The temperature dropped significantly with the storm front that rolled in last night, and the high today hit only 65 degrees, down 15 degrees from just two days ago.
The wind also picked up considerably and was blowing hard from the WNW at 20+ mph. The lake was covered in white caps all day. I decided to stay on shore and work around the properties today.
Saturday, March 07, 2009
July 7, 2008
I hit the water this morning just after 11 a.m. The temperature was 79 degrees, the wind was a light 5-8 mph out of the ESE, and the water temp was 74 degrees.
I trolled in 10 to 12 feet of water using a jointed-Shad Rap in perch color and caught several small- to medium-sized perch. I went in for lunch at 1:15 p.m.
After a quick bite to eat, I decided to head back out again for some afternoon fishing. The sky had clouded over and it was beginning to sprinkle when I launched the boat at 2:15 p.m. I switched to a hot-steel colored Minnow Rap and trolled my usual run from Malays in the north, south past Second Duck Point. I caught several more medium-sized perch and one 13" walleye.
I decided to stay on shore this evening.
I trolled in 10 to 12 feet of water using a jointed-Shad Rap in perch color and caught several small- to medium-sized perch. I went in for lunch at 1:15 p.m.
After a quick bite to eat, I decided to head back out again for some afternoon fishing. The sky had clouded over and it was beginning to sprinkle when I launched the boat at 2:15 p.m. I switched to a hot-steel colored Minnow Rap and trolled my usual run from Malays in the north, south past Second Duck Point. I caught several more medium-sized perch and one 13" walleye.
I decided to stay on shore this evening.
July 6, 2008 -- Leech Lake Fish Fry
One of the many joys of fishing is selectively harvesting a small number of fish to eat. Yesterday I caught a beautiful jumbo perch and very meaty 17" "eater" walleye. This evening, Kathleen, Joe and I had an absolutely wonderful fish fry for dinner.
My preferred method of cooking walleye and perch is panned fried. I first coat the fish fillets in flour seasoned slightly with garlic salt and pepper. Then I dip the fillets a mixure of egg, buttermilk and a little lemon juice. I then coat the fillets a second time, this time using a mix of Shore Lunch (regular flavor), garlic salt and pepper. I then place the coated fillets in hot cooking oil, cooking each side for 2-3 minutes or until golden brown.
I like to serve the fish with cole slaw, warm dinner roles and french fries with malt vinegar. Yummm!
The final product looks something like this.
July 5, 2008
John Newman and I hit the water around 11:30 a.m. this morning under mostly sunny skies and a temperature already at 80 degrees. The winds were light and the water had warmed slightly to 73 degrees.
John and I spent most of the time talking and enjoying a cold malted beverage or two, but we did manage to get some fishing in as well. We trolled our usual route from Second Duck Point north to just past the Malays. I was using my jointed-Shad Rap in the perch color, the same lure I had used on July 4, and John opted for a similar Rapala lure.
We caught numerous perch, too many to count really, and I caught one gigantic jumbo perch, which I kept. It was almost the size of a small walleye.
We didn't stay out on the water long because John had some friends coming over to visit, so we headed for land just after 1:00 p.m.
Later than evening, Joe and I decided to do some trolling for walleye. Under a 10% waxing moon, we hit the water at 8:00 p.m. I switched lures from the jointed-Shad Rap to the Minnow Rap in hot-steel color. Joe was using his favorite purpledescent Minnow Rap. We started by trolling south past Second Duck Point, before making a slow sweeping turn out into Leech Lake to head north past Malays cabin.
In the two hours on the water, Joe caught two smallish walleyes, both under 16" and that's just too small for us to keep, and a beautiful 24 1/2" eyeball, which of course was released.
I caught an 18" walleye, which is in the slot so it went back into the lake, and a 17" beauty that we kept. I figured that between the walleye and the jumbo perch I caught earlier in the day, Kathleen, Joe and I would have enough meat for a very nice fish fry. We'll do that tomorrow for dinner.
