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Posted

I am a newcomer to Leech and will be up for opener. Looking at some of the posts it looks like minnows are the bait of choice come opener. I was wondering if there was a particular type that works better than the others (i.e. shiners vs. fatheads). Also, does jigging produce better than dragging live bait rigs? As long as I'm at it, I suppose I should ask about a depth range to catch those eyes. Any suggestions would be aprreciated...Thanks!

Posted

Hoovey you will want to use the spot-tail shiner. They will be available at the local bait shops. Jigging is typicly the method of choice but if the weather is high sun and no wind (not likely) a live bait rig is the way to go. I you jig in these conditions go very light and get it away from the boat.<BR>Also a factor to keep in mind this year is that we have had an early ice out and water temps could be much higher then normal, this means leeches and crawlers on live bait rigs may also be produtive early in the season.<P>Depths to find fish along with location will vary. If the wind is banging a mainlake point the eyes can be as shallow as 3ft but most common depths are from 8 to 12ft. <BR>Leech is a "fish the wind" lake.<P>Good luck<BR>Gofishleech<BR>

Posted

SHINERS are definitely it. get the smallest run of shiners you can find. 1/2-3 inches are best. that way you can whack em when they bite. kelly green,gold,black or even on a rainy day the all white(glow) jig is good. go with as light as you can when jigging. the windier and rainier itis the shallower the fish will like to be. you could go from walker narrows to big hardwood and find fish pockets all the way. opener is fun and generaly pretty easy to catch fish! good luck! welcome to the area.

Posted

Go to the bait shop and pick up 5 dozen shiners and 3 dozen jigs in green/chartruse, gold, white, etc. When you get on the water you will notice that there are a lot of boats close together on some of the main points and flats. Most people tend to join the crowd and catch one fish per hour like everyone else in the pack. Better strategy is find a small point or rock shoreline with little or no pressure. Look for areas with the most wind blowing on them, that you feel comfortable fishing. Make a drift across the area. Depth 4-10 feet depending on the wind. If you don't catch anything try again. If you don't catch anything or get a bite the next time, go on to the next spot. Most likely you will run into a pode of fish and have them all to yourself or at least just a few boats. You will catch more fish and have a lot more fun than if you sit in the crowd and play bumper boats. have fun on the water and good luck.<P>------------------<BR><B>Big Rock Guide Service</B><BR><A HREF="http://bigrockresort.com/guides.html" TARGET=_blank>http://bigrockresort.com/guides.html</A><BR>E-mail: [email protected]<BR>Call Toll Free: 1-800-827-7106

Posted

Chuck that was a excellant post..Right on!

  • 2 weeks later...
Posted

Bingo, Chuck. Amazing how some early season fisherman can turn a 111,000 acre lake into a turf war because they have to drift over YOUR fish marker.

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  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • leech~~
    • smurfy
      🤣 did your nose just grow a bit!😏🤭
    • Wanderer
      I hope to be fishing….  It’s so rare that I get to go, I hate passing up the opportunity. 😉   
    • leech~~
      Since the Vikings are never in it. We use it for an excuse to make some fun stuff!  Last year was a bit light. Hot cheese bean dip, hot wings and pepperoni cheese bread! 😋
    • Hookmaster
      That snow and the 15-25 mph winds on Thursday with higher gusts will be nasty drifting. I didn't go to LOW (can I say that in the this thread?🤫) this week because of it.
    • smurfy
      Who's watching the big game Sunday? More importantly what's ya'all cooking!   I like good football si I'm tuning in. Food... yea no clue yet 
    • Wanderer
      Hard to see em well enough to tell.
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the South Shore...  Ice fishing is strong across the south shore of Lake of the Woods out on Big Traverse Bay.  Most anglers are targeting deep mud with others fishing structure if available where they are going out of.  There are fish in both areas.     Some ice roads are now extending more than 16 miles out, with over two feet of ice reported in most areas. Resorts and outfitters continue increasing weight limits. As a rule, fishing continues to be very good with consistent action for anglers.  Most fishing activity is taking place in 26-32 feet of water.  Anglers are finding a healthy mix of walleyes and saugers, with plenty of opportunities to enjoy fresh fish frys and bring fish home.   On the jigging line, jigging spoons with rattles tipped with a minnow head have been consistent.  Lipless crankbaits and jigging rap style lures also doing well.   On the deadstick, a plain hook or a small jig with a live minnow 6 inches to a foot off of the bottom.    You never know when the fish will move through.  Anglers fishing the entire day normally have success.  Electronics are a big help as well. On the Rainy River...  The morning and evening hours are the best for fishing walleyes. A jig and minnow combination has been a good presentation.  A jigging spoon tipped with a minnow head is also producing some fish. Catch-and-release sturgeon fishing is still producing some big fish through the ice.  There are two sturgeon seasons on Lake of the Woods and the Rainy River, a catch and release season and a harvest season in which you can keep one fish per calendar year.    The harvest season runs from April 24th – May 7th and July 1 – Sept. 30. The catch and release season runs May 8th – May 15th and Oct. 1 – April 23rd.    Although ice conditions on the river are good, they can vary significantly due to the current, so anglers should always consult local resorts or outfitters for the most up-to-date safety information and fishing advice. Up at the NW Angle...  Ice fishing remains good at the Northwest Angle.  Resorts continue to move their fish houses staying on fish.  Some fish houses are set up on structure while others are targeting deeper mud flats.    Anglers are catching a nice mix of walleyes, saugers, jumbo perch, pike, and tullibees.  Good numbers of big crappies are still being caught in select areas and hard sided fish houses are available to target them.  Check with a NW Angle resort for info.   Jigging one line, deadsticking the second is effective.  Some days the jigging line is hot, other days the deadstick.  Some good colors have been gold, glow red, glow white, wonder bread, pink, chartreuse and orange. Lake of the Woods enjoys an extended ice fishing season with fish houses on the ice through March 31st and walleye and sauger seasons open through April 14th. Perch, crappie, and pike seasons remain open year-round.  
    • JerkinLips
      Same story, different day (Monday).  Caught several small walleyes (biggest were 14 and 15 inches) with the best bite from 2-5pm.  Caught my record walleye this winter at 6½ (inches, not pounds).  Was wondering why the bobber kept going down a couple inches for several minutes until I finally reeled it up.  Fortunately it was just hooked in the lips.  Having a lively minnow definitely improved the action.  I put down a pike sucker for the first time this winter and got an immediate hard bite.  When I went to set the hook, the line broke just above the hook.  Don't know if it was a northern bite-off or just weak line by the hook.  May try some pike suckers next trip.   Ice conditions were very good except for heavy drifting (even with very little fresh snow).  Didn't see any vehicles traveling off road except for snowmobiles and a tracked SxS, although there weren't many people out on the lake.  Water came up around my house about 1½ inches but froze very quickly with the cold weather and no snow on top.  Will probably have to block it up again next time up.   Good luck fishing and be careful of severe drifting of snow, especially with the 3-5 inches they are predicting for Wednesday night.  
    • leech~~
      Why, do they all only wear Sitka camo over there? 😏
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