Leech lake — Any reports this week? Flies?

Heading to Hiawatha soon. Just wondering how guys have been doing up there… From the sounds of it, I’ve heard everything from “slow” to “very slow” to “picking up lately” to “they are there and biting, you just need to find them”… A few guys on this site have helped to give me some starting points already, and I appreciate the help!!

I’m wondering if the mayflies are pretty much done by now and if the fish have settled into any sort of more predictable patterns.

Its been two years since we were up there – last time it was a spinner/crawler bite in the weeds for the most part for us… I’ve heard that’s not so much the case this year, but I’m wondering if the walleyes might settle back into that pattern by the time we get there if the mayfly hatch is done.

Any other help with the bite on the N/W side would be great, too – Just trying to keep the kids busy — any sort of fish will be a bonus. — Gills, perch, whatever.

Thanks for any help you can offer!

Mike

Two good friends of mine were up all last week. One has a place at Haiwatha, the other stayed at a resort on Pine Point. Both have been fishing Leech for years and know the lake fairly well. Both said the fishing was slow. Sounds like one of them was finally able to find a few fish Saturday morning. The other only caught one eye himself….granted both had families up and were not on the water a ton. Hopefully things pick up for you.

Guiding yesterday the best setup was long rods with spinners and crawlers using smiley blades small in green and gold. We fished the main lake reefs in 14 to 16ft.

Ended up with nine keepers biggest 26.5 and many in the slot

Cedar Pt area has fish also find some weeds morning and evening.

Good luck

Pics of two from my boat yesterday

Has the weather been pretty stable up there this last week or two? We’ve had cookie cutter 85 degree (or hotter) days for a while down here, no real major fronts… Hoping it might be the same up there to get them in a little more “settled” mood.

Spinners/bouncers will probably by my first go-to, and then we’ll evolve from there…

Since its been so dry down here, I haven’t gotten a chance to get crawlers out of the garden… What’s the best bait source on the west side of the lake? (Walker/Hiawatha areas) Does anywhere sell crawlers by the flat?

Thanks, I appreciate the reports – keep ’em coming if would be so kind…

Mike

Attached is a link to the latest Leech Report on the Jolly Roger Tackle webiste courtesy of Leisure Outdoor Adventures. A few days old, but perhaps could give you a starting point.

http://www.jollyrogertackle.com/category_s/89.htm

Good Luck

If it works out for you. Try trolling just after dark on some of the reefs in 8-14′ range with a #5 Shad rap. Put quite a few fish in the boat for us during the peak of the mayflys.

Question that just came to mind…

With all of these AIS concerns, stickers, roadside checks and ramp inspections in MN now, (and being from WI and not generally in the habit of keeping up with MN law changes) — do I need any sort of special out of state registration, sticker, etc…, to fish MN waters as a non-resident? (I assume WI boat license/registration is sufficient, but could be wrong…)

–Thanks!