Report from the Dock
Everything was lining up nicely for good ice and lake conditions prior to last week’s snow. Anglers were getting out, using ATVs, side by sides, and even trucks in some areas, but most of that has come to an end. While snow depths varied across the state, enough of it fell just about everywhere to cause slushy conditions and water underneath it. With a significant cold front behind the snow early this week, there hasn’t been much fishing activity, at least not as much as there could have been if lake conditions remained favorable and ice would have continued building. Anglers have continued to walk out and use ATVs or snowmobiles in those areas that weren’t hit the hardest, but there’s quite a few locations that you now need a track vehicle to get around if there hasn’t been any roads or trails opened. Hopefully, it gets cold enough to freeze the existing slush and the state doesn’t receive another round of measureable snow this week.
Leech Lake
Between 8 and 11 inches of snow fell last week and that caused slush to develop throughout the lake. Tracked vehicles or snowmobiles are probably the best means to get around on the main lake where up to 11 inches of ice is being reported, but there are still spots with 7 to 9 inches, and less than that in Walker Bay. Most resorts or outfitters are shooting for the week after Christmas to start letting people out. The few people fishing are catching some walleyes in 10 to 16 feet off the points and shoreline breaks. There’s been some foot traffic in Walker Bay, where a few walleyes are being taken off the shoreline breaks in 12 to 18 feet.