Leech Lake Blog

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Fishing Report Sponsored by Reeds Family Outdoor Outfitters in Walker.

We are heading into the fall bite now. Water is starting to cool down with the cooler temperatures, hitting the low 60’s. This is the time most boat traffic will be the “weekend warrior” as there is far less recreational activities zipping over the key structures. For many, time is becoming short with getting everything ready for the frigid temps but find time to hit the lake, the fish are still there and they are feeding very well right now!
The best techniques to use for walleyes will be using cranks and in the flats and rocks in around 5-15 feet depending on the time of day. The mornings and evenings you should start shallow at 5-10’ and work deeper. Then in the mid-day, start deeper in 15-20’ and work shallower to find the walleyes. Use your electronics down imaging or side imaging to pinpoint the walleyes so you don’t push them out or off a certain break or location. Another technique that guys are having success with pursuing the elusive walleye will be a crawler on a lindy rig or bottom bouncer. The spots to hit now are Huddles Reef, Snake Pits, West Goose Flats and Goose Island. The main lake structures of Submarine Island, Annex Reef and around Pelican Island have been producing fish as well. The colors to target right now are hot steel, fire tiger, hot tiger, Crawdad, and purple as Northland and Lindy have new patterns that the average fish isn’t used to seeing.

Musky fishing is starting to pick-up as these temps drop. September can produce some of the best fishing for these lake monsters as they change where they are feeding with the temperature changes. Later in the season, as the water cools, start to move into a trolling pattern and then throw buck tails in between. Work the top water early morning and dusk in all wind conditions. Colors that have been producing are goldfish, black and silver, Gold, Cisco and yellow blades. You should target Millers bay, Big Pipe Island, Red rocks and Pelican Island and around Battle point and Sheep’s pasture with a stop by Bear Island. The weeds in Sucker Bay and the Walker Bay narrows are looking healthy right now so don’t rule out those two areas despite the walleye and perch anglers working the same weed beds.

Bass Fishing is still good with plastics using wacky style and we are also seeing a good amount of fish on a drop shot setup. Early mornings will still produce top water up in the weed beds or rice beds. The plastics that I would be using for wacky and Texas rig will be your pencil baits in greens, reds and speckle options. Two tone in these colors can really attract the bass this time of year due to the erratic action and flash the multicolor plastics produce. For the plastic that will be the bait for your drop shot a fluke style has been on the radar the most. The bass can be picky now but really it just needs persistence for success.

Crappies and panfish have been biting well using many tactics along the weed edges around that 8-10’ range using plastics or just bobber fishing with live bait. For plastics use a 1” Berkley Gulp minnow in watermelon pearl or pink grubs. Using jigs will be a great way to give a splash of bright color and it will prevent the fish from totally swallowing your hook.

Stop into Reeds for the latest reports, find out what else has been working and get the latest hot spots.

If you are guest staying with us, we have all the rods, reels and lures ready in our Pro Shop for you to use to chase your favorite fin. We will mark a map for you with some of the latest fishing spots and we have all your favorite snacks for a day on the lake.

Just out fishing Leech Lake? The Merit is open now – Sunday until September 5th then Winter hours of Thursday – Saturday are in effect. Our Marina has gas, bait & ice too!