The preparations for the "Coyle Family Reunion" were now in full swing. Everyone was bustling about, packing, repacking, on the phone with various family members, making sure out-of-town travelers were getting picked up at the airport, etc.
I managed to escape from the fray for just an hour during the hottest part of midday. The temperature had climbed to 85 degrees, the wind was slight at 5-8 mph out of the SW, the sky was clear blue and the water temperature had risen to 77 degrees, the warmest it's been this summer.
Drifting in the light winds I made quick passes at both Second Duck Point and along the weed line at the Birches, but caught nothing. I was rushed, feeling the need to get back to the cabin to help pack up, so my mind was not as focused as usual. Not the way to put Leech Lake walleyes in the boat.
Monday, March 30, 2009
July 30, 2008 on Leech Lake
The temperature was near 80 degrees today, the winds were 5 mph out of the NNW, but with gusts to 15 mph. The water temperature was 75 degrees.
Kathleen's family is holding the "Coyle Family Reunion" at Lake Itasca State Park beginning August 1, so there is much preparation going on at our house. Our entire family has gathered, and we're in the process of pulling together everything from camp-chairs to a Bocce set. Yet, I managed to sneak out for a little fishing nonetheless.
I started by drifting near the Birches using a jig and Gulp Alive! leeches, but caught nothing. I then switched to a perch-colored Rapala Shad Rap and began trolling in 12-feet of water from the Birches to past Second Duck Point. I made two or three passes -- catching several medium-sized perch -- before heading back to shore. I was only on the lake today from 3:15 to 5:00 p.m.
Kathleen's family is holding the "Coyle Family Reunion" at Lake Itasca State Park beginning August 1, so there is much preparation going on at our house. Our entire family has gathered, and we're in the process of pulling together everything from camp-chairs to a Bocce set. Yet, I managed to sneak out for a little fishing nonetheless.
I started by drifting near the Birches using a jig and Gulp Alive! leeches, but caught nothing. I then switched to a perch-colored Rapala Shad Rap and began trolling in 12-feet of water from the Birches to past Second Duck Point. I made two or three passes -- catching several medium-sized perch -- before heading back to shore. I was only on the lake today from 3:15 to 5:00 p.m.
July 29, 2008 on Leech Lake
The wind was the story today. Blowing out of the west, the winds were 15-25 mph all day long, with some periods blowing even stronger. The lake was churning with white caps. The temperature was 78 degrees, but the wind made it feel much cooler.
The winds were howling just as strong last night, especially after midnight, and this morning we woke up to find the yard littered with branches and leaves. At the cabin, the top third of a 50-foot maple tree snapped in the wind and just clipped the corner of the "fish garage." It's called that because that's where we store all of the fishing and boating gear. Our other garage is for the truck.
Joe and I got out the chain saw and made short work of the fallen maple. We then took a swim in the lake to cool off. It was quite a ride in the water with the 3-4 foot swells. But it did the trick, we cooled off.
No fishing on Leech Lake for us today.
The winds were howling just as strong last night, especially after midnight, and this morning we woke up to find the yard littered with branches and leaves. At the cabin, the top third of a 50-foot maple tree snapped in the wind and just clipped the corner of the "fish garage." It's called that because that's where we store all of the fishing and boating gear. Our other garage is for the truck.
Joe and I got out the chain saw and made short work of the fallen maple. We then took a swim in the lake to cool off. It was quite a ride in the water with the 3-4 foot swells. But it did the trick, we cooled off.
No fishing on Leech Lake for us today.
A Spring Fishing Trip on Leech Lake
This was written in late-May/early-June of 2008.
-- A Spring Fishing Trip on Leech Lake --
A cold steady rain falls
Two good friends in a boat
Calm winds on a late-spring night
Midges hatch on the surface
The mayfly dance begins next week
An aquatic bounty in the waters below
In the Northern Minnesota woods
On Leech Lake trolling
A big fish hooked on the long line
Meddle and More play through the marine speakers
Harbor lights beckon on shore
Get the landing net ready...
Cornflake crumbs and Shore Lunch
Hot oil in the black iron skillet
Walleye fillets for dinner tonight
Bags packed, truck loaded, time to go
One, two, then three airports later
Plans made to meet again in September
-- A Spring Fishing Trip on Leech Lake --
A cold steady rain falls
Two good friends in a boat
Calm winds on a late-spring night
Midges hatch on the surface
The mayfly dance begins next week
An aquatic bounty in the waters below
In the Northern Minnesota woods
On Leech Lake trolling
A big fish hooked on the long line
Meddle and More play through the marine speakers
Harbor lights beckon on shore
Get the landing net ready...
