Any advice for a 1st timer on Leech Lake?

[JbuZZo]

will be fishing for 3 days at Leech at the end of Sept. (29th-1st) I bought (2) 6" twister tails/ skirts (black skirt w/ white twister tail and an orange one), a mini-bulldog, and a 1.25 oz. Mepps bucktail. i'm not going all the way here obv. for baits as I can use these fishing northern. I've got a 7' 3" heavy rod, Abu Garcia Ambassador reel, 50lb. braid, and 45 lb. leader.

where would you advise to go approaching sundown (bays...) for a guy to try his luck? I will have plyers, muskie net, hook cutters w/...

are these baits big enough?

NOTE: we'll mainly be fishing walleye...thought i'd try this for fun, not addicted. YET>...

(thanks for not laughing... )

[SpitnArgueDuckClub*]

One small bit of advice, hire a guide for the first day. He will be able to not only show you what has been working lately (lure wise) but also what to look for water wise that time of year and a even few spots that you could fish on your own day 2 and 3.

[10,000 Casts]

where are you staying? Do you have a gps? What size boat do you have?

The 1.25 oz Mepps will be fine, (thats a Muskie killer I assume?) You'll be wasting your time with the other stuff.

[Nick Kuhn]

I wouldn't say he's wasting his time with the other stuff. If there's food there it'll bring the muskies, pike, and smallies. He may not interest a muskie with that stuff, but the pike and smallies should cooperate if they are there. And you never know, I've had slow periods where I've switched to a 5" senko for bass and the first thing I hook into is Mr. Muskie. Those fish baffle me sometimes. I think according to some creel numbers I've seen: a muskie fisherman with all his lures specifically aimed at the species only lands a muskie 5 times more often than a bass or walleye fisherman, so they definitely do take smaller baits at times.

[mainbutter]

And you never know, I've had slow periods where I've switched to a 5" senko for bass and the first thing I hook into is Mr. Muskie.

lol I'm glad I'm not the only one! One of my most memorable catches (regardless of species) was when I was sight-fishing smallmouth in clear water. I made my cast just past the smallie I had an eye on, and was working the senko towards its face, when a muskie came out of nowhere and attacked the smallie, and then went after my senko a second later. 2nd musky I ever boated and a 44''er too

[JbuZZo]

I've got a Lowrance Endura w/ a MN chip. 16ft. boat, 40hp w/ trolling motor...hoping that you all will tell me that there's a chance to catch some nie pike/chance for a muskie in a bay so i'm not exposed on the big water...hey a guy can hope right...

keep em' coming...and thanks in advance!

[JbuZZo]

lol I'm glad I'm not the only one! One of my most memorable catches (regardless of species) was when I was sight-fishing smallmouth in clear water. I made my cast just past the smallie I had an eye on, and was working the senko towards its face, when a muskie came out of nowhere and attacked the smallie, and then went after my senko a second later. 2nd musky I ever boated and a 44''er too

[mainbutter]

I've fished leech only one weekend, and ended up boating a 48''er. She took a regular sized bulldawg (kind of orange-y in color). My buddy and I stuck to casting the rock piles, which are fairly abundant, great musky habitat.

His boat I think has a 40 horse. We did just fine friday and saturday, but on our last day it was waaaay too bad on the lake (I wouldn't have been out even in a 20 footer) so we took off and went to a nearby smaller lake. If it's too dangerous because of high winds on the big lake, there are other options.

[JbuZZo]

I've fished leech only one weekend, and ended up boating a 48''er. She took a regular sized bulldawg (kind of orange-y in color). My buddy and I stuck to casting the rock piles, which are fairly abundant, great musky habitat.

His boat I think has a 40 horse. We did just fine friday and saturday, but on our last day it was waaaay too bad on the lake (I wouldn't have been out even in a 20 footer) so we took off and went to a nearby smaller lake. If it's too dangerous because of high winds on the big lake, there are other options.

cool deal, that gives me some confidence...man it would be fun (out of sheer luck) to CPR something 40+. I do have a mini-bulldog (it's about 6", hook on top through the dorsal and a treble off the back) in that color (orange).

and you're right, we're not bound to Leech, we can scoot off to something smaller in the event of wind.

[50inchpig]

the smaller bays north of walker on the west side of the lake have cabbage and would be good to fish if it's a little windy on bigger water.

[10,000 Casts]

Leech is a BIG lake.. If conditions are right, you could go anywhere of course but it could take you an hour or more to get there.. Where are you staying?

And, Nick, Leech isn't your typical lake that is full of Northerns and Smallies in fact there are harldy any.. It is a great LG Mouth Lake but no Smallies that I know of..

[john skarie]

Lots of pike in Leech, some biggies too. Some smallmouth on the east side. One of the better largemouth lakes in the state.

