Leech Lake Fishing Report for December 12th, 2023
December 14, 2023
Report from the Dock
Generally, ice conditions are just about where they were a week ago, with 3 to 5 inches being reported in a lot of locations and a bit more on some bays and small lakes in the northern part of the state. The state’s big lakes mostly remain sketchy, with pockets of water or skim ice, and in some cases, more water than last week due to strong winds, which shifted or chewed away at the ice that had developed.
While anglers are walking out to some extent in most areas, it appears that most are content to wait for thicker ice to form. Walleye reports are pretty light, but anglers still can’t get to most of those traditional, first-ice spots that kick out walleyes due to lagging ice depths. Crappies and bluegills seem to be providing better action because they have remained mostly in shallow water – spots that are accessible.
Leech Lake Report
Activity around the lake continues to be limited. Horseshoe Bay and Steamboat Bay have 5 to 7 inches of ice and some spearing has started. There’s also been some foot traffic on the area’s small lakes, although that’s been light as well. Ice conditions on the main lake are not favorable, Agency Bay might be ready to walk on by this weekend, while Walker Bay was wide open as of Tuesday morning with some thin ice up to Templar Point and around Sand Point.