Fishing Tips
Walleye - Walleye is arguably king on Leech Lake as more anglers chase walleyes than any other fish here. Leech Lake offers a diversity of settings in which to chase walleyes. From the depths of Walker Bay, to the rocks on the “big lake,” to the shallow weeds of Steamboat Bay - Leech Lake has it all. Fish in all size ranges are common with fish up to thirty inches in length a possibility.
Early on in the walleye season finds most anglers pursuing walleyes near shoreline related points throughout the lake. Pine, Stoney, Partridge, Sugar, Ottertail, Grassy and the Duck Points are all favorite locales on the main lake while Second Point, Mounds Point and various other smaller structures on Walker Bay, Kabekona Bay, Steamboat Bay and Agency Bay are where anglers gather. A jig and minnow combination in depths of six to twelve feet of water is the most common offering early on in the season.
As spring gives way to summer the walleyes of Leech Lake will spread throughout the lake from deep to shallow. Steamboat Bay will host shallow-water walleyes all summer where anglers use spinner-rig systems, float (bobber)fishing and pitching jigs to catch their evening meal. Walker Bay will offer classic structure fishing as well as open water trolling options, as a few anglers focus on the suspended walleyes - fishing, say, twenty feet down in more than eighty feet of water. Meanwhile anglers on the main basin may choose bottom-bouncing, crankbait trolling, jigging or live bait rigging techniques (adorned with leeches or night-crawlers) to waylay their quarry.
Things do not slow down in the fall as walleye of Leech Lake increase their feeding patterns to ready themselves for the oncoming winter. Again, anglers begin to refocus their activities on major points such as Cedar, Sugar, Roger's, Stoney, Pine, Hardwood and Ottertail. Once again, jig and minnow combinations are the main presentation pattern at this time of year.
As Leech Lake becomes ice-covered Walker Bay becomes the focal point of ice anglers, though Grand View Flats will also see a gathering of ice-houses. The “humps” and shoreline breaks of Walker Bay will witness the majority of angler activity. Jigging spoons and float with live bait are common offerings for the ice-anglers.
Perch - Perch are also the target of many anglers throughout the year on Leech Lake. Perch frequent many of the same areas that the walleyes utilize with a tendency to use slightly more shallow water. Perch up to thirteen inches are a real possibility in Leech Lake with fish in the eight to twelve in range very common.
Winter is when perch anglers come from all over the country to chase the perch on Leech Lake as it is a world-class perch fishery. If ice and snow conditions permit, anglers spread throughout the lake probing depths of three to twenty feet in pursuit of this ever-moving quarry. February through the end of March are prime months for this species.
Muskie - This species gives the walleye a “run for its money” in popularity since Leech is one of the prime destinations for muskie anglers throughout North America. In fact, the Leech Lake muskie strain is so adaptable it has been utilized to stock muskie lakes and reservoirs throughout the United States.
Leech Lake muskie anglers begin their year targeting muskies in early June when the season opens. Anglers typically begin casting in weed beds in Kabekona Bay, on Grand View Flats, plus in Walker and Agency Bay. Fish up to fifty-three inches in length are common. Historically, the largest muskie to be officially weighed from Leech Lake weighed in at fifty-one pounds, one ounce.
The muskie bite intensifies from July through October. Deadhead Bay in Sucker Bay, the Two Points area in Portage Bay and the rock reefs around Pelican Island are primary locales to search for these spotted giants. Mepps Giant Killers, Lilly Tails, Shriver's Spinner Baits and other spinner-adorned baits are good choices. Surface baits, jerkbaits, crankbaits and large plastics all produce, as well.
Muskies anglers target “cabbage” beds in depths from three to eleven feet of water. Other popular areas are the rock reefs such as Pelican Reef, Submarine Island and Red Rocks. These areas top out at roughly three feet in depth - where the muskies lay in and around the rocks waiting to ambush prey-fish. Practicing good catch and release tactics is crucial as a minimum size limit on muskies is forty-eight inches in length.
Northern Pike - Northern Pike live throughout Leech Lake and commonly weigh between three and ten pounds. Pike are available to anglers winter, spring, summer and fall. Anglers focus their activities throwing artificial baits in many of the same weed beds where muskies are targeted. Sucker minnows from four to ten inches in length are also fished below floats in and around cabbage beds in Boy, Headquarters, Agency, Walker, and Kabekona Bays.
As long as you are adept at removing the Y-bones from a pike, you will find that this specie's flesh is every bit as desirable as the walleye. The firm, white flesh of a pike allows it to be baked, pickled, fried, barbecued and poached.
Largemouth Bass and Panfish - Though somewhat overlooked as primary fish species in Leech Lake, these species offer excellent angling opportunities in many bays and shallower portions of the lake. Wild rice bed edges, shallow cabbage beds and bullrush beds produce quality bass, crappies and bluegills whether in Portage Bay, Boy/Headquarters Bay, Shingobee Bay, Kabekona Bay and Steamboat Bay.
Largemouth Bass up to five pounds and roughly twenty inches in length are fairly common. Crappies up to fifteen inches in length and bluegills over ten inches are all possible. Spinnerbaits, weedless spoons and plastic worms are common offerings thrown into likely cover for the bass. Small jigs with live bait are always favorites for the bluegills and crappies. The Minnesota state record pumpkinseed sunfish (1 pound 6 ounces) was caught in Leech Lake.
Other Fish - Leech Lake holds the Minnesota State record for Lake Whitefish at twelve pounds, four ounces. These fish are catchable, especially in Walker Bay during the winter, though a few secretive anglers do target them during summer. A close relative to the whitefish is the smaller tulibee/cisco. A favorite meal for Leech Lake's muskies, many an angler target tulibees during the winter months also, chasing these silver-sided fish in the main basin between Stoney and Ottertail Points. Though excellent when baked or poached, tulibees and whitefish are most commonly smoked.
Rock Bass are eaten by many anglers visiting Leech Lake, primarily during the colder water months of May/June and September/October. Leech hosts truly large rock bass. They can be caught in nearly every bullrush bed, harbor or rock pile on small plastic jigs or live bait.
You cannot discuss Leech Lake without bringing up the burbot or eelpout. Walker hosts the International Eelpout Festival in February every year as it has for nearly thirty years. This species is targeted almost solely during the winter months and primarily in Walker Bay. The Leech Lake eelpout is a strong fish at the end of rod and reel and is truly good table fare. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but eelpout from Leech Lake display gold “worm” markings on a light brown background rather than the more common bland/gray fish on many other Minnesota lakes.
Leech Lake is an angling destination that ranks right up there with anything that North America has to offer. A diversity in fish species and ways to catch them brings folks from near and far to partake in this lifetime activity we know as “angling.” Come to Leech Lake - you will not be disappointed.
These Leech Lake tips were provided by Dan Craven