John and I spent most of the time talking and enjoying a cold malted beverage or two, but we did manage to get some fishing in as well. We trolled our usual route from Second Duck Point north to just past the Malays. I was using my jointed-Shad Rap in the perch color, the same lure I had used on July 4, and John opted for a similar Rapala lure.
We caught numerous perch, too many to count really, and I caught one gigantic jumbo perch, which I kept. It was almost the size of a small walleye.
We didn't stay out on the water long because John had some friends coming over to visit, so we headed for land just after 1:00 p.m.
Later than evening, Joe and I decided to do some trolling for walleye. Under a 10% waxing moon, we hit the water at 8:00 p.m. I switched lures from the jointed-Shad Rap to the Minnow Rap in hot-steel color. Joe was using his favorite purpledescent Minnow Rap. We started by trolling south past Second Duck Point, before making a slow sweeping turn out into Leech Lake to head north past Malays cabin.
In the two hours on the water, Joe caught two smallish walleyes, both under 16" and that's just too small for us to keep, and a beautiful 24 1/2" eyeball, which of course was released.
I caught an 18" walleye, which is in the slot so it went back into the lake, and a 17" beauty that we kept. I figured that between the walleye and the jumbo perch I caught earlier in the day, Kathleen, Joe and I would have enough meat for a very nice fish fry. We'll do that tomorrow for dinner.
July 4, 2008 -- Independence Day
The weather was absolutely beautiful at Leech Lake for this year's July 4th holiday. The temperature was 75 degrees under a mostly sunny sky. The water temp was 72.8 degrees and the wind was out of the SW at 5-8 mph. A perfect day to be on the water.
I decided to start fishing at noon today, because I knew that the plan for this evening was to BBQ and then shoot off some of the fireworks we had left over from last year. And we have some pretty good fireworks too! The real big ones that Joe had purchased a couple of years ago in Montana and the Dakotas.
I felt like trolling for walleye rather than jigging for them, so I tied on a Rapala jointed-Shad Rap in perch color and motored between Schiebe's cabin and Second Duck Point in water ranging from 11 to 14 feet; a little deeper than I've been fishing.
I hooked two medium-sized northern pike and a very nice 23" walleye. All fish were released.
After dinner, then Newmans joined us on our dock for a fireworks display managed by Joe and our neighbor's son, Johnny Newman.
Happy Birthday America!
I decided to start fishing at noon today, because I knew that the plan for this evening was to BBQ and then shoot off some of the fireworks we had left over from last year. And we have some pretty good fireworks too! The real big ones that Joe had purchased a couple of years ago in Montana and the Dakotas.
I felt like trolling for walleye rather than jigging for them, so I tied on a Rapala jointed-Shad Rap in perch color and motored between Schiebe's cabin and Second Duck Point in water ranging from 11 to 14 feet; a little deeper than I've been fishing.
I hooked two medium-sized northern pike and a very nice 23" walleye. All fish were released.
After dinner, then Newmans joined us on our dock for a fireworks display managed by Joe and our neighbor's son, Johnny Newman.
Happy Birthday America!
Sunday, March 01, 2009
July 3, 2008
Today was one of those days where multiple fishing trips were the order of the day. Joe decided he didn't want to go with me during the mid-afternoon sojourn, instead opting for the evening trip onto the water.
I left the boat lift at 12:15 p.m. under mostly sunny skies, a temperature of 72 degrees and light winds of 3-5 mph out of the SSW. A completely opposite day of weather from a day ago.
I decided I'd do some bass fishing this afternoon, so I started at Norm's house, which is the beginning of a long stretch of reeds and grass that span several thousand feet of shoreline from Norm's north to Paulsen's. I was using a white safety-pin styled spinner bait tipped with a 3" chartreuse trailer.
