Leech Lake Blog

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Provided by Reeds Fishing Team

Ice conditions are slowly improving around the Leech Lake area but remain very inconsistent. We do advise extreme caution when venturing out on the local lakes. With the up and down temperatures and winds we are experiencing ice conditions change daily. As of right now, there is very little snow on the ice so with a bit of help from Mother Nature we can keep making ice this week. Walker Bay froze over on 12-7. Early ice reports on the bay are 2-5” of ice with very little fishable ice at this time. Steamboat Bay does have 5-8” of ice but there are dark areas that opened up in the last few days.
Some of the smaller lakes are starting to produce panfish and walleyes along the breaklines and weed edges. We recommend Foot traffic when venturing out on the ice.
As far as the main lake, ice reports remain inconsistent with ice varying from 2-10”. The open water spot off of Pine Point did freeze on Monday night but travel from Pine Point to Goose Island is not advised or anywhere around the Pine Point area. There has been foot traffic in the Grand View flats area with walking out to the first breakline. Traders Bay has 3-8” of ice throughout with people walking out to the first breaks. Stony Point also had open water from Stony to Grassy Point less than a week ago as well, so again use extreme caution in the Stony Point area. The South end of the Big Lake out of the Whipolt Beach access seems to have the best ice reports. Consistent 6-9” of ice has been reported out to Olson’s Reef and the north end of Huddle’s Reef. Still use extreme caution and check ice as you go. Ice fishing in the Leech Lake area is about right on track with past years. With some help from the weather, things are starting to turn the corner and by next week we should have more consistent reports.
As for now we advise extreme caution on all Lakes in the area and make sure you are checking the ice as you move around. The bite on Red Lake continues to be very good with lots of traffic heading that way. Most ice reports indicate 10-14” of ice this week. Some resorts are allowing ½ ton trucks starting Friday. Check with your Red Lake resorts for ice conditions and make sure to stop in at Reeds, your local Resorts or bait stores to get the most accurate ice conditions in the Leech Lake area. Stay safe out there and remember to be smart about ice this time of year.