I went fishing twice today. The first time was from noon to 2:00 p.m. I took advantage of the 5-10 mph west wind to push my boat from 12 feet of water off the Birches toward shore. This direction of the drift took me over the edge of the weed line and into the weeds near shore. At this time of year the weeds are starting to dying off, and the few healthy green weeds that remain typically hold bait fish. I figured if I fished the green weeds, this is where the predators, such as walleyes, would be staging.
The sky today was partly cloudy and the temperature was 54 degrees. The water temperature was a bit warmer at 55 degrees.
I used my standard Northland jig, silver spinner blade and Gulp minnow set up. I caught numerous perch, but no real jumbos worth keeping nor any walleyes.
Once back on shore I turned my attention to a 40-foot maple tree that had fallen on our property. I used my Stihl chain saw to cut it into 2-3 foot sections, then used my log splitter to cut it into fire wood. In the Northwoods of Minnesota, a person can never have too much firewood on hand.
Later this evening -- from 6:30 to 8:45 p.m. -- I went trolling. Since my favorite hot steel-colored Minnow Rap had been destroyed by a walleye a few nights ago, I had to switch to a purpledescent Minnow Rap; similar in color to the hot steel. I trolled my usual route from Second Duck Point north to the Malay's cabin in 9-12 feet of water. I caught a very hefty 16 1/4" walleye which went into the live well of my Lund Pro-V 1800 IFS. That fish will make a nice dinner for me and Kathleen.
Another fantastic evening on Leech Lake.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
October 6, 2008 on Leech Lake
It was an overcast, grey day today. The temperature was 56 degrees, the wind was out of the SSE at 10-15 mph and the water temperature was 55 degrees.
I went fishing from 1:00 to 3:30 p.m. in 8-12 feet of water while drifting along the weed line from our cabin to in front of Schiebe's cabin. I used a Northland jig, silver spinner blade and Gulp minnows. Unfortunately, all I caught was one 26" northern pike; no walleye. I did, however, have a wonder couple of hours on Leech Lake. I sure love it here.
I went fishing from 1:00 to 3:30 p.m. in 8-12 feet of water while drifting along the weed line from our cabin to in front of Schiebe's cabin. I used a Northland jig, silver spinner blade and Gulp minnows. Unfortunately, all I caught was one 26" northern pike; no walleye. I did, however, have a wonder couple of hours on Leech Lake. I sure love it here.
October 5, 2008 on Leech Lake
The wind was strong today at 20 mph out of the SE, but I decided to go fishing even though the lake was churning with white caps. The temperature was 60 degrees and the water temperature was 56 degrees.
After maneuvering the boat off the lift and into the waves, I motored the boat south toward Second Duck Point. With a SE wind, that would push the boat in the direction of our house and cabin, and continue to push me toward the Birches.
I used a Northland Neon-tone Gum-Ball jig with a silver spinner blade, tipped with a Gulp minnow. I made several drifts, but caught no fish. I headed back to shore at 3:45 p.m.
Here's Kathleen on the road-side of our house at Leech Lake. The leaves on the trees are starting to change colors.
After maneuvering the boat off the lift and into the waves, I motored the boat south toward Second Duck Point. With a SE wind, that would push the boat in the direction of our house and cabin, and continue to push me toward the Birches.
I used a Northland Neon-tone Gum-Ball jig with a silver spinner blade, tipped with a Gulp minnow. I made several drifts, but caught no fish. I headed back to shore at 3:45 p.m.
Here's Kathleen on the road-side of our house at Leech Lake. The leaves on the trees are starting to change colors.
October 4, 2008 on Leech Lake
The air and water temperatures today were an identical 56 degrees. The wind was calm to 5 mph out of the SW.
I went trolling for walleye this evening from 6:30 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. I used my old standby lure, the #9 Rapala Minnow Rap in hot steel color. Just as the sun was setting I caught a northern pike, which I immediately released back into Leech Lake.
I continued to troll from Second Duck Point to the Malay's cabin in 10-12 feet of water and caught two nice walleyes -- 15" and 22" -- the larger of which completely mangled my lure.
After using the hot steel-colored Minnow Rap all summer long, and having replaced the treble hooks on it more than once, the entire rear part of the lure gave out. The tail of the lure had been bitten by more than 100 toothy critters this season -- including walleye and pike, and even one tiger muskie. Apparently it could take no more and broke. I removed the hooks and now have my favorite lure on the key chain for my truck keys. At least it broke in service of catching walleye.
My favorite walleye lure, the #9 Rapala Minnow Rap in hot steel color
October 3, 2008 on Leech Lake
The last time Kathleen and I had been in the boat together was September 18, when she, Rick, Beth and I all went for a boat ride after an afternoon of painting the cabin. It was a beautiful day today, so we thought we should take a ride around Sucker Bay.
We got in the boat at 1:00 p.m., under sunny skies, a temperature of 52 degrees and virtually no wind. The water temperature was still 57 degrees.
We first took a leisurely ride up Sucker Bay to Birch Ridge resort, then headed south toward Big Hardwood Point. At Big Harwood, Kathleen and I tried a little drift fishing with jigs and soft plastics, but didn't catch anything.
We then motored over to Otter Tail Point, where I made a few passes around the point trolling a #9 Minnow Rap. Again no fish.
