The thunderstorms from yesterday subsided sometime during the night, but the cold front that accompanied the storm lowered the temperatures dramatically. The high today was only 60 degrees; 20 degrees cooler than yesterday.
The wind also picked up. The lake was covered with white caps and high waves from the 25+ mph winds from the SW. It rained off and on throughout the day, so despite us all wanting to go fishing, we decided it was best to stay on land.
As we were down by the lake surveying the weather and water conditions, my brother-in-law Tim jumped off a large boulder by the shore and badly twisted his ankle. It immediately swelled up to the size of a baseball and Kathleen and Sandy took him into the Bemidji Hospital to have it checked; we wanted to make sure that there was no ligament damage.
Luckily, there was no serious damage to Tim's ankle, although he would be required to use crutches for the next several weeks. This is definitely how we thought their visit to the lake would go -- first the terrible weather and then Tim's sprained ankle. Yikes!
Saturday, March 07, 2009
July 11, 2008
The weather today was very strange. The temperature was around 80 degrees, the skies were very dark, it was very humid, and there were severe thunderstorm warnings issued for the entire Leech Lake area.
Kathleen's brother Tim, his wife Sandy, and their boys Conner and Jackson arrived for a visit around 3 p.m. and soon after their arrival the thunderstorm hit. There was a lot of rain, a medium-strong wind, accompanied by thunder and lightening. These were conditions where going out on the lake would not be advised. So we stayed home and had a nice visit with Coyles.
Kathleen's brother Tim, his wife Sandy, and their boys Conner and Jackson arrived for a visit around 3 p.m. and soon after their arrival the thunderstorm hit. There was a lot of rain, a medium-strong wind, accompanied by thunder and lightening. These were conditions where going out on the lake would not be advised. So we stayed home and had a nice visit with Coyles.
July 10, 2008
This evening Joe and I hit the lake just before sunset. The temperature was a very pleasant 75 degrees, the winds were 6-10 mph out of the south, creating just enough of a chop on the lake to make it great for walleye fishing. The water temperature was 73.5 degrees.
We trolled our usual route between the Malays in the north and Second Duck Point in the south. I used the new larger sized #11 Minnow Rap in hot steel, while Joe used his regular #9-sized Minnow Rap in purpledescent.
Joe caught a small northern pike and two 13" walleye. I caught two small pike and a 16 1/4" walleye. All fish were released.
We trolled our usual route between the Malays in the north and Second Duck Point in the south. I used the new larger sized #11 Minnow Rap in hot steel, while Joe used his regular #9-sized Minnow Rap in purpledescent.
Joe caught a small northern pike and two 13" walleye. I caught two small pike and a 16 1/4" walleye. All fish were released.
July 9, 2008
The temperature today was back in the mid-70s, but the thunderstorms persisted. The sky was dark all day, and at times the rain came down in sheets. The winds were variable throughout the day, ranging from nearly calm to very blustery.
We needed groceries, so today was the ideal day to go into Bemidji for a "town run." We really love being at the lake, so we only go into town when it's absolutely necessary, and then we try to time it for a day when it's raining or too windy to get out onto the water. Today was one of those days.
No fishing.
We needed groceries, so today was the ideal day to go into Bemidji for a "town run." We really love being at the lake, so we only go into town when it's absolutely necessary, and then we try to time it for a day when it's raining or too windy to get out onto the water. Today was one of those days.
No fishing.
July 8, 2008
The temperature dropped significantly with the storm front that rolled in last night, and the high today hit only 65 degrees, down 15 degrees from just two days ago.
The wind also picked up considerably and was blowing hard from the WNW at 20+ mph. The lake was covered in white caps all day. I decided to stay on shore and work around the properties today.
The wind also picked up considerably and was blowing hard from the WNW at 20+ mph. The lake was covered in white caps all day. I decided to stay on shore and work around the properties today.
July 7, 2008
I hit the water this morning just after 11 a.m. The temperature was 79 degrees, the wind was a light 5-8 mph out of the ESE, and the water temp was 74 degrees.
I trolled in 10 to 12 feet of water using a jointed-Shad Rap in perch color and caught several small- to medium-sized perch. I went in for lunch at 1:15 p.m.
After a quick bite to eat, I decided to head back out again for some afternoon fishing. The sky had clouded over and it was beginning to sprinkle when I launched the boat at 2:15 p.m. I switched to a hot-steel colored Minnow Rap and trolled my usual run from Malays in the north, south past Second Duck Point. I caught several more medium-sized perch and one 13" walleye.
I decided to stay on shore this evening.
I trolled in 10 to 12 feet of water using a jointed-Shad Rap in perch color and caught several small- to medium-sized perch. I went in for lunch at 1:15 p.m.
After a quick bite to eat, I decided to head back out again for some afternoon fishing. The sky had clouded over and it was beginning to sprinkle when I launched the boat at 2:15 p.m. I switched to a hot-steel colored Minnow Rap and trolled my usual run from Malays in the north, south past Second Duck Point. I caught several more medium-sized perch and one 13" walleye.
I decided to stay on shore this evening.
July 6, 2008 -- Leech Lake Fish Fry
One of the many joys of fishing is selectively harvesting a small number of fish to eat. Yesterday I caught a beautiful jumbo perch and very meaty 17" "eater" walleye. This evening, Kathleen, Joe and I had an absolutely wonderful fish fry for dinner.
