Report from the Dock
Not much has changed from a week ago, which means people are just starting to walk out and fish in many areas. Obviously, ice thickness is better the farther north you go. Generally, there wasn’t much ice gained since last week, but there hasn’t been any lost, either. Most reports indicate 3 to 6 inches of ice on small, shallow lakes and bays, with less ice and some pockets of water still remaining on the state’s bigger bodies of water. This week’s forecast, which calls for warmer-than-normal temperatures, likely won’t improve ice conditions so you really need to use caution when venturing out, even where walkable ice is already in place. Northern pike seem to be most active with some panfish action mixed in, and most of those fish are coming from shallow water. With a few exceptions, Walleyes have been tough to come by, although many of those traditional, first-ice walleye spots have yet to be reached due to thin ice.
Leech Lake Report
Trader’s Bay, Agency Bay, Steamboat Bay, and most small bays or shorelines have walkable ice, while Walker Bay remained ice-free Tuesday morning. Anglers have been catching a few walleyes in Agency Bay early and late each day in less than 12 feet. There’s also been some foot traffic on many of the area’s small lakes, but fishing reports have been limited from them.