June 10, 2012 -- In Leech Lake

At 9:00 a.m this morning the sky was grey, although the sun was still strong enough to cast shadows through the  light, grey clouds. The air felt heavy and the wind was light at 5-10 mph out of the NW. The temperature was already 72 degrees.

While Kathleen slept I went next door to check on the minnows. I had given them fresh water on Friday evening, and I keep them aerated, but I figured yesterday's heat might have gotten to them; I was right. The entire scoop I had just purchased had perished. It was simply too hot for them. I often keep them in a minnow bucket in the lake, but with strong winds the rough water can also kill them, so I tend to keep them aerated in a bucket in the "fish garage." I'll have to run up to the resort today to pick up another scoop. I would like to get out on the water fishing today since it's been a few days now since I last fished.

As it turned out, however, I would not get up to the resort to buy any minnows, nor would I get out on the water to do any fishing. The wind picked up as the day went on until it reached its peak in the late afternoon at 25-30 mph out of the SW as a severe thunderstorm rolled through. Just an hour or so before the storm hit, Kathleen and I took a camp bath in the lake to cool off and escape the heat and humidity of the day. The temperature was in the mid- to high-80s and the humidity was very high as well. The lake water, which was probably in the low 70s, immediately cooled our core and refreshed us. We then sat on the dock and watched as the storm approached from the southwest.

As the storm raged on, I got dinner started. Soon we had a wonderful dinner of salmon, risotto, broccoli and cauliflower, salad and garlic bread. A very tasty dinner, if not way too much food.

The storm passed and as we sat eating dinner the sky cleared somewhat and treated us to a beautiful sunset. After dinner we hung out in the living room, listening to music, played a dice game and eventually called it a night.

The forecast for tomorrow is much cooler temperatures, with a high of only 68 degrees, and strong winds upwards of 30 mph. If that is indeed the case, it may be yet another day with no fishing. Good night from Leech Lake.