My preferred method of cooking walleye and perch is panned fried. I first coat the fish fillets in flour seasoned slightly with garlic salt and pepper. Then I dip the fillets a mixure of egg, buttermilk and a little lemon juice. I then coat the fillets a second time, this time using a mix of Shore Lunch (regular flavor), garlic salt and pepper. I then place the coated fillets in hot cooking oil, cooking each side for 2-3 minutes or until golden brown.
I like to serve the fish with cole slaw, warm dinner roles and french fries with malt vinegar. Yummm!
The final product looks something like this.
July 5, 2008
John Newman and I hit the water around 11:30 a.m. this morning under mostly sunny skies and a temperature already at 80 degrees. The winds were light and the water had warmed slightly to 73 degrees.
John and I spent most of the time talking and enjoying a cold malted beverage or two, but we did manage to get some fishing in as well. We trolled our usual route from Second Duck Point north to just past the Malays. I was using my jointed-Shad Rap in the perch color, the same lure I had used on July 4, and John opted for a similar Rapala lure.
We caught numerous perch, too many to count really, and I caught one gigantic jumbo perch, which I kept. It was almost the size of a small walleye.
We didn't stay out on the water long because John had some friends coming over to visit, so we headed for land just after 1:00 p.m.
Later than evening, Joe and I decided to do some trolling for walleye. Under a 10% waxing moon, we hit the water at 8:00 p.m. I switched lures from the jointed-Shad Rap to the Minnow Rap in hot-steel color. Joe was using his favorite purpledescent Minnow Rap. We started by trolling south past Second Duck Point, before making a slow sweeping turn out into Leech Lake to head north past Malays cabin.
In the two hours on the water, Joe caught two smallish walleyes, both under 16" and that's just too small for us to keep, and a beautiful 24 1/2" eyeball, which of course was released.
I caught an 18" walleye, which is in the slot so it went back into the lake, and a 17" beauty that we kept. I figured that between the walleye and the jumbo perch I caught earlier in the day, Kathleen, Joe and I would have enough meat for a very nice fish fry. We'll do that tomorrow for dinner.
John and I spent most of the time talking and enjoying a cold malted beverage or two, but we did manage to get some fishing in as well. We trolled our usual route from Second Duck Point north to just past the Malays. I was using my jointed-Shad Rap in the perch color, the same lure I had used on July 4, and John opted for a similar Rapala lure.
We caught numerous perch, too many to count really, and I caught one gigantic jumbo perch, which I kept. It was almost the size of a small walleye.
We didn't stay out on the water long because John had some friends coming over to visit, so we headed for land just after 1:00 p.m.
Later than evening, Joe and I decided to do some trolling for walleye. Under a 10% waxing moon, we hit the water at 8:00 p.m. I switched lures from the jointed-Shad Rap to the Minnow Rap in hot-steel color. Joe was using his favorite purpledescent Minnow Rap. We started by trolling south past Second Duck Point, before making a slow sweeping turn out into Leech Lake to head north past Malays cabin.
In the two hours on the water, Joe caught two smallish walleyes, both under 16" and that's just too small for us to keep, and a beautiful 24 1/2" eyeball, which of course was released.
I caught an 18" walleye, which is in the slot so it went back into the lake, and a 17" beauty that we kept. I figured that between the walleye and the jumbo perch I caught earlier in the day, Kathleen, Joe and I would have enough meat for a very nice fish fry. We'll do that tomorrow for dinner.
July 4, 2008 -- Independence Day
The weather was absolutely beautiful at Leech Lake for this year's July 4th holiday. The temperature was 75 degrees under a mostly sunny sky. The water temp was 72.8 degrees and the wind was out of the SW at 5-8 mph. A perfect day to be on the water.
I decided to start fishing at noon today, because I knew that the plan for this evening was to BBQ and then shoot off some of the fireworks we had left over from last year. And we have some pretty good fireworks too! The real big ones that Joe had purchased a couple of years ago in Montana and the Dakotas.
I felt like trolling for walleye rather than jigging for them, so I tied on a Rapala jointed-Shad Rap in perch color and motored between Schiebe's cabin and Second Duck Point in water ranging from 11 to 14 feet; a little deeper than I've been fishing.
I hooked two medium-sized northern pike and a very nice 23" walleye. All fish were released.
After dinner, then Newmans joined us on our dock for a fireworks display managed by Joe and our neighbor's son, Johnny Newman.
Happy Birthday America!
I decided to start fishing at noon today, because I knew that the plan for this evening was to BBQ and then shoot off some of the fireworks we had left over from last year. And we have some pretty good fireworks too! The real big ones that Joe had purchased a couple of years ago in Montana and the Dakotas.
I felt like trolling for walleye rather than jigging for them, so I tied on a Rapala jointed-Shad Rap in perch color and motored between Schiebe's cabin and Second Duck Point in water ranging from 11 to 14 feet; a little deeper than I've been fishing.
I hooked two medium-sized northern pike and a very nice 23" walleye. All fish were released.
After dinner, then Newmans joined us on our dock for a fireworks display managed by Joe and our neighbor's son, Johnny Newman.
Happy Birthday America!
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