September 26, 2009 -- On Leech Lake

This morning at 9:00 a.m. the temperature was 54 degrees, the sky was dark and completely covered in heavy clouds and the wind was brisk at 12-15 mph out of the SW. It looked as if it might rain at any moment. Finally a normal Fall day at Leech Lake.

As the morning worn on, however, it didn't rain and the sky gradually began to clear. After I had finished washing the linens and putting them back on the beds at the cabin, the sun finally broke through the clouds casting shadows everywhere. I decided it was a perfect time to go for a walk.

I walked down to Paulsen's house and back -- about a 2 mile round trip. When I got back to the house it was mostly sunny, and the temperature had climbed to 68 degrees although it was still fairly windy. A great time to paint the deck at the cabin I decided.

I changed into my painting clothes, got the paint, tray, roller and other supplies out of the garage and set to work. By 3:30 p.m. I had repainted the back deck at the cabin, and I was hungry.

I had a quick sandwich then figured I'd hit the water for an hour so. I wanted to be back home by 5:00 p.m. to listen to the season opener of A Prairie Home Companion on public radio.

The wind was still 15 mph out of the SW so there was a good chop on the lake, with occasional white caps. I motored the boat out to 10 feet of water in front of our house, put in the drift sock, tipped my VMC jig with a fathead and started fishing.

Almost immediately I hooked into a small northern. That was followed by several small perch, but none big enough to keep, and no walleye.

I got back to the house a little later than I'd hoped to, around 5:15 p.m., but I was still into time to catch Guy Noir and the News from Lake Wobegon. I had my dinner of BBQ ribs, French Fries and salad, and was finished eating at 7:30 p.m., about 20 minutes after sunset.

I looked outside as the light was fading from the western sky and made the decision to go trolling. "No one ever caught a walleye sitting on the couch," I thought to myself. I grabbed my flashlight, some water and a sweatshirt and hustled over to the boat lift.

I was on the water by 7:45 p.m. The wind was still 12-15 mph from the SW, the water temperature was 68.6 degrees, and the moon was 55 percent waxing (basically a half moon).

I trolled The Alley in 9-12 feet of water using my Rapala Minnow Rap, but tonight I didn't get even a hit and miss. Nothing. No fish. Not even a stupid rock bass. Skunked.

I came ashore around 9:15 p.m. I spent the rest of the evening quietly reading as the wind blew through the trees outside. A nice way to cap off a beautiful Fall day at Leech Lake.