Back in 2007 we had a website, teamwalleye.org. That was great, but as the"blog" has evolved to almost the same thing, why pay for a website when a blog is free.The following is a republishing of a three part series that Dave originally wrote for that website. It outlines Leech Lake structure, and the fishing meathods that have been most successful for us these past Openers.
January/February 2007
It’s mid-January and we are 4 months away from the opener at Brindley’s Harbor, Leech lake, MN. Ice fishing is in full swing after an extended period of warm weather. I have been fishing Mille Lacs quite a bit with some pretty impressive results. Although the perch bite is somewhat on the slow side, the walleye bite has been excellent. The magic hour before sunset seems to be key to success.
Early reports show that Leech Lake should really be putting out a good number of fish from the 2005 year class. These fish have demonstrated phenomenal growth and indications are that there will be plenty of fish in the 13 – 14 inch range. This could really make the Points Challenge interesting. In addition, the number of larger fish in the lake is very high. The 2006 tourney saw excellent numbers of larger fish caught and released.
Speaking of the 2006 Tourney, I would like to spend a moment to discuss the winning tactic used to capture the Big Fish award. 99% of all fish are caught using live minnows either on a jig head or live bait rig such as a Lindy Rig. The typical presentation consists of dragging these rigs over relatively snag free flats and points such as Pine Point, Little Hardwoods, Goose Island, and Snakepit Flats. It is hard to argue with this tactic when the walleyes are schooled in those areas however the presentation becomes more difficult if the walleyes are located along the rocky areas of Leech such as Big Hardwoods Point, Ottertail, Duck Point, and Stoney Point. Also, when fishing a large area where walleyes are scattered, slow drift may severely limit the amount of area you can effectively cover, reducing your overall catch. This was apparent during the last segment of the 2006 tourney. John and I had decided to fish Stoney Point and the large rock reef that projects into the lake. Within 30 minutes we had a nice 21” fish and the next ½ hour put another 20 incher. Although encouraging, we were getting hung up quite often and the dying wind slowed our travel to a crawl. It was obvious that the fish were there but if we could not cover water faster, we may only settle for another 1 or 2 fish. Sensing an opportunity, we dispensed with our standard jig and minnows, switching to a #7 shad rap trolling pattern. This allowed us to effectively cover more water without the fear of constant snagging. Within 50 feet we had our first walleye on the new presentation. In the next hour we boated another 4 walleyes, 3 rock bass, and the biggest northern caught in years. This doesn’t even account for the 2 fish lost at the boat. The change in strategy rewarded us with 6 walleyes including the largest of the Tourney, 24.5 inches. Do not be afraid to experiment, it could be your ticket to the largest walleye this year!
Next month: Trolling tactics and strategies.
March/April 2007
Last month we explored the winning tactic used to secure the Big fish Trophy for 2006. As promised, this month we will venture further into the realm of trolling for walleye.
When we discuss trolling for walleye it can be broken down into two main strategies, live bait and crank baits.
Live bait trolling usually means pulling rigs such as Lindy Rigs, Spinner Rigs, Floaters, and jigs. When the wind is calm on Leech, this is the most popular live bait presentation. The usual bait of choice is the spot tailed shiner; however fatheads, rainbows, leeches, or crawlers can also be used. Leech Lake presentations rarely require snell lengths over 3 feet, however when fishing water less than 5 feet, you might consider a longer length, up to 10 feet. Don’t be afraid to experiment with your presentation. Adding a small nickel hammered spinner can really make the difference in a tough bite situation. Because we seldom fish deeper than 14 feet, a ¼ oz sliding weight is plenty to keep your rig near the bottom. Although the usual presentation is slow, don’t be afraid to vary your speed if the bite is tough. If the area you are fishing is rocky, try using a bottom bouncer instead of a typical sliding sinker. Hold the rod tip high and you should be able to effectively cover the area without getting snagged in the rocks. Back trolling live bait rigs in the evening can be very productive, especially in the shallow shorelines along Pine Point. Long line your rigs, at least 75 feet in the 3 – 5 foot depth range right next to shore and you may be rewarded with a limit of post spawn walleyes still using the shallows.