Using my MinnKota electric trolling motor I slowly made my way north from Norm's along the shoreline, casting the spinner bait back into the reeds and grass. During my slow, leisurely trek, I hooked two very nice largemouth bass -- both roughly 18" -- and a small northern pike. After a couple of hours of enjoying the warm afternoon sun, I motored back to the cabin to store the boat for our evening adventure.
At 8:30 p.m., Joe and I embarked for an evening of trolling for walleye. The moon was nearly new -- 1% waxing -- and the temperature had dropped only slightly to the high 60s. The water temperature was a steady 72 degrees, and the winds were nearly calm.
Joe was using his favorite Minnow Rap color, purpledescent, while used my old standby, the hot steel-colored Minnow Rap. We took our usual route from Malays past Second Duck Point in 8-12 feet of water. We only fished for an hour or so because the mosquitoes were so thick, but during that time we caught a few nice pike, although no walleye.
Joe hooked a 26" northern that absolutely inhaled his lure. I had to use the wire cutters to snip off the hooks rather than risk injuring the fish. After my little hardware modifications to the Rapala, the fish was released in good shape and it quickly swam off into the depths of Leech Lake.
I hooked two pike just as the sun was setting, a 24" and 28" fish.
The highlight of the evening occurred right at sunset when Joe and I watched a beautiful bald eagle circle overhead just off Second Duck Point before plunging into the water and emerging with a foot-long walleye in its talons. We couldn't hook a walleye, but Mr. Eagle did. A fantastic sight in Minnesota's Northwoods.
I left the boat lift at 12:15 p.m. under mostly sunny skies, a temperature of 72 degrees and light winds of 3-5 mph out of the SSW. A completely opposite day of weather from a day ago.
I decided I'd do some bass fishing this afternoon, so I started at Norm's house, which is the beginning of a long stretch of reeds and grass that span several thousand feet of shoreline from Norm's north to Paulsen's. I was using a white safety-pin styled spinner bait tipped with a 3" chartreuse trailer.
Using my MinnKota electric trolling motor I slowly made my way north from Norm's along the shoreline, casting the spinner bait back into the reeds and grass. During my slow, leisurely trek, I hooked two very nice largemouth bass -- both roughly 18" -- and a small northern pike. After a couple of hours of enjoying the warm afternoon sun, I motored back to the cabin to store the boat for our evening adventure.
At 8:30 p.m., Joe and I embarked for an evening of trolling for walleye. The moon was nearly new -- 1% waxing -- and the temperature had dropped only slightly to the high 60s. The water temperature was a steady 72 degrees, and the winds were nearly calm.
Joe was using his favorite Minnow Rap color, purpledescent, while used my old standby, the hot steel-colored Minnow Rap. We took our usual route from Malays past Second Duck Point in 8-12 feet of water. We only fished for an hour or so because the mosquitoes were so thick, but during that time we caught a few nice pike, although no walleye.
Joe hooked a 26" northern that absolutely inhaled his lure. I had to use the wire cutters to snip off the hooks rather than risk injuring the fish. After my little hardware modifications to the Rapala, the fish was released in good shape and it quickly swam off into the depths of Leech Lake.
I hooked two pike just as the sun was setting, a 24" and 28" fish.
The highlight of the evening occurred right at sunset when Joe and I watched a beautiful bald eagle circle overhead just off Second Duck Point before plunging into the water and emerging with a foot-long walleye in its talons. We couldn't hook a walleye, but Mr. Eagle did. A fantastic sight in Minnesota's Northwoods.
July 2, 2008
We woke up this morning to temperatures in the mid-60s and very strong winds of 25+ mph out of the north. The lake was covered with large waves and white caps. We decided to stay on shore today, so no fishing.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
July 1, 2009
Kathleen and I left the hotel around 10:30 a.m. and went to the MSP airport to pick up Joe and our two dogs, Marco and Elsa.
