I'm fortunate enough to be able to have my boat winterized, stored, and the prepped for Spring by Corner Sports of Bemidji. They make sure my Lund Pro-V 1800 IFS and 150hp Mercury Verado motor are ready to go when I pick it up.
If, however, you have to prep your boat yourself, here are some helpful suggestions on Spring boat maintenance.
Wednesday, May 06, 2009
Opening-Day Strategies -- from the Pilot-Independent
Opening day strategies
by Ron Anlauf
Published: Wednesday, April 29, 2009 in the Walker Pilot-Independent, Walker, Minnesota
Opening day isn’t all about catching fish. Getting on the water and enjoying what Mother Nature has to offer is part of the opening experience. It’s also a great opportunity to spend quality time with friends and family and maybe even start a new tradition. To that end it still wouldn’t hurt to put a few fish in the boat and can help get your program off to a good start.
One thing to keep in mind is the fact that there are always some fish biting somewhere; and if you stick with it and keep looking, sooner or later you’ll find what you’re looking for.
Last year’s opener was a good example, but the early results for my brother-in-law and I were less than spectacular. We started the season where we have for the last four or five years and where we had always done well — by slowly drifting a shallow weedbed with a light jig and minnow; that is, until now. Now our starting lead pipe cinch early season program was coming up dry, and we finally had to give up on it and look for what we were obviously missing.
What we eventually found was that shallow rocks were holding big schools of fish which were predominantly nice keeper-size males that were still milking. A rocky shoreline with a connecting rock-covered underwater shelve in the 4- to 8-foot range was the ticket to some incredible action. It didn’t take long to put together a solid catch.
Pitching light jigs in the 1/16-ounce range tipped with a spot-tail shiner up to the shallowest water was the key to catching fish without spooking them. The shallowest action held until some of the boats drifted over them and moved them out. We worked the deeper edges of the rocks by slowly drifting the same light jig and minnow.
That pattern held for the next three days that we came back. Successful drifts included casting the jig out and away from the boat and then slowly drifting (when there was enough wind) while lifting and dropping the bait. When it calmed down we used the MinnKota motor to slowly creep along, allowing us to duplicate the same productive speed and cover some water.
Last year’s colder than normal spring and late ice-out delayed the spawn. Instead of spread out on a weed-covered flat, a lot of the fish were stacked into a 100-yard stretch of rock and gravel where they were easy to find and relatively easy to catch. Who knows what this year’s opener will bring? But it wouldn’t hurt to keep an open mind. See you on the water.
by Ron Anlauf
Published: Wednesday, April 29, 2009 in the Walker Pilot-Independent, Walker, Minnesota
Opening day isn’t all about catching fish. Getting on the water and enjoying what Mother Nature has to offer is part of the opening experience. It’s also a great opportunity to spend quality time with friends and family and maybe even start a new tradition. To that end it still wouldn’t hurt to put a few fish in the boat and can help get your program off to a good start.
One thing to keep in mind is the fact that there are always some fish biting somewhere; and if you stick with it and keep looking, sooner or later you’ll find what you’re looking for.
Last year’s opener was a good example, but the early results for my brother-in-law and I were less than spectacular. We started the season where we have for the last four or five years and where we had always done well — by slowly drifting a shallow weedbed with a light jig and minnow; that is, until now. Now our starting lead pipe cinch early season program was coming up dry, and we finally had to give up on it and look for what we were obviously missing.
What we eventually found was that shallow rocks were holding big schools of fish which were predominantly nice keeper-size males that were still milking. A rocky shoreline with a connecting rock-covered underwater shelve in the 4- to 8-foot range was the ticket to some incredible action. It didn’t take long to put together a solid catch.
Pitching light jigs in the 1/16-ounce range tipped with a spot-tail shiner up to the shallowest water was the key to catching fish without spooking them. The shallowest action held until some of the boats drifted over them and moved them out. We worked the deeper edges of the rocks by slowly drifting the same light jig and minnow.
That pattern held for the next three days that we came back. Successful drifts included casting the jig out and away from the boat and then slowly drifting (when there was enough wind) while lifting and dropping the bait. When it calmed down we used the MinnKota motor to slowly creep along, allowing us to duplicate the same productive speed and cover some water.
