MEA Week Update

I was at Leech Lake for the MEA week in Minnesota (Oct. 14-22) and it was a nasty week weather wise. Temperatures were colder than normal, in the mid-20s to low-30s, and it was windy several days during my stay.

With my boat already out of the water (see Sept. 15, 2006 post) I once again relied on the hospitality of my neighbors Tom Malay and John Newman for any open-water angling action. I went out once with John, and three times with Tom. The trip with John and Johnny Newman produced no fish, and not even a bite. We were jigging with minnows while both drifting and anchored.

Tom and I tried a different technique, one that had proven very successful during my September visit to the lake -- trolling crankbaits. This time, however, our catch was limited to a couple of good sized northern pike, but no walleyes. I'm not sure if was because of the cold front that moved in, or if we were just not fishing deep enough -- we were trolling in 5-6 feet of water and in 8-10 feet. The walleyes might have been even deeper.

On Friday, Oct. 20, I awoke to a 1 1/2 inch blanket of white snow. It was great to see snow again, although it melted by late afternoon.

I won't be back to the lake until the third week of February. I'm already looking forward to some ice-angling action.