Cornflake crumbs and Shore Lunch
Hot oil in the black iron skillet
Walleye fillets for dinner tonight
Bags packed, truck loaded, time to go
One, two, then three airports later
Plans made to meet again in September
July 28, 2008 on Leech Lake
Kathleen went running this afternoon, and Melissa, Joe and Ashley all were doing their own thing, so I decided to go fishing from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. The wind was relatively calm at 2-6 mph out of the south, the temperature was 82 degrees, the water temperature was 74 degrees and the sky was partly cloudy.
I lowered the boat lift, backed my Lund 1800 IFS into the lake, and motored to the Birches where I decided to drift for crappie and perch. I used a Northland "neon" Fireball jig tipped with Gulp Alive! leeches. I had several light bites, but no fish. From the teeth marks on the leeches, I'm guessing those light-biters were small walleye.
I switched tactics and began trolling using a small perch-colored Rapala Shad Rap. I caught numerous perch, but no jumbos or walleyes.
Finally, I decided to go after bass in front of Norm's cabin. I switched to a 4/0 off-set hook and Texas rigged a Yamamoto 5" Senko. For my money, I've not found any lure that produces more, and bigger, largemouth bass than a 5" Senko. Using a spinning rod and reel spooled with 8-pound Fireline, I cast back into the reeds and let that Senko slowly fall to the bottom. Nine times out of 10 a bass will hit the Senko on the fall. You can actually watch the line start moving to the side before you feel any weight on the line. This method helped me land three beautiful largemouth bass, all in the neighborhood of 20".
At 9:00 p.m., after dinner, Joe, Melissa and I went out trolling in our usual spot -- Malay's cabin to past Second Duck Point -- using our usual Minnow Rap lures. Melissa caught a medium-sized northern pike, which we put back into the water. Later, I caught a very fat 24" walleye. It was one of the bigger walleyes I've caught this summer and a very beautiful fish. Of course, I released this beauty back into Leech Lake.
I lowered the boat lift, backed my Lund 1800 IFS into the lake, and motored to the Birches where I decided to drift for crappie and perch. I used a Northland "neon" Fireball jig tipped with Gulp Alive! leeches. I had several light bites, but no fish. From the teeth marks on the leeches, I'm guessing those light-biters were small walleye.
I switched tactics and began trolling using a small perch-colored Rapala Shad Rap. I caught numerous perch, but no jumbos or walleyes.
Finally, I decided to go after bass in front of Norm's cabin. I switched to a 4/0 off-set hook and Texas rigged a Yamamoto 5" Senko. For my money, I've not found any lure that produces more, and bigger, largemouth bass than a 5" Senko. Using a spinning rod and reel spooled with 8-pound Fireline, I cast back into the reeds and let that Senko slowly fall to the bottom. Nine times out of 10 a bass will hit the Senko on the fall. You can actually watch the line start moving to the side before you feel any weight on the line. This method helped me land three beautiful largemouth bass, all in the neighborhood of 20".
At 9:00 p.m., after dinner, Joe, Melissa and I went out trolling in our usual spot -- Malay's cabin to past Second Duck Point -- using our usual Minnow Rap lures. Melissa caught a medium-sized northern pike, which we put back into the water. Later, I caught a very fat 24" walleye. It was one of the bigger walleyes I've caught this summer and a very beautiful fish. Of course, I released this beauty back into Leech Lake.
July 27, 2008 on Leech Lake
The temperature today was around 80 degrees, the air was heavy and the skies were hazy. The wind varied from 5-10 mph out of the NW.
I spent from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. casting Northland Mimic Minnows of the cabin dock into the reeds for bass. I must have caught a dozen small largemouth bass ranging in size from 10-14". Everyone wanted to just hang out tonight on shore, so we watched the sunset on the dock, then played ping pong and pinball in the game room.
I spent from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. casting Northland Mimic Minnows of the cabin dock into the reeds for bass. I must have caught a dozen small largemouth bass ranging in size from 10-14". Everyone wanted to just hang out tonight on shore, so we watched the sunset on the dock, then played ping pong and pinball in the game room.
