Leisure Outdoor Adventures Fishing Report

Our team of fishing guides covered a wide area this week doing trips on Leech Lake, Lake Winni, and Mille Lacs. With that comes this week’s fishing report. Once again water temps, weather, and changing patterns are the name of the game right now.

Leech Lake Fishing Report

This past week was a busy week for our Leech Lake Fishing Guides. The inconsistent weather patterns have really caused the conditions and water temps to be up and down and can some days create for a tougher bite than normal this time of year. One consistent has been afternoon and evening bites have actually been more consistent than getting up and doing the early morning thing, because of the cool temps at night. Water temps range from 54-60 degrees depending on the part of the lake you are on. The best depths this past week were 9-14 feet of water, which is showing that the fish are on the move. Look to the first breaklines near adjacent large flats, typically with wind blowing in, but in some instances off shore winds have also been good areas as well if you need to get out of the elements.

Traders Bay, West Goose Flats, Duck Points, Little Stoney, and the areas around Bear and Pelican Islands all had decent reports throughout the week. 1/16th and 1/8th oz jigs with shiners or rainbows are still the number one producer with lindy rigs and leeches being runner up. Pay attention to jig color and cadence once again and don’t be afraid to go fast if the bite is slow. Plastics are also working and are great for creating a reaction bite.

Mille Lacs Report

The walleye bite continues to be good on Mille Lacs! The water temps are between 52-55 degrees right now. The methods and places to chase walleyes is really up to angling style at this point. Our guides caught walleyes casting paddle tails, and twitch baits. They also caught fish using live bait rigs with leeches and crawlers and slip bobbers. On windy or cloudy days, the shallow rock bite (5-10 feet) is fun. This bite also happens early morning and in the evening. Pitching plastics or slip bobbers will usually make for a fun day! On the sunny calm days, run out to the mud flats with leeches and crawlers. Rely on your electronics to find fish, normally on the edges of the mud flats in 25-30 feet of water.

The smallmouth bass bite has also been good! The fish seem to be moving around depending on the time of day and weather conditions. Make sure to be changing up depth and tactics until you establish a pattern. Cast jerkbaits, jig worms, tubes, and Texas rigs was good for our guides this past weekend. The best depths seem to be 2-12 feet of water right now.