6/9/12 Play The Hand You're Delt-Leech Lake Bass

Nothing but high Sky's today. Not exactly great fishing for Muskies, Walleyes or Pike. These bluebird days can be however pretty productive for Bass and Bluegills.

 I like to look for Largemouths in heavy rice or Lilly pads this time of year. Both is even better. In fact my favorite sunny day bucketmouth pattern is a small clump of pads inside of a Wild Rice bed. Usually 2-5 f.o.w. The Lilly Pads act as parasols and offer cover from overhead predators such as Eagles. Between the Bald Eagles overhead and the 30# Muskies in the 5'-10' weed flats, the thick shallow weeds and rice of Leech lake mean survival for the Largemouth. The best way to extract these fish is with a weedless frog or spoon. And not just because of the heart-stopping strikes. It's actually the best way to get them out. On overcast days I might opt for a swimming jig, fluke or spinnerbait worked around heavy cover but when it's sunny, look to the slop.

 

 

 

 

 I guess they don't call them Sunnies for nothing. Look for Bluegills in the thickest weed clumps or reed edges near drop-offs adjacent to spawning areas and pitch small jig and plastic combos under a float. My favorite presentation is a 1" smoke Power Tube under a small Thill slip Bobber.