May 22, 2011 -- On Leech Lake

The sun was shining this morning at 9:00 a.m. although there were some clouds in the east and north that were starting to move our way. The temperature was 60 degrees and the wind was 8-12 mph from the ENE.

Kathleen went for a run around 11:00 a.m. since she wanted to get on the road to St. Cloud by 1:00 p.m. Indeed, just after 1:00 p.m. Kathleen was all packed and was driving out of the driveway to head south. She had a very nice, and unexpected, six-day stay at Leech Lake, and it was wonderful having her here.

With Kathleen gone, Rick donned the waders, got into the water, and led the effort of getting the power cord tied up underneath the dock. We then decided to go fishing. Starting in about 10 feet of water we drifted north to south in the ENE wind using jigs and shiners. I had a really good bite and when I reeled in to check my shiner, it was bit completely off just below the head. Most likely the work of a walleye.

We only fished for about 30 minutes when the rain started. We didn't have our rain gear with us, so we quickly went ashore, just ahead of a torrential downpour.

Once inside, I listened to some of Game 4 of the NHL Western Conference Finals between the Sharks and the Canucks. In one horrendous stretch in the 2nd period, the Sharks gave up 3 goals while killing three 5-3 penalties in the span of just 1 minute and 55 seconds. At that point I'd had enough of Sharks hockey for the year, so I closed the game on the PC and decided that since the rain had stopped that it was time to go fishing again.

The sky remained overcast and grey, and the wind had picked up to about 12-15 mph out of the ENE. On the lake the water was choppy, but that should have been good for producing walleye. Instead, all we caught using jigs tipped with shiners were a few perch. Rick did hook into a nice jumbo perch that measured just under 12 inches long; which we kept.

We continued to drift in 10-13 feet of water between the Birches and Second Duck Point when it started to rain again; at first just a sprinkle, but soon a complete downpour. Although we had on rain jackets we didn't wear rain pants or bibs, so both Rick and I were soaked by the time we came ashore.

We had a light dinner of some chili Kathleen had made the day before, then went out for an evening troll. As is our usual method, we troll in 10-12 feet of water from Malay's to the north and south past Second Duck Point. We use Rapala Minnow Raps trolled about 50 feet behind the boat which has a ground speed of roughly 2.25 mph. Tonight the water temperature was 60 degrees, the wind was still blowing out of the ENE at about 12-15 mph and there was a light rain falling.

This time both Rick and I had on full rain gear and it was a good idea that we did. Not long after launching the boat it started to rain. At first just a good steady rain, but soon it was once again pouring.

I managed to hook into a nice 19-inch walleye right in front of our house, which I immediately released back into the lake. But that would prove to be the only fish of the night. After enduring about an hour of pouring rain we went inside to dry off and warm up.

If the weather permits, we'll be out fishing for Leech Lake walleye again tomorrow night. Until then...