June 13, 2011 -- On Leech Lake

I was up at 7:15 a.m. this morning in anticipation of Peterson Excavating arriving to work on the harbor restoration. At that time of the morning the temperature was 50 degrees, the wind was out of the SSE at 15-20 mph, with gusts up to 30 mph, the sky was overcast and grey, and the forecast was calling for some rain this morning with a possible thunderstorm this afternoon.

Usually, Butch and his Peterson Excavating crew are here by 8:00 a.m. so I was surprised to have him call me at 8:45 a.m. Apparently the guy who supplies Peterson Excavating with cable didn't show up and without cable to tie the wall they weren't coming out to my place. So that pushed the operation back a day or two, maybe longer.

The other appointment I had scheduled today was with Merle's Carpet Cleaners out of Bemidji. The guy showed up on time and did a great job thoroughly steam cleaning the carpet. They look fantastic. I just hope I can keep them clean for the next 10 days until Kathleen arrives.

Later in the afternoon I hit the water for a couple of hours. The wind was strong out of the south at 15-20 mph, with gusts up to 30 mph, but the way we're situated on Ottertail Peninsula a south wind has no affect along our shoreline. As a result, the water around the boat lift was totally calm; like glass. But once out a few hundreds yards from shore, the chop was at least 18 inches to 2 feet.

The water temperature had cooled to 65.8 degrees, the sky was overcast and it looked like it might rain; although it didn't while I was on the water.

I fished several locations, beginning in front of our house in 9 feet of water and drifting north toward the Malay's and out into the bay. I caught numerous small perch and a couple of rock bass on a 1/8 ounce Gumball jig tipped with fatheads. My goal was to catch a couple of nice eater-sized walleyes because my parents are coming to visit next week and my mother has specifically asked for a walleye dinner.

The pressure was on so I moved to a spot I know in front of Norm's cabin. I drifted there alternating between the Gumball jig and fatheads and a Mimic Minnow Spin. Again, I caught numerous small- to medium-sized perch.

I motored a little further north to the "Birches," and this time changed up the presentation to the Gumball jig tipped with a leech. In 11 feet of water I felt that familiar "weight" of a walleye and set the hook. I reeled to the boat a nice walleye, but it wasn't until I netted it and got it into the boat that I could measure it. Sure enough, a perfect 17 inches; a perfect eater! Into the livewell went the walleye and my search for another 17-incher continued.

Unfortunately all I could catch after that was more perch; although they were starting to get bigger. At last I decided to head home.

Once on shore I took a ride on the ATV, but my ride was cut short when it started to rain. I raced home but as typically happens, as soon as I got inside the rain stopped.

Although the weather seemed to be pretty stable this evening, I decided not to go out trolling. I already have a walleye in the basket and I'll try for another two tomorrow and the days to follow. Ideally I'd like three nice walleye so I can prepare a walleye dinner for my parents and Kathleen when we're all here at the lake together.

Nature Update: Crying fowl! The birds continue to be the center of attention here at Leech Lake. In addition to the many cedar waxwings, various woodpeckers, robins, redwing blackbirds and the like that feed on the suet in the yard, I often see ruby-throated humming birds, orioles, gold finches, belted kingfishers, terns, seagulls, pelicans, loons, a whole host of different kinds of ducks, Canadian geese, turkey vultures, ruffed grouse, crows, purple martins, swallows and bald eagles. And while they're not birds, there are also a lot of bats in the air at dusk eating mosquitoes.