Leech Lake- Early June Fishing Report

Outright Angling - Leech Lake Fishing Report for June 10th 2019

June is such a great month for Leech Lake fishing, the bite has been even better since my last report. Bent rods, high-fives and smiles from one end of the lake to the other, all species are on the chew. 

Walleyes have been the main target, with great fish coming topside on nearly every outing. A jig-and-minnow has accounted for the most bites, but the fish are starting to show a preference for leeches and night crawlers as the water warms.  I predict that a live bait rig with a leech will be a solid bet over the next few weeks. 6-14 feet of water has been most productive depths to fish lately. Trolling shallow crankbaits at night in 8-10 feet of water has been a hot tactic too for those who don't mind loosing a bit of sleep, this bite should continue for a while. 

Muskies will be the target for some this week, we have already put a couple dandies in the boat without much effort. Either casting very shallow weedy bays, or trolling over the basin can be productive tactics during the month of June for muskellunge. Casting the classic "summer spots" will really start to shine later in July for these beasts. I'm really looking forward to this! 

Cheers and hook-sets,

Capt. Phil Bauerly

outrightangling.com  

June into July- Leech Lake

As water temps creep up, our versatility gets tested some days. The past few weeks we have caught Walleyes pulling spinners near rock piles, slip bobbering cabbage weeds, pitching jigs on windy shorelines, rigging leeches and minnows in sand and burning crankbaits in 25 f.o.w.

               Some days we get dialed in right out of the gates and other days we work for it a bit.

                                            We have had some awesome weather.

                        The Leech Lake Smallmouth Bass population is definitely increasing.

A nice main lake "hog" Walleye.

 Some days it's been all keeper sized fish and I have had as many as 20 bigger slot fish other days with just a  few keepers to show for it. 

I have had the pleasure to fish with some really great guest anglers.

                                                         
                                                                  An evening limit.

Here is dad with a beauty, helping me scout on my "day off". 

Each day really is an awesome new adventure on Leech Lake.

Cheers and hook-sets!

Minnesota N' Ice

I recall being in my early twenties and rolling my eyes at the subject of local culture. I suppose that young people everywhere, thinking the grass is greener, believe that their surroundings are tacky or boring. Fast forward a decade and and half or so and to me; pac boots, hot dish and ice fishing are some of the best things about living here in the north woods. 

                                          B.Y.O.H.D = Bring Your Own Hot Dish!

                                                      Cheers and hook-sets!

Winter Solst-Ice Fishing Leech Lake

Leech lake fishing remains solid with a nice balance of eater sized Walleyes and chunky slot fish. Mobility has been key during early ice as fish move on and off of key structural locations. Being able to fish 2-3 locations during prime times has been crucial when fish are in a neutral feeding mode. Mid-depth humps and shallower flats have been most productive. It is often important to know where and how fish move on and off of these structures to be able to intercept them. I believe that the next few months will be just as productive.  Sure, the Walleye bite often slows a bit by mid-late January but fishing during prime times can still be quite productive. Adding in other species like Perch, Pike, Crappies and Bluegills can keep the action going during mid-day. Gold spoons have been my presentation of choice with the bobber rod/dead stick going ignored most of the time, but I expect that to change as the winter progresses. 

With the lack of heavy snow cover, sight fishing for shallow water Walleyes has been a real treat. Big fish often prowl 8'-12' troughs running up into the shallow flats during mid day. Playing keep-away with small Perch passes the time until  larger figures swim into view. Walleyes come a long ways to investigate aggressively jigged, flashy spoons and gobble them like Cookie Monster. 

    Walleyes from 24"-28" are pretty common catches these days thanks to
   protective slot limits and selective harvest.

 Here is Brian with a true daily double.

 Big Panfish are not protected so it's up to us to sustain these beauties. 

                                                            Cheers and hook-sets!

Leech Lake Doesn't Dissapoint

 

I had a really fun day fishing the AIM WWS Leech Lake with my brother Sunday and got another tournament under my belt. I really like the catch-record-release format...despite a tournament oversight with our score card which has been corrected to 15.90# for 5 fish. Lots of hog Walleyes were scored Sunday proving once again that Leech Lake really is a great fishery.

                              
                                                          Cheers and hook-sets!

June Walleyes-Leech Lake

 

Fish are starting to scatter a bit. It takes a bit of scrounging to get bites one day and then it's lights out the next. Spinner/crawler rigs and crankbaits have not produced for me yet so it has been a jigs and rigs with Minnows and Leeches deal. I had the pleasure of fishing with some great folks this week and have a busy week coming up. I got out Muskie casting for a few hours yesterday and moved a few really nice fish. With stable weather, the Muskie bite should really get cranking.

