We started by motoring for about 30 minutes to a location in the main part of the lake called Submarine Island. It is a spot in the lake where the bottom rises from the rest of the lake floor to a depth of no more than 8-10 feet. Surrounding Submarine Island is water as deep as 35 feet. Bait fish often hold on the sunken island which is why muskie tend to be in the area.
Joe and I spent a good 30 to 45 minutes casting lures around the large submerged hump, but didn't even have a follow. We decided to change tactics and troll around Submarine Island. At 2.25 mph ground speed, it takes about 30 minutes to complete one circuit around the Submarine Island. We made two passes with no luck. We did pass the time by listening to the Vikings-Jaguars game, a game the Vikings won in OT by a field goal.
From Submarine Island we motored another 20 minutes or so north into Portage Bay to a spot on the eastern shoreline known as Five Mile Point. Just north of the point is a large, shallow bay with reeds and weeds; a perfect habitat for muskie. Five Mile Point is known as one of the best muskie spots on Leech Lake and has produced some very big fish, and in fairly good numbers.
Joe and I spent more than nearly two hours casting lures around the bay and point but again couldn't produce as much as a follow. I did see a big fish (a muskie?) break the surface of the water near the shoreline with a colossal splash, but repeated casts to the spot all came up empty.
With sun dropping in the sky and the wind beginning to pick up, and with a good 35 minutes needed to motor home at 40 mph, we decided it was time to stow the gear and head home. I put the Mercury Verado into gear, got the boat on plane, and at 40 mph drove the boat south on Portage Bay, around Ottertail Point and then north on Sucker Bay toward Second Duck Point.
Once the boat was securely on the lift, Joe and I got all of the muskie gear out of the boat and made our way home for dinner. Earlier in the day I had put a rack of pork spare ribs in the oven to slow-cook, and it was now time to put them on the grill for a quick searing. Along with Cole slaw and French fries we had a hearty and very tasty dinner.
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| Another beautiful sunset over Sucker Bay, Leech Lake |
The weather on Monday couldn't have been more different from Sunday. The wind was blowing at 15-20 mph out of the NW, the sky was mostly cloudy and temperature was at its high at 74 degrees. It's as if the northwoods is struggling to let summer go before Autumn fully takes its grasp.
I spent a good portion of the day working on a presentation and some other work, while Joe enjoyed reading and the kind of quiet that only the lake can provide.
Once my work was complete I set about painting the trim and framework around the front door and the door on the lakeside deck. I painted it a shade of dark brownish-green called muddled basil. Who comes up with these color names anyway? Muddled basil, really? It actually looks much better than its name might suggest. Tomorrow and Wednesday I'll paint the doors themselves; in burgundy if you were wondering. That's a name I understand, since the paint is the same color as burgundy wine.
As the day progressed the wind began to die down and the forecast for Tuesday was much calmer waters, so maybe we can get out for some fishing tomorrow.
Joe and I both realized that we might not get too many more chances, if any, to go swimming in the lake this year so despite cool air temperatures and even colder water temperatures we donned our swimming trunks, walked to the end of the dock and took the plunge. I've been in the lake more than a dozen times this summer, but this was the first time hitting the water took my breath away. Not because I did a belly-flop or something, but because the water was downright cold.
I didn't stay in long opting to take a hot shower to clean off. Joe, however, used our organic soap and cleaned off in the lake. He later said it took him more than an hour to finally warm up.
In addition to slow-cooking ribs yesterday while Joe and I were muskie fishing I was also brining a chicken for tonight's dinner. With the chicken brined for more than 24 hours, it was time to put in on the grill (with indirect heat) in preparation of adding the North Alabama White BBQ sauce. In addition to the chicken we had a the left over Cole slaw, biscuits and mashed potatoes. Another outstanding northwoods dinner.
But before we enjoyed that amazing dinner we enjoyed a spectacular sunset from the end the dock. Joe and I have tried to make it a habit to get out to the end of the dock every evening at sunset to take in the splendor that the lake offers at that time of day. Tonight was one of the best we've seen during Joe's current stay.
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| A spectacular sunset over Leech Lake |
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