June 15, 2012 -- On Leech Lake

This morning the sky was mostly sunny and blue, the temperature at 9:30 a.m. was already almost 70 degrees and the wind was at 8-15 mph out of the WSW.

Throughout the morning and into the early afternoon the wind picked up to 12-18 mph out of the SSW and the temperature continued to increase to a high of 82 degrees. Several boats were out in front of the house and cabin in 10-14 feet of water fishing. I contemplated going out just after noon, but decided to hold off because Kathleen was interested in going on a bike ride.

We had been wanting to ride the bikes out to Duck Point Woods to check out if any more of the properties had sold and to see if the eagle's nest, which we'd seen last year, was being used again this year. We got on our bikes just after 1:00 p.m. and rode down West Shores Road to 26th Ave and up to Ottertail Point Road. We made our way past Moose Lane and out to Duck Point Woods.

Sure enough, the eagle's nest was there and we were able to spot two eagles in the nest; most likely the male and female guarding the eggs, or the eaglets. We continued our ride to the end of Ottertail Point Road before  turning around and coming home. We were hot and sweaty so we took a quick camp bath to cool off. The water was cold, but invigorating.

After cooling off in the lake we made lunch. I took my sandwich out onto the lake while I fished while Kathleen ate her lunch on the dock.

I fished with a jig and minnows and caught a dozen or more smallish perch, as well as a couple of northerns, but was unable to catch a walleye. I came ashore around 5:30 p.m. because I'd run out of minnows. I took the truck up to Birch Ridge Resort to buy a scoop of fatheads, while Kathleen used the time to go on her 6-mile run. Unfortunately for her, the deer flies were out in full force and she stopped me on my way back from the resort and asked for a ride home because she could no longer take the buzzing of the biting flies.

We had a late dinner and rather than go out fishing I stayed inside and just hung out. It was an uneventful and  rather unfortunate evening despite being here at the lake. Maybe tomorrow I'll get out fishing earlier in the day.

Good night from Leech Lake.