Nice job Billy. You going down this weekend?

Green Lund ProV Tiller with Honda 90 hp. We did not fish in the big crowds though. It is not hard to tell where we caught the fish by the picture though.

Nice work Terry! Looks like you finally got the new boat broke in with some nice ‘eyes!

Here is the reponse I got from the DNR in regards to the populations of smaller walleyes and Cormorants. Sounds like they are on it, let’s hope that they will be able to take action:

Mr. Fruland:

Your message was forwarded to me. My name is Pat Rivers and I am the
Large Lake Specialist for Leech Lake.

Fish populations in any lake cycle. Right now, the abundance of
walleye on Leech Lake is relatively low. We started annually sampling
Leech Lake in 1983. Since that time, catch rates have ranged from 4.7
to 13.8 walleye per set. Last year, our catch rate was 5.2 per set. We
have seen similar patterns of abundance in the past, with low abundance
being associated with large fish. As you noted, the proportion of large
fish is actually quite high. This is due to 1) the exceptional strength
of the 1994, 1995, and 1997 year classes and 2) the poor year class of
2000. Walleye from the 2000 year class are not abundant and are just
reaching “keeper” sizes. We did sample walleye smaller than 17 inches.
In fact, 37 percent of our gillnet catch was smaller than 15 inches.
Last year and again this year, anglers note that few small walleye were
caught. I cannot explain why these fish are not biting. However, I do
know there are smaller walleye in Leech Lake. As an aside, Agency Bay
and Sand Point anglers seem to be able to catch these smaller yet still
keepable walleye.

We estimate the abundance of mature female walleye as their numbers are
important for sustaining natural reproduction. Right now, their
abundance is quite high and not a cause for concern. We will continue
to measure their abundace as the older age classes leave the fishery and
younger ones enter.

The double-crested cormorant population on Leech Lake has risen
dramatically in recent years. In 1997, only 5 nesting pair were
counted. Last year, 1,144 nesting pair were counted. Walleye are one
of 33 documented fish species in Leech Lake. Certainly, cormorants eat
most– if not all– of these species to varying degrees. We (MNDNR,
Leech Lake Band of Ojibwa) are investigating what our options are for 1)
investigating what impacts cormorants are having on Leech Lake and 2)
what control measures can be taken if indeed there are negative impacts.
Cormorants are protected under the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act
and their control is not so simple as to just go shoot a given number of
birds. In addition to nesting birds, we need to investigate what
impacts migrating birds have on fish populations, as their numbers are
significant in the spring and fall.

I hope this helps. If you have any further questions, feel free to
give me a call or email.

————————————————-

I just emailed the DNR to see what they thought of the situation or if they think there is situation. It will be interesting to see what they respond with. I will report back when I hear from them.

Great report Putz. Just got back from Leech last night and would have to ditto what you said. I would also add that we found a few fish on the rock humps off Rogers Point and did quite well on Submarine.

I have never seen so many Cormorants in my life. I am pretty sure that after they eat all the walleyes they could potentially start attacking fisherman. Why are those birds protected anyways? Can you imagine the money they are costing Walker and the resorts on Leech if they continue to hurt the walleye population. I personally did not hear of one fish caught that was under 17 inches at our tournament up there.

There has to be something the local government can do to thin those birds out. I know if I were running for the Mayor of Walker that issue would be at the center of my platform.

I was thinking about staying at Horseshoe Bay this weekend, anybody have anything good or bad to say about this resort?

We also pulled some solid fish in this general area on Sunday. Just down stream of the Prespyterian (Spelling)point. Seemed like as soon as the boat traffic both fishing and cruising to and from Pepin picked up the bite died. Both lead core and long lining shad raps were effective.

We hit the water on Sunday. The wind was just about as strong as one would really want and I think the fish were about as off as you could possisbly want as well. Marked a ton of fish off breaks up by the damn, but couldn’t get anything excited.

Short cold day, but always good to be on the water.

Anybody figure out the fish on Sunday or was the weather too tough.

Ya well, I had to crop the heck out of the picture to get it under the 100kb limit.

Jickey,
Adam wants to know where your pictures of fish are from the weekend such that we can critique your photographic flare!

Had to get his ugly mug under 100 kb. Not an easy task so I had to wait to get on my high power computer at work.

Here it is.

THANKS JOHN FOR THE TIP! IT WILL MAKE MY POSTING MUCH EASIER IN THE FUTURE!

Sounds like a good time. Count me in, how many boats do you expect to float tomorrow.