Cheers and hook-sets!

A Great Tournament Weekend on Leech Lake

The Leech Lake Walleye Tournament was held this past weekend and the lake did not disappoint. 1200+ Walleyes were weighed in with some really nice ones between 26" and 30" as well.

My partner Jim and I were cursed with slot fish on day one and released 9 fish between 20 and 26 inches that we could not weigh in. Our day one highlight was Jim's fat 26-1/4 incher that weighed just under 6#. Day 2 we caught plenty of fish under the legal slot of 20" and weighed in our 6 but didn't get that big fish we were looking for.

Some days it's more eaters and others the big slot fish but that's fishing.

 I can't wait for next year, what a great fishery.

Cheers and hook-sets!

Walleye fishing on my lunch break- Video

Cheers and hook-sets!

Keep Throwin' Lures 'Till They Bounce...Then Grab an Auger!

With water temps in the 2-1-8 mainly in the 40's, it's almost now or never time for open water anglers and fish.

 

 

 

Cheers and hooksets!

 

Bring-Yo-Bling For Leech Lake Walleyes

What do shallow woman and leech lake walleyes have in common?

They both LOVE shiny things.

With the lake full of forage options right now, get a walleyes attention with flash and bling.

Here are some of my best patterns from the past few weeks. Mostly silver combos with a little gold here and there. 1.7-2 mph is a good speed to start out at right now. I use planer boards for fish shallower then 20' or when fishing multiple lines. For breaklines, try sending a shallow diver behind a planer board up-top and run a deeper model straight behind, keeping the boat in 15-25 f.o.w. Run Husky Jerks or Bomber Long A's with a short lead (40'-60') behind the board when fishing over weeds.

 
                                                                cheers and hooksets!

4/15/12 Rainy River Trip To Remember!!

The following report was done by Jim from Sartel who was kind enough to let me join him on this amazing trip. Jim has fished the river with good success in the past but neither of us new what to expect when we drove up to the Rainy river that day.


Quote Jim:
Well, this past week I posted an "Open Seat" offer for anyone who was interested in going to the Rainy with me on Friday and Saturday. To my surprise I only had one call about the offer?? Fancaster, a member of  Lake State Fishing, called me on Tuesday night and excepted the offer. I picked Phil up on Thursday night in Walker and we headed north with HAWG WALLEYES on the brain.
I received a few reports from some friends of mine who had been fishing there for a couple days and others who had just fished the river on Thursday.....it sounded really promising! We were on the water on Friday at 8:00, near Birchdale. The first fish of the morning was a 27" that I hooked using a "Live Target" rattle bait. It was a skinny fish that was spawned out, but never the less, it was nice!! We didn't really get into the fish very heavy until about 10:00...this is when Phil had put on a 4" - pearl colored swim bait with a paddle tail. The rest of the day was an absolute "BEAT DOWN" on the walleyes!! I have only fished walleyes with plastics a couple of times in my life.......wow was I surprised at the way these fish were "SMASHING OUR BAITS"!!! It was the most fun I've ever had catching walleyes in my life!! Phil and I went back and fourth netting each other's fish and laughing about the comment, "Oh, just another cookie cutter 23''!! We caught 175 eyes in a day and a half on plastics alone! I put a minnow on Saturday for a few casts and then went back to plastics or the Live Target rattle bait. We had some rainy weather role in on Friday afternoon, but the fishing only got better!
Phil is one heck of a good stick, and on Friday, I had to have my "A" Game on so that he wouldn't mop up on me in my own rig!! On Saturday he pretty much showed me what an
"A_ _ - Whoopin' is really like.....I think he caught 45 or 50 of our 75 fish!!
We pitched plastics up into three feet of water and drug them back with hits in every depth up to 8 foot! Five feet was the best depth for us overall.
The trip was one for our record books, and I got to meet another great fisherman in the process!! I'd like to thank Phil for coming along and making the trip a total blast!!
The biggest fish of our trip is the last fish pictured. It is my pig that tipped the JUDGE at just over 29". This is my personal best walleye! It does not look that big in the picture....I know!! That's because of the beast holding the fish !! My fish get no justice with me holding them for pictures!! Phil was my witness though, so I'm covered on the lengths of my fish!!
The rest of the pictures are of some really nice 27" thru 28" slobs!!
I'll end this post by saying......"UNBELIEVABLE"!!