The temperature today dropped several degrees to a high of 70. The water temperature remained a warm 73.5 degrees. The winds were 10-15 mph out of the SW and the skies today were grey and overcast.
When Joe and I went trolling this evening from 8:00 to 9:40 p.m., the winds had slowed to around 5-8 mph, still out of the SW. We again caught several northern pike, but no walleyes.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Reminder
Just as a reminder to anyone reading this blog, I'm in the process of posting my notes from my stay on Leech Lake last year. I was at our lake-front house from late-May to mid-November 2008. I took daily notes in a journal and am posting them now from California.
I now that's not how a blog is supposed to work, but I didn't want to sit in front of a PC every day while at the lake. Consequently, these notes were usually jotted down while I sat watching a beautiful Leech Lake sunset.
I now that's not how a blog is supposed to work, but I didn't want to sit in front of a PC every day while at the lake. Consequently, these notes were usually jotted down while I sat watching a beautiful Leech Lake sunset.
July 23, 2008 on Leech Lake
Joe and I went trolling this evening from 5:15 to 7:30 p.m. The temperature was 76 degrees, the winds were 10 mph out of the SSW and the water temperature was 74 degrees.
We each were using a Rapala Minnow Rap pulled 35-40 feet behind the boat. We caught several perch and 4 good-sized pike, but no walleyes. We went in early to have dinner with Kathleen, Melissa and Ashley.
We each were using a Rapala Minnow Rap pulled 35-40 feet behind the boat. We caught several perch and 4 good-sized pike, but no walleyes. We went in early to have dinner with Kathleen, Melissa and Ashley.
Friday, March 27, 2009
July 22, 2008
Today was a beautiful summer day. The winds were calm, the temperature was 80 degrees, and the skies were sunny all day long.
Kathleen is driving to Minneapolis tomorrow to pick up our daughter Melissa and our grand daughter Ashley from the airport, so Joe and I decided to stay on shore today to help clean up the house and hang out with Kathleen.
Kathleen and I went on a 6-mile long hike today, walking from our house to the Ottertail Peninsula Community Center, then south down the unpaved part of Sucker Bay Road to Ottertail Point Road to 26th and then finally down the final mile-long stretch of West Shores Road to our house.
Since it was sunny and hot, we were both drenched in sweat within the first mile of our hike which attracted hundreds of biting black flies. We had to use bandannas and our hands to try to keep the flies off our faces and necks. I liked the walk, and the time to talk with Kathleen, but until those flies die off, I don't think I'll take that type of hike again.
We cooled off with a swim in the lake, then enjoyed a cold Leinenkugel beer on the dock as we watched another spectacular Leech Lake sunset.
I did not go fishing today.
Kathleen is driving to Minneapolis tomorrow to pick up our daughter Melissa and our grand daughter Ashley from the airport, so Joe and I decided to stay on shore today to help clean up the house and hang out with Kathleen.
Kathleen and I went on a 6-mile long hike today, walking from our house to the Ottertail Peninsula Community Center, then south down the unpaved part of Sucker Bay Road to Ottertail Point Road to 26th and then finally down the final mile-long stretch of West Shores Road to our house.
Since it was sunny and hot, we were both drenched in sweat within the first mile of our hike which attracted hundreds of biting black flies. We had to use bandannas and our hands to try to keep the flies off our faces and necks. I liked the walk, and the time to talk with Kathleen, but until those flies die off, I don't think I'll take that type of hike again.
We cooled off with a swim in the lake, then enjoyed a cold Leinenkugel beer on the dock as we watched another spectacular Leech Lake sunset.
I did not go fishing today.
July 21, 2008 on Leech Lake (The Dark Knight)
Today Joe, Kathleen and I went into Bemidji to take Marco and Elsa (our two standard poodles) to the groomer. While the dogs were getting baths and hair cuts, the three of us went to see the movie The Dark Knight. I have to admit it was really a great movie. And my god, did Heath Ledger do a fantastic job playing the Joker. No one has ever protrayed the insanity of the Joker character better than Ledger.
After we got back to the lake and had some dinner, Joe and I decided to go fishing. The temperature was still warm, although a little cooler from the day's high of 74 degrees. The water temperature was 73 degrees and the wind was about 5-8 mph out of the NW. Joe and I trolled our usual route using our usual Minnow Raps, but unlike last night when Joe caught a nice walleye, all we caught tonight were numerous northern pike. They were fun to catch and fight, but we don't like eating pike, so all fish were released unharmed.