We then took a ride up to Duck Point and finally to Second Duck Point and home. It was a wonderful time on the water with Kathleen.
Later in the afternoon I took the boat out myself and did some drifting from Second Duck Point to the Birches. I caught a couple of decent perch using an 1/8 oz. Northland Neon-tone Gum-Ball jig, a silver spinner blade and Gulp minnows. All perch were released back into Leech Lake.
The big news today was that Kathleen's first cousin, Tom Petters, was jailed on a number of federal charges stemming from an alleged Ponzi scheme that bilked investors out of $3.5B. Obviously this is of great concern to Kathleen's entire family.
Here are some photos Kathleen and I took on our boat ride.
Kathleen in the boat on the north end of Sucker Bay on Leech Lake.
Me at the helm during our ride on Sucker Bay, Leech Lake.
A view of Sucker Bay from the north. On the left is Second Duck Point. In the center is Duck Point. On the right, Goose Island. You get a sense of how big Leech Lake really is, this is just one bay on the lake.
Our property. On the right is the flag pole and dock of our house, and on the left is the boat lift and dock at our cabin. Three-hundred feet of heaven on Leech Lake.
We got in the boat at 1:00 p.m., under sunny skies, a temperature of 52 degrees and virtually no wind. The water temperature was still 57 degrees.
We first took a leisurely ride up Sucker Bay to Birch Ridge resort, then headed south toward Big Hardwood Point. At Big Harwood, Kathleen and I tried a little drift fishing with jigs and soft plastics, but didn't catch anything.
We then motored over to Otter Tail Point, where I made a few passes around the point trolling a #9 Minnow Rap. Again no fish.
We then took a ride up to Duck Point and finally to Second Duck Point and home. It was a wonderful time on the water with Kathleen.
Later in the afternoon I took the boat out myself and did some drifting from Second Duck Point to the Birches. I caught a couple of decent perch using an 1/8 oz. Northland Neon-tone Gum-Ball jig, a silver spinner blade and Gulp minnows. All perch were released back into Leech Lake.
The big news today was that Kathleen's first cousin, Tom Petters, was jailed on a number of federal charges stemming from an alleged Ponzi scheme that bilked investors out of $3.5B. Obviously this is of great concern to Kathleen's entire family.
Here are some photos Kathleen and I took on our boat ride.
Kathleen in the boat on the north end of Sucker Bay on Leech Lake.
Me at the helm during our ride on Sucker Bay, Leech Lake.
A view of Sucker Bay from the north. On the left is Second Duck Point. In the center is Duck Point. On the right, Goose Island. You get a sense of how big Leech Lake really is, this is just one bay on the lake.
Our property. On the right is the flag pole and dock of our house, and on the left is the boat lift and dock at our cabin. Three-hundred feet of heaven on Leech Lake.
October 2, 2008 on Leech Lake
The weather is definitely changing as Autumn matures. At first I thought it was just a cold front passing through, but it's clear that the cooler weather is upon us. It is after all early October in the Northwoods of Minnesota.
Today the temperature hit a high of 56 degrees, although early this morning it was in the 30s. The water temperature of Leech Lake, at least in Sucker Bay, is still 57 degrees, so the lake hasn't turned over yet. The wind today was calm to 5 mph from the SW.
I fished from 2:00 p.m. till 6:30 p.m., if you can call sitting in a boat for 4 1/2 hours enjoying the beauty of the lake, while listening to MPR, fishing. I caught no fish whether drifting or trolling. Still, I love being on the water. This is where I belong.
Today the temperature hit a high of 56 degrees, although early this morning it was in the 30s. The water temperature of Leech Lake, at least in Sucker Bay, is still 57 degrees, so the lake hasn't turned over yet. The wind today was calm to 5 mph from the SW.
I fished from 2:00 p.m. till 6:30 p.m., if you can call sitting in a boat for 4 1/2 hours enjoying the beauty of the lake, while listening to MPR, fishing. I caught no fish whether drifting or trolling. Still, I love being on the water. This is where I belong.
October 1, 2008 on Leech Lake
I went fishing today from noon till 2:30 p.m. The temperature was 55 degrees, the wind was out of the NW at 10-18 mph. The water temperature was 58 degrees.
I started in front of the Birches and drifted toward our cabin. I was using an 1/8 oz. Northland Neon-tone Gum-Ball jig tipped with a Gulp Alive 3" leech. The method brought only one perch to the boat, so I switched tactics.
I pulled out my baitcasting reel, on which is tied a #9 Minnow Rap in hot steel color. My trusty trolling set up. I trolled from Malay's cabin to Second Duck Point and again caught only one perch. With touch up painting needed on the cabin, game room and garage, I decided to call it a day.
Only fair fishing today on Leech Lake. But even fair fishing beats the best day possible stuck inside an office.
I started in front of the Birches and drifted toward our cabin. I was using an 1/8 oz. Northland Neon-tone Gum-Ball jig tipped with a Gulp Alive 3" leech. The method brought only one perch to the boat, so I switched tactics.
I pulled out my baitcasting reel, on which is tied a #9 Minnow Rap in hot steel color. My trusty trolling set up. I trolled from Malay's cabin to Second Duck Point and again caught only one perch. With touch up painting needed on the cabin, game room and garage, I decided to call it a day.
Only fair fishing today on Leech Lake. But even fair fishing beats the best day possible stuck inside an office.
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