I fished for about 2 1/2 hours today, from 2:30 to about 5:00 p.m. The temperature was 56 degrees, almost 10 degrees warmer than yesterday, the winds were 10 mph from ESE, it was very overcast and the water temp was 57 degrees.
My excursion began at "the Birches," where I used a Northland Gum-Ball jig tipped with a Northland Slurpies Swim'N Grub (in firetiger) to catch a couple of jumbo perch, which I released, and a couple of rock bass, which I would never consider keeping. And while I'm on the topic of keeping "junk" fish such as rock bass, let me pontificate for a moment on the people who visit Leech Lake and stay at one of the many resorts that offer access to our Northern Minnesota wonderland.
Many of these "resorters" are what we who own property on the lake refer to as FIB's -- or F^*#ing Illinois, Indiana or Iowa Bastards, which is where many of these people call home. These meat-hunters are here to load up their coolers with as many fish fillets as possible with no regard to the size or species of the fish. I've seen FIB's at Birch Ridge Resort cleaning perch no bigger than 6 or 7 inches. Many FIB's think nothing of keeping 12" walleye, 18" pike, big largemouth bass (these days who eats largemouth bass for goodness sake!!) and of course, the king of junk fish, the rock bass. I know many "dock boys" and "fish cleaners" at the resorts who simply refuse to clean a rock bass. And if they do agree to clean them, it often carries a price double what they charge to clean other fish. I know, the lake is here for everyone to enjoy, but those of us who live here want to see the fishery remain healthy; and most FIB's are a disease we could live without.
Now where was I? Oh yeah. After my jigging efforts at the Birches, I started trolling from the Malays to past Second Duck Point, but landed no fish.
Friday, November 28, 2008
June 3, 2008
The temperature dropped dramically overnight and only reached a high today of 48 degrees. Winds were relatively light at 5-10 mph out of the ENE, but there was a steady rain all day.
Kathleen is in St. Cloud today visiting her mother, so I decided to lay low and spend the day working around the properties -- clearing fallen tree limbs, trimming dead tree branches, organizing the fish cleaning house, etc.
No fishing today.
Here's a photo of the "cabin," which is next door to the "house." The picture was not taken today, but it's on this property where I spent most of the day.
Kathleen is in St. Cloud today visiting her mother, so I decided to lay low and spend the day working around the properties -- clearing fallen tree limbs, trimming dead tree branches, organizing the fish cleaning house, etc.
No fishing today.
Here's a photo of the "cabin," which is next door to the "house." The picture was not taken today, but it's on this property where I spent most of the day.
June 2, 2008
With winds out of the NNE at 10-12 mph, I thought today would be a good day for drifting Sucker Bay jig fishing for walleye. The temperature during my 1:00 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. drift was 58 degrees. The water temperature had cooled slighty over the last few days to 61 degrees.
Using a Parakeet-colored Northland Gum-Ball "neon-tone" jig tipped with a 3" Gulp Alive! black leech I caught one small walleye.
The fishing was slow, but it was great to be on the lake. This was the first time this year I'd been on the lake fishing by myself. While I always enjoy fishing with others -- be it Rick or one of my many neighbors/friends -- it's nice to have some solitude on the water. It really gives me time to reflect on the world and my place in it. I don't know if I found any profound answers, but the search was very rewarding.
This evening I went trolling from the Malays to past Second Duck Point. Using my standard "hot steel" Minnow Rap, I hooked a 15 1/2" walleye, several perch, and a northern pike that was almost 30". The winds tonight were calm, the temp was 60 degrees, and the moon was 1% waning, almost a completely new moon.
Using a Parakeet-colored Northland Gum-Ball "neon-tone" jig tipped with a 3" Gulp Alive! black leech I caught one small walleye.
The fishing was slow, but it was great to be on the lake. This was the first time this year I'd been on the lake fishing by myself. While I always enjoy fishing with others -- be it Rick or one of my many neighbors/friends -- it's nice to have some solitude on the water. It really gives me time to reflect on the world and my place in it. I don't know if I found any profound answers, but the search was very rewarding.
