Leech Lake Walleye

Your host, holding another nice Leech Lake walleye

My anticipation is building for my trip to Leech Lake on May 10. I've started to go through some old photos of fishing trips on Leech Lake and thought I'd post this one, which is of a 20"+ walleye caught while trolling on Sucker Bay.

The photo was taken in late May, 2008, and was most likely taken by my friend and fishing companion, Rick. Rick and I will be fishing Leech Lake again this late May, and hopefully we'll boat plenty of hearty 'eyes like this one.

Ice Breaking Up On Leech Lake

I spoke with my neighbor Tom Malay today and he told me the weather at Sucker Bay on Leech Lake was dreary, with overcast, gray skies, an 8-mile an hour wind from the NW, a light rain falling and temperatures in high 40s to low 50s. Together, this weather pattern is starting to break up the ice on the lake.

Tom said that there was at least one open spot in the ice he could see on Sucker Bay, and that the ice along the shore was breaking up, although it was also piling up -- to about 3 feet -- as the NW wind blew it onto the rocky shoreline.

Tom also mentioned that earlier today he and Lainy drove into Cass Lake and that most of Cass Lake, including Pike Bay, was ice free. It shouldn't be long now, maybe 3 to 5 days, before Sucker Bay is also ice free. And once the ice is clear from Sucker Bay, Mark and his team from Shore Brothers will be visiting Ottertail Peninsula to put in our docks and boat lifts.

Two weeks from today I'll have already been at the lake for 24 hours, and may even have my boat in the water. I am really looking forward to seeing Leech Lake again.

Leech Lake Visit Date Set!

Typical Spring afternoon on Sucker Bay, Leech Lake

I am set to arrive at the Bemidji airport on Tuesday, May 10 for what could be an extended visit to Leech Lake. There are still a number of possible work options in play that may keep my visit short, but if things don't pan out on the work front, then I'll be able to spend a good chunk of time at the lake. Not a bad consolation prize.

As is typical for my first visit of the year, I'll have lots of Spring chores to attend to, including getting the boat prepped and in the water, getting the canopy on the boat lift, opening up the lower vents in the house for good summer ventilation, taking down the storm windows and replacing them with screens, a lot of general property maintenance, getting a fishing license, stocking up on bait, and of course, doing some serious walleye fishing.

My May 10 arrival will put me at the lake a full 3 days before walleye Opener, which commences at midnight on Saturday, May 14. I may start the season by throwing some crankbaits off the dock at midnight, and save my first on-the-water excursion until Saturday morning. But as is always the case when fishing Leech Lake, weather will be a big determining factor on my approach to Op'ner.

I'm really looking forward to my visit to Leech Lake because my last day there was November 1, 2010, which is 6 months and 10 days between visits. Too long. Way too long.

I may have a post or two here before my arrival, but if not, look for fishing reports to start as soon as I arrive at Leech Lake. I may get out on the lake for some perch and crappie fishing prior to walleye opener. Stay tuned...