The ice conditions on Leech Lake have firmed up nicely for the removal of permanent houses. The nightmare of slush that stranded houses several weeks ago has firmed up nicely with the recent sub zero weather. In my own experience, it was not too difficult to extract my shack from the frozen surface of the lake. Witht the removal of my permanent house this past weekend, I took the opportunity to search for perch in the deeeper water of Sucker Bay. The results were consistent with all of my ice angling outings thus far this season on Leech ... Nothing. Hope springs eternal in the heart of the ice angler that the lengthening days and warmer weather of March will see the arrival of hungry jumbo perch