This evening I went trolling from the Malays to past Second Duck Point. Using my standard "hot steel" Minnow Rap, I hooked a 15 1/2" walleye, several perch, and a northern pike that was almost 30". The winds tonight were calm, the temp was 60 degrees, and the moon was 1% waning, almost a completely new moon.
June 1, 2008
Kathleen and I took Rick to the Bemidji airport today so he could begin his Bemidji-to-Minneapolis-to-LA-to-Sydney-to-Brisbane trip home.
Afterward, we did some grocery shopping and other in-town errands. No fishing today.
Afterward, we did some grocery shopping and other in-town errands. No fishing today.
May 31, 2008
From 1:00 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. Rick and I fished Bass Bay. We started near the "harbor" entrance just north of Paul Wagner's cabin and worked our way south toward Paulsen's. We were again using Northland Reed-Runner spinner baits. The air temperature was a very pleasant 65 degrees, the water temperature was 60 degrees, the winds were calm and the sky was mostly sunny.
On my second cast of the afternoon something strange happened -- my rod broke. I was using a Shimano Compere baitcasting rod, and when I went to cast the spinner bait the rod just snapped -- right between the second and third line guide. I have no idea why it broke. I did not contact Shimano about the incident since the rod was past its warranty period. It didn't leave a great impression on me regarding the quality of Shimano rods. Usually I use St. Croix rods, made in Park Falls, Wisconsin, for my spinning reels, and maybe I need to switch to St. Croix for my baitcasting rods as well.
I caught one largemouth bass and Rick caught three. Then we decided to head down to Second Duck Point to jig for walleye. We fished that spot for roughly an hour before heading back to the cabin. In that time, Rick caught, and released, a very nice 20" walleye and a small one under 12". Rick was using a silver flash Lindy Techni-Glo Fuzz-E-Grub tipped with a 3" Gulp Alive! black leech.
That evening we went out on the water at 9:00 p.m. and fished for about two hours. The air temp had dropped to just under 60 degrees although the water temperature had actually warmed to 62 degrees. The winds were still calm, and the moon was 13% waning. While trolling Minnow Rap crankbaits we caught and released five walleye. I had fish of 14", 15" and 23", while Rick boated 'eyes of 20" and 21". This was to be Rick's last night of fishing. On June 1, Kathleen and I drove him to the Bemidji airport so he could start his long journey home to Brisbane, Australia. See you in the Fall Rick.
On my second cast of the afternoon something strange happened -- my rod broke. I was using a Shimano Compere baitcasting rod, and when I went to cast the spinner bait the rod just snapped -- right between the second and third line guide. I have no idea why it broke. I did not contact Shimano about the incident since the rod was past its warranty period. It didn't leave a great impression on me regarding the quality of Shimano rods. Usually I use St. Croix rods, made in Park Falls, Wisconsin, for my spinning reels, and maybe I need to switch to St. Croix for my baitcasting rods as well.
I caught one largemouth bass and Rick caught three. Then we decided to head down to Second Duck Point to jig for walleye. We fished that spot for roughly an hour before heading back to the cabin. In that time, Rick caught, and released, a very nice 20" walleye and a small one under 12". Rick was using a silver flash Lindy Techni-Glo Fuzz-E-Grub tipped with a 3" Gulp Alive! black leech.
That evening we went out on the water at 9:00 p.m. and fished for about two hours. The air temp had dropped to just under 60 degrees although the water temperature had actually warmed to 62 degrees. The winds were still calm, and the moon was 13% waning. While trolling Minnow Rap crankbaits we caught and released five walleye. I had fish of 14", 15" and 23", while Rick boated 'eyes of 20" and 21". This was to be Rick's last night of fishing. On June 1, Kathleen and I drove him to the Bemidji airport so he could start his long journey home to Brisbane, Australia. See you in the Fall Rick.
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