Last year’s colder than normal spring and late ice-out delayed the spawn. Instead of spread out on a weed-covered flat, a lot of the fish were stacked into a 100-yard stretch of rock and gravel where they were easy to find and relatively easy to catch. Who knows what this year’s opener will bring? But it wouldn’t hurt to keep an open mind. See you on the water.
Tuesday, May 05, 2009
Ice Out 2009 -- Just About Average
Ice was officially "out" on Leech Lake as of April 30, 2009. Average ice out for Leech Lake is April 27, and the latest it was out was back in 1950 -- May 23. Last year there was ice from the shoreline to 200 feet out into Sucker Bay on walleye opener.
Here is some historical data on ice out for many lakes in Minnesota.
Here is some historical data on ice out for many lakes in Minnesota.
Monday, May 04, 2009
Leech Lake Walleye Tournament -- May 30-31, 2009
Welcome to a return of a tradition - the Leech Lake Walleye Tournament! Located on the hottest walleye lake in Minnesota, this is a non-profit family event with proceeds going to area organizations.
The response to the Leech Lake Walleye Tournament has been overwhelming. The positive feedback and response to our return of the tradition .... going back to the family fishing tournament days, has resulted in the LLWT committee receiving DNR approval to increase the number of boats in the tournament to 125. Of course, this also means an increase in the payouts to the anglers and in our donations to the Family Safety Network, Boys & Girls Club and Northstar Sportsmens Club.
Be a part of the tradition! Register now for well over $30,000 in cash and prizes.
Sunday, May 03, 2009
2008 Update Complete
Several months ago I embarked on a project to transfer my hand-written fishing journal to the Fishing Leech Lake blog.
Kathleen and I arrived at Leech Lake on May 23, 2008 and departed on November 19, 2008. During our nearly six month stay at the lake, I was able to spend 98 days on the water fishing. I caught 87 walleye myself, and boated more than 200. And every day, I took some time to record the weather and water conditions and any notes from my fishing expeditions.
We had friends and family visit us throughout our stay, and I feel truly blessed to have been able to spend so much time at Leech Lake with my beautiful wife Kathleen. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay.
With the transfer of my journal complete, I now turn my attention to the present day. Saturday, May 9, marks the start of the 2009 walleye season in Minnesota -- nearly holy day in the state of Minnesota.
I plan to arrive in Bemidji, MN on Tuesday, May 19. After gassing up the truck, I'll pick up the boat from Corner Sports, get some groceries, and then make the 40 mile drive to our Leech Lake house.
My friend Rick is planning a late-May visit from his home in Brisbane, Australia, and at some point in early- to mid-June, Kathleen is likely to join me for a while at the lake. How long I'll stay at Leech Lake this summer is yet to be seen. But my plan is to do daily blog entries while I'm there, and I plan to include as many photos as possible.
I will continue to keep my hand-written fishing journal because I find something reassuring and lasting with something I've written in ink with my own hand. But I will keep the blog more up to date than I did last year.
Stay tuned.
Kathleen and I arrived at Leech Lake on May 23, 2008 and departed on November 19, 2008. During our nearly six month stay at the lake, I was able to spend 98 days on the water fishing. I caught 87 walleye myself, and boated more than 200. And every day, I took some time to record the weather and water conditions and any notes from my fishing expeditions.
We had friends and family visit us throughout our stay, and I feel truly blessed to have been able to spend so much time at Leech Lake with my beautiful wife Kathleen. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay.
With the transfer of my journal complete, I now turn my attention to the present day. Saturday, May 9, marks the start of the 2009 walleye season in Minnesota -- nearly holy day in the state of Minnesota.
I plan to arrive in Bemidji, MN on Tuesday, May 19. After gassing up the truck, I'll pick up the boat from Corner Sports, get some groceries, and then make the 40 mile drive to our Leech Lake house.