Sunday, March 08, 2009
July 20, 2008 on Leech Lake
Today was one of those days when I fished on Leech Lake several times throughout the day and used different fishing techniques.
I first went out onto the water around 1:15 p.m. under ominous skies. It looked like a storm was brewing, but at the time, the wind was calm with just a hint of breeze from the NW. The temperature was a warm 78 degrees, the air was heavy and the water temperature was 72 degrees.
I started out in front of Jerry Schiebe's cabin in 8-10 feet of water throwing a Northland jig tipped with Northland Slurpies Swim'n Grub in firetiger cutworm color. I caught a few decent perch, but no walleyes. I noticed that the dark skies were moving south down Sucker Bay, and while the storm was still off in the distance, I figured I had only an hour or two before it hit our place. I decided to move a little closer to home and switched tactics, baits and targeted fish species.
I motored my Lund 1800 IFS to right in front Norm's cabin in about 4 feet of water where I started throwing a double-bladed white spinner bait into the reeds and grass trying to scare up a big largemouth bass. Many people don't realize it, but many Minnesota lakes are fantastic bass waters, including Leech Lake, with big fish growing in excess of 24" and 6 lbs. Sure enough, I caught a couple of very nice bass; one roughly 18" the other over 20".
By this time the storm, which was moving faster than I had originally estimated, was nearly on top of me. The air was very heavy, the temperature was dropping quickly, the wind had really picked up and was now blowing quite strong out of the NW. I fired up my Mercury Verado, quickly headed home, got the boat onto the boat lift, gathered up my things, and went ashore.
I decided to go sit on the end of the dock and watch the approaching storm. The wind by this time was very strong and the lake was covered in white caps. A boat heading from south to north motored by the dock fighting against the wind and waves and I couldn't help but thinking that the two guys in the boat were probably from out of town, were staying at Birch Ridge Resort on the north end of Sucker Bay, and were not experienced enough to read the weather and get off the lake before it became dangerous. Every year or two I read about some Leech Lake boater who gets caught on the water during a storm, ends up in the lake and drowns. That's why I keep a constant eye on the weather, and know when to head home. I love fishing, but not so much that I'd risk my life to do it.
The storm hit with a vengeance. Heavy rain, wind and hail blasted our house and cabin for the better part of an hour. The storm finally ran out of gas, the clouds parted and the sun came out! I figured with the change in weather, I'd go fishing after dinner.
From 8:30 to 10:30 p.m. Joe and I trolled from Norm's cabin to Second Duck Point using our usual Minnow Raps in hot steel and purpledescent colors. We each caught several northern pike, and Joe caught a very solid 17" walleye, which we kept for a future fish fry.
Another great day on Leech Lake.
I first went out onto the water around 1:15 p.m. under ominous skies. It looked like a storm was brewing, but at the time, the wind was calm with just a hint of breeze from the NW. The temperature was a warm 78 degrees, the air was heavy and the water temperature was 72 degrees.
I started out in front of Jerry Schiebe's cabin in 8-10 feet of water throwing a Northland jig tipped with Northland Slurpies Swim'n Grub in firetiger cutworm color. I caught a few decent perch, but no walleyes. I noticed that the dark skies were moving south down Sucker Bay, and while the storm was still off in the distance, I figured I had only an hour or two before it hit our place. I decided to move a little closer to home and switched tactics, baits and targeted fish species.
I motored my Lund 1800 IFS to right in front Norm's cabin in about 4 feet of water where I started throwing a double-bladed white spinner bait into the reeds and grass trying to scare up a big largemouth bass. Many people don't realize it, but many Minnesota lakes are fantastic bass waters, including Leech Lake, with big fish growing in excess of 24" and 6 lbs. Sure enough, I caught a couple of very nice bass; one roughly 18" the other over 20".
By this time the storm, which was moving faster than I had originally estimated, was nearly on top of me. The air was very heavy, the temperature was dropping quickly, the wind had really picked up and was now blowing quite strong out of the NW. I fired up my Mercury Verado, quickly headed home, got the boat onto the boat lift, gathered up my things, and went ashore.
I decided to go sit on the end of the dock and watch the approaching storm. The wind by this time was very strong and the lake was covered in white caps. A boat heading from south to north motored by the dock fighting against the wind and waves and I couldn't help but thinking that the two guys in the boat were probably from out of town, were staying at Birch Ridge Resort on the north end of Sucker Bay, and were not experienced enough to read the weather and get off the lake before it became dangerous. Every year or two I read about some Leech Lake boater who gets caught on the water during a storm, ends up in the lake and drowns. That's why I keep a constant eye on the weather, and know when to head home. I love fishing, but not so much that I'd risk my life to do it.
