tournament.  This is a great event that is held each year by the Leech Lake Chamber of Commerce.  The 155 boat field is full of great walleye fisherman from all over Minnesota and the Midwest, including many Leech Lake Fishing guides, including the Leisure Outdoor Adventures crew.  Two of these guides, Jason Freed and Chuck Hasse were crowned the 2017 Leech Lake Walleye Tournament Champions, Jeff Andersen and Steve Olson finished 12th, and Toby Kvalevog and Aaron Murphy’s teams finished in the top 1/3rd of the field as well.  All in all a great tournament that is always well ran.  

 

Here is your report for the week

 

With the warm temperatures the lake is changing each day and starting to set up in its typical June summer patterns.  Leech Lake walleyes are known for following the bait, and with these temperatures our Leech Lake Fishing Guides are starting to see some bug hatches, crayfish showing up, and still lots of small perch and minnows to feed on.  On the West end of the Lake, Grand View Flats, areas between 1st and 2nd Duck Points, Big Hardwoods, and Little Stoney all set up well with West and NW winds blowing into them.  8-14feet of water was best pulling lindy rigs with leeches, crawlers, and some days snap jigging jigs and minnows was best.  There is still a solid weed bite as well in the cabbage that can be found in Sucker Bay with a slip bobber and leech or jig and minnow.  Try using a KenKatch Long Shank Jig, this helps with those short bites and ups your hooking percentage.  

 

On the East End and Main Lake, walleyes are showing up more and more on the rock reefs with many pushing out a little deeper on bright sunny days and cloudy wind days back up shallow.  Start in 12 feet and work your way out.  Trolling spinners 1.0 -1.5 mph is a great way to cover ground on these reefs.  Look to Mokey, North Bar, Annex, Submarine, Variety, and Huddles to all produce fish.  As the bugs start to hatch look for mud transitions, and pay close attention to the where the bugs are showing up.  Lindy rigs and leeches also were probably the #1 producer to put fish in the boat this past week.  

 

Some of the best fishing is still to be had this summer.  If you are looking to get out on Leech and want to set up a guided fishing trip give us a call at 1-855-LOA-HOOK or check out our website at www.leisureoutdooradventures.com

 

Until next week

Jason Freed

Leisure Outdoor Adventures