Leech lake best tactics

Hello IDO, I am planning on going on a trip to Leech Lake on December 18 with my dad. We are fishing out of trappers landing, focusing mainly on walleye. I have never fished Leech Lake before,and was wondering if there is a specific bait that that I should make sure to bring. Mille Lacs is linked to gold spoons and LOTW is linked with red and firetiger baits, so I was wondering if theres a specific color combination anyone has had a lot of luck with?

Or a plain red hook.

I’m sorry that I can’t find it, but believe James did a show out of Trapper’s in the last year or two around the same time of year that you’re going. Spend some time looking in the archives and you’ll find some good info either way.

I’d book Phil Bauerly from Outright angling for a half day at least if possible. I’ve ice fished Leech a fair amount and in my experience you need to stay very mobile to stay on the fish throughout the day, if it’s possible to stay on them. A lot of people will just fish eye’s during the primetime’s and chase perch during the day.

Some good advice here. I’ve fished Leech lots of times, but never had a good winter trip for walleyes. I’m sure it can be done, but some local knowledge would go a long way to catching fish through the ice up there.

I’ve been to leech 3 times and have never caught a walleye that wasn’t either at night or during the dusk/dawn periods. But I’ve only been there 3 times so I’m obviously an amateur (seriously, I am). I have always heard that it’s a really tough lake to catch walleyes during the day on because the water is so clear. I usually target perch during the day and have done really well the 3 times I have been there. I have heard that purple is a good color for this lake, but when I go it has always been in a group and we have all been using different colors with no difference in catch rate.

My best luck is when you mark baitfish on the sonars once in awhile. And when I do have luck it’s primetime windows and short and sweet.

Agreed, I’ve never had much luck for eyes either and will be passing on the lake this year even though I have free lodging.

Always fished the main lake east side, from sugar down passed bear and out to Annex. I know some ol timers who hang out in their shacks all day not far offshore in rocks who catch big eyes, but it’s not gangbusters.