The storm hit with a vengeance. Heavy rain, wind and hail blasted our house and cabin for the better part of an hour. The storm finally ran out of gas, the clouds parted and the sun came out! I figured with the change in weather, I'd go fishing after dinner.
From 8:30 to 10:30 p.m. Joe and I trolled from Norm's cabin to Second Duck Point using our usual Minnow Raps in hot steel and purpledescent colors. We each caught several northern pike, and Joe caught a very solid 17" walleye, which we kept for a future fish fry.
Another great day on Leech Lake.
July 19, 2008 on Leech Lake
It was a beautiful day on Leech Lake today. Temperatures were in the mid-70s, the skies were mostly sunny, the wind was light at 5-8 mph out of the east, and the water temperature was 72 degrees.
I left the boat lift at 3:15 p.m. and decided to do some jigging off Second Duck Point to start the day. I used an 1/8 oz. Northland Neon Fireball jig tipped with a 3" Gulp Alive black leech. The wind was blowing just enough to move the boat at a nice pace so I drifted rather than use the MinnKota electric trolling motor. I caught several small- and medium-sized perch, but no jumbos and no walleyes.
Later I switched tactics. I tied on a #9 orange-colored Minnow Rap and began trolling from Second Duck Point to past Norm's cabin. Again, no walleye, but I did catch and release a 26" and a 30" northern pike.
I left the boat lift at 3:15 p.m. and decided to do some jigging off Second Duck Point to start the day. I used an 1/8 oz. Northland Neon Fireball jig tipped with a 3" Gulp Alive black leech. The wind was blowing just enough to move the boat at a nice pace so I drifted rather than use the MinnKota electric trolling motor. I caught several small- and medium-sized perch, but no jumbos and no walleyes.
Later I switched tactics. I tied on a #9 orange-colored Minnow Rap and began trolling from Second Duck Point to past Norm's cabin. Again, no walleye, but I did catch and release a 26" and a 30" northern pike.
July 18, 2008 on Leech Lake
After coming home from spreading concrete at the Otter Tail Peninsula Community Center, I ran to the end of the dock and jumped into the lake to cool off.
Once I had cooled off, I decided to go fishing prior to dinner. I hit the water around 3:30 p.m. for two hours of fishing, trolling more specifically.
I trolled from Second Duck Point to Malays using a number of different sizes and colors of Minnow Raps. I caught numerous medium- and jumbo-sized perch, but decided not to keep any of them. All were released unharmed.
A very busy day. I'll sleep well tonight.
Once I had cooled off, I decided to go fishing prior to dinner. I hit the water around 3:30 p.m. for two hours of fishing, trolling more specifically.
I trolled from Second Duck Point to Malays using a number of different sizes and colors of Minnow Raps. I caught numerous medium- and jumbo-sized perch, but decided not to keep any of them. All were released unharmed.
A very busy day. I'll sleep well tonight.
July 18, 2008 -- Spreading Concrete at the Otter Tail Peninsula Community Center
For those unfamiliar with Northwoods living, there are many amenities that you have in the city that we just don't have on the north shore of Leech Lake. One of those luxuries is trash pick up. When our garbage cans are full, we have to load the garbage into the pick-up truck and haul it ourselves to the Otter Tail Peninsula Community Center where there is a large trash compactor and a recycling bin for glass, aluminum, plastic and paper.
The garbage compactor and the recycling bin sit atop class-five hard-packed dirt, which is fine when the weather is dry. But when we have rain, or during the spring thaw, the dirt around the garbage compactor and the recycling bin turns to ankle-deep mud, making the simply task of "taking out the garbage" quite an adventure.
After years of complaints from residents on the Peninsula (see map of the Peninsula below), the OPA board members finally agreed to pave the area around the compactor and bin. The decision was made that concrete would be laid this summer, thus providing a clean, solid base for the trash and recycling area.
I volunteered to help spread the two truck loads of concrete that it was going to take to do the job. I arrived at the Community Center around noon, under sunny skies and the temperature already 85 degrees. There was virtually no wind, making conditions very hot and humid for the task of spreading concrete.
I was joined by Bill Walter, Mark Boyd, Ron Newstand, Warren Snyder and about 3 or 4 other guys whose names escape me. It took us only 3 hours to completely spread the entire two loads from the cement mixers, smooth the concrete and rope it off so no one disturbed the drying cement. We did good work and the entire garbage and recycling area will be cleaner, easier to use and easier to clean up. All in all a job well done.
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