Crank bait trolling is an effective but seldom used technique during the Leech Lake opener. There are 2 types of crank baits to consider. They include the long narrow minnow imitators like the original Rapala and the Smithwick Rattlin Rouge, or the shad type crank baits including Rapala’s Shad Rap and the Wally Diver. Shiners tend to be the forage of choice on Leech Lake and “matching the hatch” only makes sense. The Silver Shad Rap is an excellent choice if you are crankin for the first time. A #5 is a good choice for depths to 7 feet and a #7 will run to 10 feet. One characteristic of Shad Raps is their tendency to bounce over the rocks, with their diving lips “ticking” the bottom. This creates additional noise which can really sound the dinner bell. Shad Raps occasionally get snagged but are easily freed. Fish the 3 – 7 foot areas at sunset to take advantage of the evening shallow water walleye movement. Start out with a #7 and if you seem to get hung up too much switch to a #5. Don’t be afraid to hug the shoreline and go shallow. Excellent areas include Big Hardwoods, Ottertail, Goose Island, Pine Point (especially at the point), Stoney Point, and any other rock/gravel shoreline that challenge traditional live bait rigging. Don’t overlook the use of small in-line planar boards to get your crank bait away from the boat and closer to shore. This can be a deadly presentation when the water is calm and you are concerned about spooking shallow water fish with your boat. This technique also helps to scatter the lines to cover more water.
So, if the fish seem scattered and you want to try something new, grab a Shad Rap and start trolling. You just might end up with the trophy this year!
Next month we will explore the traditional fishing hotspots on Leech and look at some new areas.
May 2007
Leech Lake is a very diverse body of water which identifies itself as a premier walleye lake in Minnesota. From rocky shorelines to windswept points, there are always opportunities to find active fish in a number of classic locations on Leech. We will explore those locations, discuss the specific structure, and offer ideas which could influence your fishing success.
Perhaps the best know of these locations are the windswept points located throughout the lake. Areas such as Pine Point, Ottertail, Big and Little Hardwoods, Stoney Point, and Duck Point are excellent examples of areas that are subjected to the effects of the wind and waves. Wind and waves tend to concentrate baitfish, reduce water clarity (light penetration) and create currents within the structure. These factors play a role in concentrating schools of walleye. One important factor is that most points are also adjacent to prime spawning areas. After spawn, walleyes tend to hang near the shallow structure next to these spawning areas. These points often have large 8 – 12 foot flat areas which are ideal for post spawn walleyes. In some situations like large wave conditions, a mud line will actually form on these points creating an ideal location to target walleyes. A bright chartreuse colored jig/minnow becomes an excellent presentation as you enter the mud line.
Another prime area during opener can be the large pre-emergent flat areas near the shorelines. West Goose Flats, Star Point and Steamboat Bay are excellent examples of this type of structure. Walleyes tend to scatter in these areas after spawning and are often on the prowl. These areas also hold good populations of northern pike and perch. Again dragging Lindy Rigs and minnow tipped jigs tend to be the main presentation. These areas produce well when the water temperature is warmer, say 55 degrees.
When fishing gets real tough, one of the go to spots is Snake Pit Flats. This is a deeper area where large females tend to hang out right after the spawn. Look for the some of the steeper drop off areas to begin your presentation. The name Snake Pit Flats lives up to its name. The northern pike bite can be excellent in this area with some very nice fish coming out of the deeper water.
Rocky shorelines, points and reefs offer another specific type of structure for locating old marble eyes. These areas tend to be the spot on the spot as part of another structure like Stoney Point, Ottertail Point and Goose Island. Rock areas are generally found closer to shore and near the first drop off. The rocks can prove difficult to fish but one can be successful using bottom bouncers, vertical jigging techniques as well as trolling crankbaits (covered last month). In addition to these areas are stand alone rock structures like Submarine Reef. Although somewhat farther from our base camp, Submarine Reef offers excellent lake sucker fishing, especially on a calm clear day. Thousands of fish engulf the reef and can provide an excellent alternative that might just save your day. Throw a crawfish colored crankbait and hang on!
There are countless areas in Leech Lake to fish. Do not be afraid to venture out and explore. Who knows, you may just discover the next new hot spot for Team Walleye!
