Typical opener

Well as most of our Minnesota fishing openers this weekend (or at least Saturday) will be a cold windy day on Leech lake. With NW west winds up to 25mph the lake will be rough to put it mildly. With the big lake being typically a wind driven bite anglers will be looking to the windblown point and shorelines. This will work for most but is not necessarily your only option this time of year. With water temps not reaching 60 (IMO) walleyes will still be shallow to very shallow and on typical spring shoreline areas regardless of wind direction. The cold front may slow the bite some but these fish are hungry and I think we will have a good bite even with conditions. My point being if you don’t want to get beat up in the rollers you will have other options.

The local bait shops have plenty of spot tails as of yesterday. That said I don’t think having smaller minnows aboard is a bad idea, but I will start out with shiners and jigs.

Another area I want to touch on is safety. This year could see more anglers leech lake than ever. This means crowds of boats in close quarters in many locations of the lake with rough waters. It is a must to make sure your equipment is up to snuff and operating properly but sh** happens. Be aware of boats around you and help a boater if need be. Boat problems can get ugly quick in rough water. All boats should have tow ropes. This will also be a good weekend to wear your life vests.

All good stuff. I would like to add if you plan on fishing into the dark. Your navigation lights need to go on at sunset. Not when you think it’s dark enough. And if you don’t have working lights – get off the water before sunset.

gizmoguy wrote:

All good stuff. I would like to add if you plan on fishing into the dark. Your navigation lights need to go on at sunset. Not when you think it’s dark enough. And if you don’t have working lights – get off the water before sunset.

Very good point!!

Figures will be windy and tough as this is my first opener on Leech. I have waited long enough for Mille Lacs to get straitened out so hoping this is a start to a new tradition. Good luck to all and have a safe opener! Thanks for the good advice!

Good post Mr. Wilson…and good luck to all! I defer until Monday.

27 degrees with a wind chill in the teens…you gotta be awful mad at those fish to….LOL. I defer!

Its a long season. I’m going to pick my times wisely to fish and this weekend is not one of them. You pretty much could not have asked for worst conditions for opener.

bradl110 wrote:

You pretty much could not have asked for worst conditions for opener.

hurray, can’t wait!

For someone who has never been there is there any advice on accesses that are less of a madhouse than others? Also, is there a public access on Oak Point? It’s marked on Navionics map but I can’t find any info about it and don’t see anything on Googles satellite view.

Just seeing this now–too late? Ramps at resorts are usually less busy than the public ramps in or around town.

Oak Point Resort has a ramp….but depending on what direction you are coming from, getting there might be a long ways by road.