September 30, 2009 -- On Leech Lake

I can't believe it's already the end of September. From a weather standpoint, it's definitely Fall here in the Northwoods. The temperature this morning at 9:00 a.m. at Leech Lake was 40 degrees. The sky is sunny and the wind is out of the ESE at 10-15 mph, and is expected to increase to more than 20-25 mph as the day goes on.

The cool temperatures of the past few days have had an effect on the trees changing colors. For most of the two weeks I've been here, the leaves have been green and only a few trees have showed signs of changing color. But just in the past couple of days the leaves have begun to change to yellow, orange and red. I'd say that the color is no more than 20 percent, but the change is definitely starting.

At 1:30 p.m. I decided to go fishing. I motored the boat out to a spot in 10-12 feet of water in front of our house, tipped my VMC jig with a fathead and started fishing. The wind had shifted and was now blowing from the ENE at close to 18 mph. As I drifted out into Sucker Bay, the waves picked up and turned to white caps and it was cold.

I stayed on the lake for about 90 minutes and caught numerous perch, but no jumbos or walleye.
Once on shore I stopped by Noel Hancock’s place for a quick visit. Weather permitting we’re going to go back into the woods tomorrow and cut up some dead trees for firewood.

I contemplated going out trolling this evening, but the wind was still blowing hard – 18-25 mph – from the ENE, and as the old fishing adage goes, “When the wind’s from the east, the fishing is the least. When the wind’s from the west, the fishing is the best.” I could attest that the fishing earlier in the day had been poor, so with a strong easterly wind blowing I stayed on shore.

The temperature at 11:00 p.m. is 42 degrees. It just might get down to freezing tonight at Leech Lake.