My friend Rick is planning a late-May visit from his home in Brisbane, Australia, and at some point in early- to mid-June, Kathleen is likely to join me for a while at the lake. How long I'll stay at Leech Lake this summer is yet to be seen. But my plan is to do daily blog entries while I'm there, and I plan to include as many photos as possible.
I will continue to keep my hand-written fishing journal because I find something reassuring and lasting with something I've written in ink with my own hand. But I will keep the blog more up to date than I did last year.
Stay tuned.
November 19, 2008 -- Time to Leave Leech Lake
The temperature this morning is 28 degrees. The sky is grey and it looks like it will snow today. The wind is out of the north at 10-12 mph.
It's 8:30 a.m. and we're getting ready to leave. Our flight from Bemidji to Minneapolis leaves at 10:50 a.m. Tom and Elaine Malay have graciously agreed to give me and Kathleen a ride to the airport.
Since we don't need to drive our Chevy Silverado to the airport, I put it in the garage, hooked it to a trickle charger to keep the battery fresh, and secured it for the long winter. I also locked up the outbuildings on the property and turned off the water at the house. I turned the thermostat down to 50 degrees in the house and I think we're ready to go.
Tom and Elaine have arrived so I took our luggage out to their Jeep Cherokee. Kathleen gets into the Jeep, I turn on the security system at the house, pull the door shut, lock it, and join Kathleen, Tom and Elaine in the Cherokee. Kathleen and I share a knowing glance -- that we had a great run of time at the lake -- as we drive down the driveway and turn onto W. Shores Rd.
Good bye Leech Lake. I hope to see you sometime during the winter to do some ice fishing.
No fishing today.
It's 8:30 a.m. and we're getting ready to leave. Our flight from Bemidji to Minneapolis leaves at 10:50 a.m. Tom and Elaine Malay have graciously agreed to give me and Kathleen a ride to the airport.
Since we don't need to drive our Chevy Silverado to the airport, I put it in the garage, hooked it to a trickle charger to keep the battery fresh, and secured it for the long winter. I also locked up the outbuildings on the property and turned off the water at the house. I turned the thermostat down to 50 degrees in the house and I think we're ready to go.
Tom and Elaine have arrived so I took our luggage out to their Jeep Cherokee. Kathleen gets into the Jeep, I turn on the security system at the house, pull the door shut, lock it, and join Kathleen, Tom and Elaine in the Cherokee. Kathleen and I share a knowing glance -- that we had a great run of time at the lake -- as we drive down the driveway and turn onto W. Shores Rd.
Good bye Leech Lake. I hope to see you sometime during the winter to do some ice fishing.
No fishing today.
November 18, 2008 -- Our Last Full Day at Leech Lake
The temperature last night fell to near zero degrees. We woke up this morning to ice forming in the harbor and along the shore. Kathleen and I have never been here to watch Leech Lake freeze over, and because we have to fly back to California tomorrow, we won't see it happen this year either.
I'm guessing within a week Sucker Bay will be covered in ice, although ice fishing won't be possible for several weeks yet. To safely ice fish, the ice should be at least 6" thick to walk on, a foot thick to drive a snowmobile or ATV on it, and 18" to two feet to drive a truck or car onto it.
The temperature today varied from 15-20 degrees. The wind was out of the south at 10 mph. Kathleen and I spent the day cleaning the house and cabin and then locking up all of the buildings on our property.
After we cleaned the cabin, I closed the fireplace flue, turned the water off, turned the thermostat down to 50 degrees, turned on the security system and locked it up. I then went to the house where I helped Kathleen finish cleaning it. I set up mouse traps, cleaned out the fireplace, vacuumed, cleaned the bathrooms, etc.
At last it was time to pack. It's always hard to pack up knowing that we have to leave our paradise here at Leech Lake.
Kathleen and I had one last dinner at our dining room table, looking out onto the lake, cleaned up, watched David Letterman on TV and went to bed.
I really hope all goes well for us and our family back in California. I know that we were blessed to be able to spend so much time here at Leech Lake. Thank you God.
No fishing today.
Ice forming in our harbor.
Looking south on Sucker Bay from our cabin. Ice forming along the shore.
Looking north on Sucker Bay from the end of the boat ramp at the cabin.
