With another productive week in the books, we’ve seen changes for the better and worse, worse being that our shiner minnow availability has dropped to none. While that doesn’t dampen the spirits of all anglers to me it’s kind of bummer, being that its my favorite method of fishing for walleye, and arguably the best bait for the job. There are still plenty of options for chasing those shiny eyed bottom dwellers, and most have changed over to leeches and night crawlers some even opting to troll the ever popular shad rap.
The better is pretty easy to explain, fish are jumping in the boat, especially the northern pike. Almost anywhere you drop a line there seems to be hungry pike, guests are easily catching limit after limit of the toothy slimy critters, and having ample fish for multiple dinners. There is even rumor of a state-wide change to the northern limits, right now it’s looking like we’re going to be able to keep upwards of 10 per person next year, with a small protected slot to favor spawning females, I don’t know exact numbers on the slot yet, but when I find out I’ll let everyone know.
Pictured Below from L to R: Don Rogers from Fort Dodge, IA with a 25 inch throwback – Justin Rogers and his father Mike with a double of rock bass, while I don’t necessarily like cleaning those buggers, it was tough to pass on the smiles in that picture – and Randy and Karen Nelson from Fargo, ND along with their grand-daughter and her first fish of the trip.
Walleye fishing remains average to good, with seasonal movement changes happening right now, you’re going to need to stay mobile and bring a variety of bait along for the ride. Fish are showing up on reefs, while others are still in shallow rock structure, points, and others are hanging around in oxygen rich weed beds.
Water temps have risen into the mid 60’s increasing the metabolism of fish throughout the lake, making them more active and willing the chase faster moving baits. Peak time for trolling is just around the corner. Along with rising water temps fish are spreading out and leaving the big schools that they travel with in the spring, look for walleye on rocky reefs and gravel flats feeding on crayfish.
Pictured below from L to R: Mike Ritchart from Toddville, IA with a 27 inch keeper, another shot of the father-son duo Mike and Justin Rogers with an afternoons sack of pike Don Poldervaart from Fort Dodge, IA with a healthy 25 incher.
This coming weekend (13th-14th) the Cabela’s National Walleye Tour is in town, the biggest professional walleye tournament in the country, an estimated 120 boats will face off for 2 days of fishing on beautiful Leech Lake, with first place taking home over $65,000 worth of cash and prizes, including a new Ranger fishing boat. This is the first time that Leech Lake has held such a prestigious tournament since 2011.
Pictured below are a few shots from Justin Rogers, these are taken with a remote-controlled drone, besides being a flat-out good guy, Justin also designs websites and does photography, if you’re in the Des Moines area of Iowa and are looking for someone in these fields, give him a call or email – Justin@htmlmarketing.com or (515)-661-4932
Featured Image up top is of Hannah Johnson from Colfax, IA and her brother Isaac Poldervaart, she caught the 25.75 incher fishing a weed edge in Uram Bay, what a nice picture.
This season is shaping up to be one of our busiest of all time, but we still have some cabins available, give us a call or check out our website, we’d love to help you plan a vacation.
Thanks for reading
Come see us at Big Rock Resort
800-827-7106
Ray
