Leech Lake
The bite has continued to be solid despite the crazy weather pattern that has been taking place in Central Minnesota. As such, day to day, the techniques change and you need to be ready to adapt.
Spinners and Lindy rigs have been good, but there is still a jig and shiner bite that is hanging on, as long as you can find shiners. Depths to target on the West side main lake will be 10-15 FOW, Walker Bay depths can be 15-25 FOW depending on wind and cloud cover.
Traders Bay, Grand Vu Flats, and any points that have wind blowing into them; the duck points, stony have been solid thus far. With the bug hatch beginning look to spinners, slow death, and using creature style baits such as crawlers and leeches to over take the minnow bite. Right now with crayfish molting, bugs hatching, and young of the year perch the walleyes have many different things to choose from. Covering ground and speed can be the name of the game.
Muskies are starting to erupt from a long winters nap as well. Main lake rocks, shallow bays with the sun warming them are all good targets during the early season.
Mille Lacs
Walleyes are being found all over the lake! It does seem that in the last five days, most of the bigger fish have left the shallows and have either moved to deeper water or off into the mud. However, on windy days, the shallow rocks can be really good using a slip bobber/leech or casting plastics. Out in the mud, walleyes can be caught on slip bobbers, Lindy rigs, or pulling spinners.
The smallmouth bite has been strong! Fish seem to be holding in depths of 2-12 feet depending on the day. Many different techniques have been producing, so it is necessary to keep switching things up until you start getting bites.
