June 1, 2012 -- On Leech Lake

This morning at 10:00 a.m. the temperature was 60 degrees, the wind was light at 5-8 mph from the WSW and the sky was sunny and blue. There were already more than a half dozen boats in front of the house fishing, some of which were probably pre-fishing for tomorrow's Leech Lake Walleye Tournament.

After kicking around the house this morning, Rick and I decided to go fishing just after noon. We started near Second Duck Point in 12 feet of 64 degree water and let the wind push us north toward my house and cabin. Almost instantly I hooked into a little 10-inch walleye, which of course went back into the lake.

Both Rick and I were using jigs tipped with minnows. I was using a Northland "Vegas" jig in glitter red while Rick was using a Northland Fireball jig in parrot color.

From that point on we made several drifts in the area between Second Duck Point and my cabin, in water depths varying from 9 feet to 14 feet, but could only catch a number of small perch. It must have been the fact that the water was almost completely calm, no "walleye chop", and the skies were high and blue.

With the walleye fishing not happening we changed tactics, and species, and went bass fishing. We started in front of Norm's cabin, one of the best bass habitats on Sucker Bay, and worked our way north along the reeds to Schiebe's.

I caught one small largemouth bass, that came unhooked right at the boat, and that was the only fish either Rick or I caught until the very last cast of the outing when Rick hooked a nice 3-pound largemouth. Rick was using a 5" Senko on a 3/0 offset hook.

With nearly three hours of fishing under our belts during the afternoon, we finally came ashore. I needed to stretch my legs, so I took a walk and ended up stopping and chatting with Jerry Schiebe about the back porch addition he's adding to his house. He asked if Rick and I  could come by on Saturday and help him put up some paneling on the ceiling. Of course I agreed.

Once I got home Rick and I just hung out for a while before Rick went next door to say hello to John Newman who had just arrived for a short, few-day stay. Apparently John was champing at the bit to go fishing and Rick wanted to go as well, so the two of them went fishing for panfish down near the Birches. Their preferred method was going to be using a slip bobber with a minnow. They caught a couple of small perch, but no bluegill, sunfish or crappie; which is what they were after. John and Rick confirmed what Rick and I had found out earlier in the day, the fishing today was quite slow.

While Rick and John were out fishing, I cleaned the walleye Rick caught the other night for our dinner tonight. Along with a pan full of stir-fried veggies, we had a very tasty meal. And then, of course, it was out onto the water for some evening trolling.

The water temperature had warmed throughout the day and was now 65 degrees. The wind was light to calm, the air temperature was 57, and the moon was 89 percent waxing, meaning it was on its way to being full. With those conditions we hoped the walleye would be biting.

We spent nearly an hour on the water before we boated our first walleye. I hooked a small 14-inch walleye on my orange fire tiger-colored Minnow Rap. I put it back into the water so it could grow bigger. A short time later, I hooked another walleye this one measuring 18 1/2 inches, which made it a Leech Lake slot fish, so it immediately went back into the lake.

Those we the only two fish we caught in more than 90 minutes on the water so we started home. Just as we approached the cabin, Rick, who was trolling home, hooked into a nice 21-inch walleye directly in front of my house. I was a beautiful fish and a great way to end the night.

We came ashore, stowed our gear and went into the house about 11:15 p.m. Rick went to bed soon after while I stayed up and listened to some classical music and called home to California to talk to Kathleen. In just a week and a day my beautiful wife will join me at our oasis on Leech Lake. I am very much looking forward to spending time with her at the lake; where we always have so much fun here.

Good night from Leech Lake.