July 26, 2008 on Leech Lake
The temperature today hit a high of 75 degrees. The winds were fairly strong at 8-12 mph out of the SW, with gusts up to 20+ mph. The water temperature was steady at 74 degrees.
For dinner tonight we had the two walleye and one perch that we had kept from our previous few days on Leech Lake. It was very tasty dinner and got us all in the mood for some fishing.
At 9:00 p.m., Ashley, Joe and I went out trolling. As was the case last night, Joe was along for the ride in the boat and to use the landing net, but not to fish. Ashley caught a 16 1/4" walleye and I caught a 17" walleye. Since we had just eaten fish for dinner tonight, we decided to release both 'eyes. After just an hour and fifteen minutes on the choppy waters of Leech Lake, we made our way back to shore to play some ping pong and pinball.
For dinner tonight we had the two walleye and one perch that we had kept from our previous few days on Leech Lake. It was very tasty dinner and got us all in the mood for some fishing.
At 9:00 p.m., Ashley, Joe and I went out trolling. As was the case last night, Joe was along for the ride in the boat and to use the landing net, but not to fish. Ashley caught a 16 1/4" walleye and I caught a 17" walleye. Since we had just eaten fish for dinner tonight, we decided to release both 'eyes. After just an hour and fifteen minutes on the choppy waters of Leech Lake, we made our way back to shore to play some ping pong and pinball.
July 25, 2008 on Leech Lake
Today the winds were very strong at 20+ mph out of the west, blowing the waves straight at our dock. The temperature was 76 degrees and the water temp was 73.8 degrees.
As the day wore on, the wind diminished, and by 8:00 p.m. had slowed to 5-10 mph, still out of the west. I took Melissa and Ashley trolling this evening, and Joe came along for the ride but decided not to fish.
Melissa and Ashley were each using Minnow Raps, in fact, they were using the same rod/reel/lure set ups that Joe and I typically use. We boated one decent perch and Melissa reeled in a very nice 17 1/2-inch walleye; both fish were kept.
Once on shore, we had a camp fire in the fire pit at the cabin. Another beautiful day on the water and shores of Leech Lake.
As the day wore on, the wind diminished, and by 8:00 p.m. had slowed to 5-10 mph, still out of the west. I took Melissa and Ashley trolling this evening, and Joe came along for the ride but decided not to fish.
Melissa and Ashley were each using Minnow Raps, in fact, they were using the same rod/reel/lure set ups that Joe and I typically use. We boated one decent perch and Melissa reeled in a very nice 17 1/2-inch walleye; both fish were kept.
Once on shore, we had a camp fire in the fire pit at the cabin. Another beautiful day on the water and shores of Leech Lake.
July 24, 2008 on Leech Lake
The temperature today dropped several degrees to a high of 70. The water temperature remained a warm 73.5 degrees. The winds were 10-15 mph out of the SW and the skies today were grey and overcast.
When Joe and I went trolling this evening from 8:00 to 9:40 p.m., the winds had slowed to around 5-8 mph, still out of the SW. We again caught several northern pike, but no walleyes.
When Joe and I went trolling this evening from 8:00 to 9:40 p.m., the winds had slowed to around 5-8 mph, still out of the SW. We again caught several northern pike, but no walleyes.
Reminder
Just as a reminder to anyone reading this blog, I'm in the process of posting my notes from my stay on Leech Lake last year. I was at our lake-front house from late-May to mid-November 2008. I took daily notes in a journal and am posting them now from California.
I now that's not how a blog is supposed to work, but I didn't want to sit in front of a PC every day while at the lake. Consequently, these notes were usually jotted down while I sat watching a beautiful Leech Lake sunset.
I now that's not how a blog is supposed to work, but I didn't want to sit in front of a PC every day while at the lake. Consequently, these notes were usually jotted down while I sat watching a beautiful Leech Lake sunset.
July 23, 2008 on Leech Lake
Joe and I went trolling this evening from 5:15 to 7:30 p.m. The temperature was 76 degrees, the winds were 10 mph out of the SSW and the water temperature was 74 degrees.
We each were using a Rapala Minnow Rap pulled 35-40 feet behind the boat. We caught several perch and 4 good-sized pike, but no walleyes. We went in early to have dinner with Kathleen, Melissa and Ashley.
We each were using a Rapala Minnow Rap pulled 35-40 feet behind the boat. We caught several perch and 4 good-sized pike, but no walleyes. We went in early to have dinner with Kathleen, Melissa and Ashley.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
