Fishing Report For May 18, 2020
Steve Nosbisch
Fishing is picking up on Leech Lake and the surrounding area. This past week the fishing has continued to improve. The water temperature is creeping up into the low to mid 50’s now and the fish are becoming more aggressive. Although there are fish on both rocks and sand, as the week has progressed the walleyes seem to be relating to rock structure slightly more than the sandy areas. Fish are being caught on a jig and a minnow or a Lindy Rig and leech. 8-14′ of water has been the most productive for my boat this week. During low light or windy conditions the fish will be slightly shallower. Look for windblown shorelines and points to be holding the most active fish right now. Pine Point, Grand Vu Flats, and Stony Point have all had fish on them at some point this week. Those areas would be good places to start your search.
Steve Nosbisch
Dick Weinberger
dicksguideservice.com
651-492-1646
The first 2 weekends of the season are in the books. The weather for the opener was the big story with snow and cold. However, the water temps were in the high 40’s and the fish cooperated both early Saturday morning and then again after the snow stopped about 4pm. A mixture of some nice ones (18-20), a few big ones (24-26) and a lot of smaller walleyes (13-15”) has been my experience these first 9 days. Although they are done spawning they are near their spawning areas. The entire west shore from the narrows to Big Hardwood, Pine Point (especially in the evening) Stoney Point and down into Traders Bay have all produced at times. Mid week varied by day with a couple of really good days/evenings and a couple of slower days/evenings. Shinners were tough to come by but rainbows and fatheads worked just fine. This weekend saw warm weather and calm winds and the bite slowed and so should you. A bobber and a leech or anchor/spot lock and cast and slow retrieve triggered both perch and walleye. Memorial weekend should be the best so far with the water temps in the mid 50’s and rising with warm weather expected all week.
Dick Weinberger
dicksguideservice.com
651-492-1646
Outright Angling- Leech Lake Fishing Report for May 18, 2020
For the past two months, like so many American businesses, MN fishing guides have put their operations on hold. As of today, we are happy to be able to take groups of two guest anglers out for a day of fishing!
I have some other good news…Leech Lake fishing has been really great. Dragging an 1/8 oz jig-and-minnow at about .8 mph in 5-12 feet of water has worked well most days. At times, a live bait rig and leech or night crawler in 10-14 feet can work when the shallow bit isn’t going. Better sized perch are biting the same presentations, in the same areas.
Crappies and sunfish are really shallow now, in the warm extremities of Leech Lake. Pro Tip: Picture Leech Lake like a hand, the prime panfish areas are the fingertips.
Cheers and hook-sets,
Capt. Phil Bauerly
Fishing Report- Swanson’s Bait & Tackle in Hackensack
Brought to us by Fish On Outdoors with Bill Hornung
Walleye-
Crawlers, leeches, minnows, plastics and jigraps are all putting walleye in the boat. As the water warms fish should get more active. Rigs & jigs with bait seem to be best worked in 8-12ft of water. Casting plastics shallow (3ft) and working them out to deeper water around rocks is working. Keep moving and searching for active fish.
Crappie-
Live bait is still out producing plastics, but look for that to change soon. Fish seem to be moving closer to shallow water this week, 6-8ft near green weeds seem better.
Bass-
Largemouth bass are moving up shallow, Smallmouth bass seem to still be holding on or near rock piles. warm temps will change the moods of these fish this week.
Good Luck! – #Fish On
Leisure Outdoor Adventures
507-450-7986(Cell)
1-855-LOA-Hook
www.leisureoutdooradventures.com
http://leisureoutdooradventures.blogspot.com/
The Leisure Outdoor Adventures Guide Team enjoyed another week of fishing with their families or doing some solo missions in search of walleyes and crappies on Leech Lake. As the water temps rise, the bite has picked up more since Opener. With seeing water temps in the low 50s, really some of the best fishing is still to be had. These warmer temps will be pushing the shiners shallow and the walleyes will be chasing. A Jig and a Minnow still seems to be the #1 presentation, but lindy rigging a rainbow chub or leech can be good when the bite gets tougher. Throw in using jigs and plastics on those days when you need to create reaction bites and that should be a good 3 pronged approach to your arsenal. This past week most days it seemed like 8-13 feet of water held the most fish and a key was finding some sand/weed transitions or sand/mud or gravel and rock. Bait was holding on these transitions and that usually meant walleyes were close by. Wind blown shorelines, mouths to bays, and some of the points such as Ottertail, Stony, Little Stony, Battle, Five Mile and the area around Bear Island were all kicking out fish this past week.
Bluegills and crappies are also starting to get more active with these warmer temps. Look for good green weed growth in 4-8 feet of water and you will find crappies and gills. Jig/Tube under a casting bobber, jig and a crappie minnow, or a beetle spin would all be good tactics to start with.
Have a great week and if you are looking to listen for more of the reports moving forward be sure to check out The Guide Life Podcast with LOA.
Episode #1
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1084619
This is going to be in accordance to our Guide Life Series which we will start filming here in the next two weeks.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDvMEk2-XVOFENZYXLI5nABZTeGeWNQY-
Until next week
Tight Lines
Leisure Outdoor Adventures Guide Team
