Headed to Leech Lake Oct 5-Oct 8

My father and I will be on Leech for only the second time. Last year we did OK, but are still learning the lake and would like to find a more consistant bite.

We didnt get down into Walker Bay at all, is anyone getting walleye on the humps there? Any depths? Is it worth the boat ride down there?

We mostly stayed around Duck points, Stoney, Goose Island Flats and Otter Tail.

The day bite is where we had our biggest downtime, I know people say fish bite all day on Leech, but I thought some deeper humps might offer some more consistant action.

Thank you!

One of the guides might chime in here but here’s what I know.
I don’t get to fish Leech very often but always 1 week, every year.

I play the wind. If the wind blows…I fish walleye. If not, I drink beer.
I can count the numbers of times on 1 hand that I’ve done well if it wasn’t rock’n and roll’n out there.
The more miserable it is, the better the bite. At least, that’s been my experience.

I don’t get into the deeper water often either but when I do, it’s tough without a stiff rod (hook set) and no-stretch line.

I’ll be watching this thread for other comments from guys that get to fish it more often…sure wish I lived up there instead of in the county in MN without a natural lake !

I’ve heard from a few buddies up there recently that the fishing isn’t too bad at all, a number of trophy fish coming off it.

They have been doing well on the hardwoods & goose island area pitching a light jig or rigging with a red tails and rainbows.

It’s always fun messing around the humps and steep breaks of Walker Bay. Cedar can be good as there are always fish on it, just a matter of what kind of depths they are at. Don’t be afraid to cruise over the 30-40ft range to try and mark fish. I would give rigging red tails and snapping a jigging rap on some of those humps and deeper breaks.

We were up there a few weeks ago now on a Skeeter shoot and we went out to Stony Point, the guys were just casting around and posing for pictures but were able to get bit a few times on Rippin’ Raps but only boated a small fish. Mind you they were also pitching right up to the point in under 4′ of water.

Good luck! Should be a great time to check out the colors up there!

Walleye fishing is quite good right now on the main lake points, all the spots you mentioned are worth a check. I’m doing best pitching a jig and minnow or jig and 4″ white plastic right up to the shoreline rocks where the wind has been coming in. This bite has lasted into mid-day and sometimes all day. In some conditions the 6′-10′ stuff has produced during mid-day. The key is to fish fairly fast until you find that sweet spot, then slow down and work it over. Shallow trolling at night near these same areas with a #10 or #12 Husky jerk has been pretty consistent as well. Walker bay is very close to turning over, I’ll try to update this tomorrow.

Attachments:

1. 

   P1090709.jpg
   

We are struggling. The wind has been tough. We caught one fish today just south of goose island.

We have been fishing in 8-10′ of water, should we go shallower?

We are also drifting jigs with a wind sock at .8 to 1.2 mph, maybe we need to anchor up and cast more????

Any tips would be appreciated!!!!

Leaves are pretty, sky is blue, beer is cold, life is good…..more fish would make it great!

Dave –

The weather looks like NW wind? Like I said, wind is good. Fish the wind blown shores. Pine or better yet Stoney points should be good with that wind.
I’ve caught fish right up in the rocks on both of these when the wind was crankin.
8-10 seems a little deep to me. Try going in and coming out again…depends on how brave you feel getting in close to shore…I’ve been really close to shore and hammered ’em but it’s a little unnerving in that close!
I typically don’t anchor but try to glide down the shoreline. You can pitch jigs doing this too.
Best I got. Good luck!

Never been on the lake, but know some pitching tips.

When wind is kicking use the bow Mount with nose pointed into wind and glide DOWN the shoreline, wind sock as well if equipped, no sense in going into the mess. Cast as much with the wind as you can, makes for less of a bow in your line in turn keeps sensitivity.

Step up the jig weight, but also beef up the plastic to keep a slower fall rate possible with added bouyancy, waters cold. Cranks can be good if the waves don’t kill the action, and countdown raps, especially the xraps have been butter for me being heavier than normal which shines with wind.

Typically shores with a nice steep drop right on the edge, even only 8-12″ is better than none, something to trap those baitfish on. As well as areas that might create a “mudline” effect say 4-5′ out into the lake, probably not to much mud on that lake but still doesnt mean wind cant dirty up a shoreline, fish will cruise that just like a current seam. Keep us posted.

Wind is almost straight from the west. We were on stony when u posted the message and are now floating around pine with 5 other boats. Nobody is catching anything.

Booze or dynamite?

We bounced back and caught 7 keepers and released a 23, 23, 24 and 26″ fish.

Stoney point, 5-6′ of water, 1/8 oz jigs and fatheads.

Wind changed, colder today, dragging out feet, but heading out now.

Thanks y’all!

Attachments:

1. 

   image16.jpg
   

2. 

   image15.jpg
   

3. 

   image14.jpg
   

4. 

   image13.jpg
   

Well done,,, had to be a good chop out there. Haven’t been out for over a week now. the wind seems to blow every day, got’a be some fish stacked up shallow out there.

Great job! I think I saw you out there today. That wind was brutal!!!

Black and white Skeeter? There wasnt a lot of boats out there.

We had our limit early, so took it easy today. Boat control was pretty tough, but the bite was still on in the evening!