Leech Lake Area

May 4, 2012
Crappies are moving in and out of the harbors on the far end of Steamboat Bay. A few crappies also are coming from shallow water in Shingobee Bay and Sucker Bay, but the bite has been inconsistent throughout the lake. Perch reports also have been limited, with a few pods of decent perch being found in the narrows in less the six feet.

 

April 27, 2012
Water temps in most channels and harbors were between 46 and 51 degrees early this week and there hasn't been many crappies showing up. It seems most anglers catch a few fish, but no numbers. There's been perch activity with a jig and minnow in six feet or less in the narrows.

 

April 20, 2012
Cold and windy weather limited angling activity early in the week. Once the weather warms and stabilizes for a few days, look for crappies and sunfish to move into the shallow bays and harbors throughout the lake. These bays and some of the shallow weedbeds within them also will produce perch.

April 13, 2012
Prior to the cold weather early this week, perch action was strong in the Federal Dam and narrows areas in six to nine feet. Anglers also were finding bluegills and an occasional crappie in the harbors and bays throughout Shingobee Bay and Steamboat Bay.

April 5, 2012
The ice is gone, but there isn’t much to report for perch or panfish action. This could change quickly with a few days of warm weather, which should drive crappies into the shallow bays, channels, and boat harbor areas.

March 30, 2012
Strong wind early this week was chewing up remaining ice on the big part of the lake. There may be some ice floating this weekend, but there's also a good chance it will be ice-free if the area receives any additional wind, rain, or warm weather.

March 23, 2012
A few people were getting on the ice as late as Monday, but it is no longer recommended. Walker Bay, for example, turned extremely black after Monday night’s rain and most shorelines have opened too far for foot travel. Main-lake ice conditions are not looking good so the ice fishing season came to a quick end.

March 16, 2012
ATVs and walking should be an option this weekend, but some access points are getting beat up. Perch anglers are sorting through small fish and putting together decent catches off Sand Point, First Duck Point, and Second Duck Point in 12 to 16 feet. Tullibee action has been best in the 35- to 40-foot trench off Stoney Point.

 

March 9, 2012
Perch action has been slow and the fish being caught are scattered from six to 14 feet. Best bet is to stay mobile, picking off a few good-sized perch from the usual spots such as Pine Point, Sand Point, and the Hardwoods areas. A few tullibee reports have started coming in from the deep water off Stoney Point. But there’s a pressure ridge to deal with so you have to go off Pine Point to get at them.

March 2, 2012
Anglers continue to sort through their perch to put together a batch of “keepers” off Sand Point in 15 feet. You won’t find as many numbers of perch, but more quality off Stoney Point and the Hardwoods areas in 10 to 15 feet. Bluegill and crappie action has been slow in the bays with just a few crappies coming out of Shingobee Bay in 25 feet during the evening hours.

 

February 24, 2012
Walleye action has picked up again on the south end of Walker Bay and south of Cedar Point in 15 to 25 feet. The best perch reports are coming out of Trader’s Bay and the Stoney Point area in 15 to 20 feet. You’ll also find active perch in the Hardwoods area, First Duck Point, and Second Duck Point in 10 to 15 feet. Panfish action is limited to a few crappies out of Shingobee Bay in 20 to 24 feet.

February 17, 2012
The most consistent perch reports are coming from First Duck Point and Second Duck Point in nine to 13 feet or near Sand Point in 10 to 15 feet. These areas also will produce a few walleyes during the evening hours. Better numbers of keeping-sized walleyes are being caught during low-light periods in 25 to 28 feet south of Cedar Point.

 

February 10, 2012
Perch action has been pretty solid in 10 to 15 feet off Sand Point, the Goose Island Flats, and Meadows area during the morning hours. The key is to stay on the move and pick off the bigger fish. Look for walleyes on the 15- to 24-foot break out from Cedar Point. Stoney Point also has produced some walleyes during low-light periods in 16 to 22 feet.

February 2, 2012
The walleye bite on the deep humps in Walker Bay has slowed and the fish that are hitting have been small. Better numbers of keeping-sized walleyes are being taken on the 12- to 22-foot break between Sand Point and Cedar Point or off Stoney Point in 15 to 20 feet. Catching nice perch involves a lot of moving around in the Little Hardwood, Big Hardwood, and Duck Point areas between nine and 12 feet.

 

January 26, 2012
Walleyes continue to be caught in good numbers throughout the 25- to 30-foot humps in Walker Bay, but you have to sort through a lot of small fish. Better numbers of keeping-sized walleyes are being found in 15 to 18 feet between Goose Island and Pine Point and from Sand Point to Cedar Point. Stoney Point is giving up walleyes in 20 feet as well. Look to the Hardwoods and First Duck Point for perch in nine to 12 feet and you will have to sort through some small fish.

January 20, 2012
Ice depths remain inconsistent, but they have improved enough for ATVs to be used on most parts of the lake. Walleyes are being caught on the 25- to 32-foot humps in Walker Bay during the evening hours, but you will have to sort through quite a few small fish. Stoney Point and Pine Point also have given up a few walleyes during low-light periods in 14 to 16 feet. The best perch action is coming off First and Second Duck Point in 10 to 12 feet. The key here is to stay on the move.

January 13, 2012
Ice depths continue to vary in Walker Bay. Generally, the better ice is found over shallow water with "iffy" ice depths on the deeper parts of the bay. Anglers are using ATVs to get to the deep humps in the bay and they're catching a few walleyes during the evening hours over 27 to 32 feet. If you stay on the move during daytime hours, you'll hit some perch in 10 to 12 feet on the flats in Trader's Bay and around Goose Island. These areas also will kick out a few walleyes at night. Stoney Point started producing walleyes during low-light periods as well.

 

January 5, 2012
Ice depths vary and there are some cracks and heaves to deal with on the south end, but ATVs are being used on most of the main lake. The 30-foot plus humps in Walker Bay are kicking out numbers of walleyes during low-light periods, but most have been small. Off the points such as Cedar, Sand, and Pine you won't catch as many fish, but you will find bigger walleyes in 12 to 15 feet of water. There have been a few better perch reports coming in from 10 to 14 feet near Goose Island and the Hardwoods area during midday hours.

 

December 30, 2011
Ice depths average six to 11 inches in Walker Bay, but there are some areas within or near the bay that have less ice. Some of the main-lake areas, those spots being fished, anyway, have a foot or more of ice and ATVs are being used to reach those areas. Walker Bay is giving up plenty of small walleyes in 30 feet or more, with a few more keeping-sized fish coming out of 20 feet. The best walleye action is coming off Pine Point and Stoney Point during low-light periods in seven to nine feet. There has been a few consistent perch reports off the east and west sides of Goose Island in 12 feet.

December 23, 2011
Ice conditions depend on the area you want to fish. There's as much as 10 inches on some spots, but plenty of thin ice and cracks around the points and in the bigger bays, so caution is advised. Pine Point has favorable ice so anglers are working this area and catching a few walleyes and perch in 12 to 15 feet. The south end of Goose Island is giving up some walleyes during the evening in 19 feet, and the first significant shoreline break in Walker Bay is good for "one or two walleyes" each night.

December 16, 2011
Ice depths vary with Walker Bay and much of the main lake holding six to eight inches, but there are spots with much less ice. The best walleye reports are coming off Pine Point in 10 to 12 feet or the humps of Walker Bay in 25 to 30 feet during the evening hours with jigging spoons. A few bluegill reports are coming off Shingobee Bay in 15 to 20 feet.