2019 Leech Lake Fishing Opener Forecast

Well, things are shaping up nicely for the MN fishing opener here on Leech Lake. With decent weather and temps forecast for this week, we should see water temps approaching 50 degrees for opening day. Walleyes will likely be finishing up their spawning rituals later this week, so the careful handling of larger females is good practice.

Major main lake points and adjacent flats are typically good areas to check, depths of 5'-12' are typically most productive. If this isn't working, try moving to the shallow, warmer water at the north end of the lake where baitfish and walleyes often congregate on 5'-10' flats. I like to avoid the crowds and find fish that haven't been bothered as much. If you have side-imaging, you can often key in on these spooky fish much quicker, and make long casts in this cold, clear water. Pitching 1/8 oz jig and minnow combos is the classic technique, but soft plastics and even hard baits can produce well too.

Crappies can be a nice bonus this time of year, and many slab crappies have already been caught all the way around the shallow perimeter of Leech Lake this spring. We are seeing crappies staging in deeper water during the cooler mornings lately. If you have side-imaging, you can locate these fish a bit faster. Later in the afternoons, try the shallow shorelines and pencil reeds in 3-5 feet of water for these favorites. We typically harvest a couple of nice crappies per person, and release the rest for future generations. Wow will they put a smile on your face!

Have a safe and fun opener everyone, we'll see you out there!

Cheers and hook-sets,
Capt. Phil Bauerly
outrightangling.com

Early Ice Action Right Now

Warm-Ups

Don't get me wrong with this title, I do enjoy early open water fishing for crappies, bluegills, suckers, perch and stream trout. However, big water walleye fishing is in my veins and the grand tradition of "walleye opener" can't come soon enough for me. To build on the anticipation, Leech Lake is one of the best early season walleye lakes anywhere with loads of 15"-20" fish right now with just enough bigger fish to make things really interesting for fisher folk. 

The next 3-4 weeks should be silly good for crappies if we can pry ourselves away from the walleye haunts.

Bluegills picnic in the shallows on warm afternoons, they will start making beds and staying shallow as long as water temps continue to rise.

We have a few trout streams in the area as well, if you don't mind bush whacking a bit. 

Cheers and hook-sets!

Leech Area Ice Update

With a warm December I had a bit of a delayed start to the ice guiding season. To say that we have made up for it would be an understatement. Walleyes, Perch, Bluegills and Crappies have all shown up in both numbers and quality this season. With holes drilled now in the 1000's, many picture fish and fish dinners have been enjoyed by a variety of great folks whom I have had the pleasure to fish  with. Here is just a sample of recent catches.

Ice conditions dictated our fishing locations for December and much of January but we are mobile now and fishing the entire lake for these golden favorites.

Sight fishing for yellow perch has been a real treat too. Playing "keep away" from the smaller perch and engaging the bigger ones has really allowed us to increase the average size of our catch
.

I love turning youngsters on to sight fishing. 

A good morning of perch jerkin'...

..followed by some nice catch and release crappie action.

More to come! 

Cheers and hook-sets! 

The Shallow Water is Heating Up - Leech Lake Panfish

 I took a few hours this week to scout some of my usual early season panfish spots. What did I find? Crappies, Bluegills, Pumpkinseed Sunfish, Perch, Largemouth Bass, Pike and even a Bowfin.

I always start by looking for a "hard edge" like a harbor sea wall or thick bullrushes with 3-6 feet of water running up against it. 

53 degrees and rising is what kicks 'em into gear. These fish will still live in the 5'-15' stuff for a few more weeks but will picnic in the shallows on warm afternoons. 

There is just one more week to go before full-on Walleye mode, time to hit the shallows!

Cheers and hook-sets!