Report from the Dock
It’s been a tough week for consistently catching walleyes in many parts of the state, but water temperatures dipped last week and likely spiked again this week with the warmer weather. Generally, walleyes are scattered all over the place, from 10 to 40 feet depending on the lake, and not really bunched up, as anglers were hoping for. Many reports indicated a fish here and one there and then you have to move; covering water has been key. Crappies and bluegills continue to be weed-related on most lakes, with deep and shallow weeds holding bluegills while bigger crappies seem to be relating to deep weed locations, often suspended just off them. There wasn’t much on the muskie front this week, while bass and pike are hitting in most locations. Bear hunting reports were all solid again this week. Many locations reported that this has been the best bear season in recent memory, and many tags have already been filled.
Leech Lake Report
Cover water with crankbaits in 8 to 12 feet on the flats around Goose Island for walleyes. The Annex area is kicking out walleyes in 14 to 16 feet on a jig and piece of crawler or crankbaits. Trolling crankbaits at night in 9 to 12 feet from Sand Point to Cedar Point in Walker Bay continues to produce walleyes as well. Perch reports remain light, and the majority of fish being caught have been small. Muskie action has been best along the shallow weeds on the north end of Walker Bay and around the shallow rocks off Otter Tail Point and Pipe Island.