Report from the Dock
There seems to be plenty of ice fishing opportunities across the northern half of the state. At the very least you can walk on most lakes and there’s even been some ATV use in a few areas that froze earliest. From central Minnesota and points south of it, ice conditions remain sketchy so there hasn’t been much fishing activity to report. While foot travel has started in a few areas, ice depths have not improved much at all in central and southern Minnesota since last week. Crappies and bluegills seem to be biting more consistently than walleyes in areas people have been fishing to the north. Most of them are being found in the remaining weedbeds or weed edges, although some crappies are showing up suspended over deep basin areas that are accessible. Generally, the primary walleye spots have been tough to get to, even in the northern part of the state, where better ice exists. Most expectations are that this is going to change by this weekend as ice depths continue improving.
Leech Lake Report
The main lake has 5 to 7 inches of ice in many areas and you’ll find 4 inches out from the park in Walker Bay, but much of the bay still had sketchy ice early this week. Walleyes are being caught in Trader’s Bay and the Pine Point area in 10 to 13 feet during low-light periods. Anglers also are walking on the area’s small lakes, but there is enough snow on them that slush has developed on most.