Fall Fishing-Leech Lake

I have had some stellar encounters with Bass, Pike, Muskies, Walleyes and Perch the past few weeks. I have also had the pleasure of fishing with some great anglers. A special thanks to Al, Waylon, Brian, Morten, Chiel and Bjarke for wetting a line with me.

 

Cheers and hooksets!

In Search Of Fall Color-Brook Trout

Brook Trout live in beautiful unspoiled places, sometimes hard to access. A single fish in hand can be all the reward one needs to travel into it's brushy realm.

Cheers and hooksets!

51# 1oz Leech Lake Muskie

Stop by Rusty's Up North Realty in Longville, MN if you are looking for a lake home in Muskie country. Or just stop in and visit with this long time guide and  Muskie legend and drool at his mount of a 59" post-spawn fish caught in 1973 that tipped the scales at over 50#.

 

 

 

 cheers and hooksets!

 

Lac LaCroix Express

Being too busy for a week of paddling and too broke for a fly-in we opted this year to take a shuttle boat from Crane lake to LaCroix. Though we caught mostly small fish, the weather was perfect.

 

 
cheers and hooksets!

Chunky Town-Leech Lake Pike

Cooling water means bigmeanfish time. Muskies, walleyes, bass and pike are packing it on now.

This pike fell to a magnum bulldawg. Think these baits look too big? Think again, walleyes eat them too!

 

Won't you take me to...

cheers and hooksets!

Sharpen Your Hooks Like Bob

Fishing With The Fam- Species And Tactics

The very mention of fishing with kids instantly conjures up images of bluegills and crappies but at times, I find these species quite finicky. I know, you can put your kids on piles of 4"-7" bluegills and 1/4 pound crappies but where is the fun in that? Often it can take a real deft stick and the patience of Jobe to seal the deal on quality panfish. Bass and Pike require heavier tackle and more casting and retrieving then most kids can deal with. For me, the ultimate family friendly fish is the walleye. No, not jigging and live bait rigging although, I'm sure a ten or twelve year old could figure this out. Trolling or slip bobbering is where it's at for the sprats! Think about trolling for 'eyes...extra lines and treble hooks=fish. Yes, be careful netting and handling fish. Get the boat going in the right direction, clip on the crankbaits, let out the lines, put them in rod holders. When a fish bites, let the kids reel them in with the rod in the holder, believe me, they will think it is fun to reel in even a 20" walleye. For slip bobbering it's the same routine except you cast it out, and then set the hook when a fish bites. Take turns reeling them in. The best part is, you will never know when a big mean fish will take the bait and the look on their face will be priceless.

 

 

 

cheers and hooksets!