After meeting Joe in the baggage claim area, we waited around for the dogs to be taken off the plane. This was the first time Marco and Elsa had flown in a plane so before leaving San Jose, Joe gave them each a pill to relax them. When the dogs arrived in their kennels, Marco was very lethargic and sluggish, but Elsa was as full of energy and as ready to play as ever. She probably could have taken three of those pills and still felt no effect.
We got Joe, the dogs and the kennels loaded into the truck and with all haste left Minneapolis for Leech Lake. We did make a quick stop in Grand Rapids to buy groceries, but were once again on our way back to the lake.
We arrived at the house around 6:30 p.m., unloaded the truck, got a bite to eat, and then Joe and I went out fishing.
We left the boat lift at 7:45 p.m. The air temperature, which had been a high of 82 degrees during the day, had cooled only slightly to the mid- to high-70s. The wind was light at about 5-7 mph out of the SSW. The water temperature was 73 degrees and the moon was at 3% waning (almost a new moon).
We decided to troll, as usual, from Second Duck Point to just past the Malays in 8-12' of water, at a speed of 570 rpm on the Mercury Smart Craft. Using a purpledescent-colored Rapala Minnow Rap, Joe caught 3 decent sized pike and one perch. I used my usual hot steel colored Minnow Rap and caught a very big 30" plus pike (my Lakeborne Tackle "Judge" tournament ruler only goes to 30 inches and this esox lucius was longer than the ruler).
Welcome to the lake Joe!
After meeting Joe in the baggage claim area, we waited around for the dogs to be taken off the plane. This was the first time Marco and Elsa had flown in a plane so before leaving San Jose, Joe gave them each a pill to relax them. When the dogs arrived in their kennels, Marco was very lethargic and sluggish, but Elsa was as full of energy and as ready to play as ever. She probably could have taken three of those pills and still felt no effect.
We got Joe, the dogs and the kennels loaded into the truck and with all haste left Minneapolis for Leech Lake. We did make a quick stop in Grand Rapids to buy groceries, but were once again on our way back to the lake.
We arrived at the house around 6:30 p.m., unloaded the truck, got a bite to eat, and then Joe and I went out fishing.
We left the boat lift at 7:45 p.m. The air temperature, which had been a high of 82 degrees during the day, had cooled only slightly to the mid- to high-70s. The wind was light at about 5-7 mph out of the SSW. The water temperature was 73 degrees and the moon was at 3% waning (almost a new moon).
We decided to troll, as usual, from Second Duck Point to just past the Malays in 8-12' of water, at a speed of 570 rpm on the Mercury Smart Craft. Using a purpledescent-colored Rapala Minnow Rap, Joe caught 3 decent sized pike and one perch. I used my usual hot steel colored Minnow Rap and caught a very big 30" plus pike (my Lakeborne Tackle "Judge" tournament ruler only goes to 30 inches and this esox lucius was longer than the ruler).
Welcome to the lake Joe!
June 30, 2008, Part 2
Around 3 p.m. this afternoon, Kathleen and I left Leech Lake for the 5-hour drive to Minneapolis. We making the trek to pick up our son Joe and our two dogs, Marco and Elsa, who would be flying in from San Jose the following morning.
We took a leisurely drive on Hwy. 2 East to Floodwood, then headed South on Rte. 73. Along the way we saw a beautiful orange-yellow flower blooming all along the roadside. We stopped and examined the flower, although to this day Kathleen and I don't completely agree on what it was. She swears it was a member of the aster family, and I agree, suggesting it was the orange hawkweed, which is a member of the aster family. Kathleen is not convinced this is the flower we saw. Either way, the picture is below.
In Moose Lake we connected with Hwy. 35 and headed South to the Minneapolis/St. Paul airport. Once in Minneapolis we took a hotel room near the airport, and then made a brief visit to the Mall of America so Kathleen could go to a book store. We then went back to our room, ordered Chinese food delivered in, and just hung out.
Tomorrow we'll pick up Joe and the dogs and head straight back to Leech Lake. Even one night away from the lake makes us homesick.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