Looking north on Sucker Bay from the harbor toward our cabin.
I'm guessing within a week Sucker Bay will be covered in ice, although ice fishing won't be possible for several weeks yet. To safely ice fish, the ice should be at least 6" thick to walk on, a foot thick to drive a snowmobile or ATV on it, and 18" to two feet to drive a truck or car onto it.
The temperature today varied from 15-20 degrees. The wind was out of the south at 10 mph. Kathleen and I spent the day cleaning the house and cabin and then locking up all of the buildings on our property.
After we cleaned the cabin, I closed the fireplace flue, turned the water off, turned the thermostat down to 50 degrees, turned on the security system and locked it up. I then went to the house where I helped Kathleen finish cleaning it. I set up mouse traps, cleaned out the fireplace, vacuumed, cleaned the bathrooms, etc.
At last it was time to pack. It's always hard to pack up knowing that we have to leave our paradise here at Leech Lake.
Kathleen and I had one last dinner at our dining room table, looking out onto the lake, cleaned up, watched David Letterman on TV and went to bed.
I really hope all goes well for us and our family back in California. I know that we were blessed to be able to spend so much time here at Leech Lake. Thank you God.
No fishing today.
Ice forming in our harbor.
Looking south on Sucker Bay from our cabin. Ice forming along the shore.
Looking north on Sucker Bay from the end of the boat ramp at the cabin.
Looking north on Sucker Bay from the harbor toward our cabin.
November 17, 2008
It snowed on and off all day today. At times, the snow was falling quite heavily, with big flakes almost the size of quarters. About 2" accumulated on the ground. It was beautiful, and I'm glad Kathleen and I get to experience the snow before we leave for California.
The high temperature was 20 degrees.
I walked with Kathleen as far a Paul Wagner's house -- about 1.5 miles from our house -- before turning around to go home and do some chores. Kathleen continued to the Community Center for the full 6-mile round trip walk.
Once back at the properties, I closed up and locked the game room (after one last game of pinball), closed up and locked the "fish garage," and the little fish house at the house. I put the plow on the ATV and plowed our driveway. I think the electric starter may be going out on the ATV.
Despite her walk and yoga, Kathleen is not feeling well so she went to bed early. I stayed up, made a fire in the fireplace and listened to classical music on KCRB.
I'm really going to miss being at Leech Lake.
No fishing today.
The high temperature was 20 degrees.
I walked with Kathleen as far a Paul Wagner's house -- about 1.5 miles from our house -- before turning around to go home and do some chores. Kathleen continued to the Community Center for the full 6-mile round trip walk.
Once back at the properties, I closed up and locked the game room (after one last game of pinball), closed up and locked the "fish garage," and the little fish house at the house. I put the plow on the ATV and plowed our driveway. I think the electric starter may be going out on the ATV.
Despite her walk and yoga, Kathleen is not feeling well so she went to bed early. I stayed up, made a fire in the fireplace and listened to classical music on KCRB.
I'm really going to miss being at Leech Lake.
No fishing today.
Saturday, May 02, 2009
November 16, 2008
The lake-side deck with an inch of fresh snow.
We woke up this morning to about an inch of freshly fallen snow. The sky was partly cloudy and pale blue. The temperature today was 22 degrees with the wind varying from calm to 5-8 mph out of the north. As the day progressed, the wind increased to around 15 mph, making it feel even colder.
Kathleen and I took a walk to the Otter Tail Peninsula Community Center and back today; a round trip walk of about 6 miles. It felt good to walk in the cold, crisp air.
My neighbor Don Poage's step-grandson shot a deer today. Poage's stepson, Marty, stung up the deer in a tree by the road and gutted it. I walked out to watch, but by the time I got out there the guts had been completely removed. There is an art to successfully dressing a deer, and Marty does know what he's doing.
Later this evening, in front of a roaring fire, Kathleen and I enjoyed listening to "Pipedreams" on public radio. We both agree that Minnesota Public Radio is among the best, if not the best, public radio in the country.
The front of the house.
Our truck, and out buildings, with a dusting of November snow.
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