Go to Grand View flats or into Agency Bay and troll spinnerbaits in the weeds.

Rockpiles around Pelican Island are easy to find.

Ottertail Point can be very good with wind on it this time of year.

Those spots should keep you plenty busy.

JS

[JbuZZo]

Leech is a BIG lake.. If conditions are right, you could go anywhere of course but it could take you an hour or more to get there.. Where are you staying?

And, Nick, Leech isn't your typical lake that is full of Northerns and Smallies in fact there are harldy any.. It is a great LG Mouth Lake but no Smallies that I know of..

Staying at Anderson's Grand Vu Lodge. Starting the count down too...starting to really get amped up.

[JbuZZo]

Lots of pike in Leech, some biggies too. Some smallmouth on the east side. One of the better largemouth lakes in the state.

Go to Grand View flats or into Agency Bay and troll spinnerbaits in the weeds.

Rockpiles around Pelican Island are easy to find.

Ottertail Point can be very good with wind on it this time of year.

Those spots should keep you plenty busy.

JS

Thanks for the tips John, much appreciated! Man, the way it sounds I might be more preoccupied w/ the chase for bass, pike and muskie than didicating my time and attention to the walleye bite...i'll make time for both. Tough problem to have...lol

[john skarie]

Grand Vu is a really nice resort. The weed beds you want to troll are just to the west of you from there.

We had the Chapter Challunge there a couple of years ago, and when Fargo Moorhead wins it again, we'll go back.

Great Resort.

JS

[JbuZZo]

Ok...so this thread has been so productive, I'll throw this out there...

If you had to bring three lures, what would you take (including colors)...I'm guessing i'll see votes for cowgirls (double, show, etc...) and bulldogs. You experts give me three and rank em'. (Please )

[john skarie]

Wouldn't bring a cowgirl.

Black/Orange with a flame blade Rad Dog.

Showgirl or Baby Girl. Black/Nickel.

Topper Stopper.

JS

[10,000 Casts]

Quote:

Lots of pike in Leech, some biggies too. Some smallmouth on the east side. One of the better largemouth lakes in the state.

lots of pike? compared to what?? and lots of lakes have a few smallmouth but is it is fishable population? neither imo, and I guess I try to avoid pike and haven't taken the time to fish them.

The weeds up in sucker bay have been good this year on both sides.. That time of year, Agency and Agency Narrows can be very good, don't be afraid to fish deep off the steeper breaks and bars with a bulldawg. If you get an E wind which is very unlikely, the W side of south walker bay will be good. If it is calm, head out at 6am to Mokey Reef on the big lake, if it is overcast, stay there for a while..

I agree w/John that trolling spinnerbaits in the weeds will be productive and easy..

3 Baits, (your rod and reel won't like double 10s)

1. Bright colored reg/Mag Bulldawg or Medussa

2. Jr Cowgirl or other bucktail

3. Pacemaker or Lowrider

[Mojoe]

I olny fish up that way one weekend a year but always catch/see a dozen pike 28-35 inches. tear that [PoorWordUsage] out of some baits. Never the less it keeps you in the game and hit pretty good sometimes.

[10,000 Casts]

Quote:

I olny fish up that way one weekend a year but always catch/see a dozen pike 28-35 inches. tear that [PoorWordUsage] out of some baits. Never the less it keeps you in the game and hit pretty good sometimes.

sweet, sounds like a good trip.

I know of a couple places that hold a decent amount of Northerns, I stay away from those areas.. 99% of the spots that I fish for Muskies don't hold Northerns in large #.. That may be because I rarely fish heavy weeds..

[TheHawgTrough]

JS/10,000-

Do you guys add any weight when trolling the spinnerbaits? Just curious. Never tried it before, but might give it a shot when things are slow.

[10,000 Casts]

I don't do it hardly at all but I can see how it is effective. We never add weight, we just take a rad dog, M&G or Grinder and flip it out behind the boat and troll down the weedline getting up in the weeds a little depending how high and thick the weeds are. I think if you added weight, you would pick up more weeds and wouldn't be able to give it an effective snap every once in a while. May be worth a shot, who knows.

We have been messing around with cannon balls and keel sinkers on double 10s and 12s in open water a little, no fish to show for it yet. They seem to prefer big cranks.. Haven't done it since June but we'll give it another shot in a few weeks.

[JbuZZo]

note: I did pick up a Black/Nickel Baby Girl yesterday and also a 9" 'Super Stocker'. It's a pearch colored crank w/ a lip on it and about a 6" big yellow twister tail with red airbrushed spots. I can add that to my lime green Mepps muskie bucktail, my mini-bulldog, and a couple other bucktails w/ rubber skirts and big twister tails...

I'll see how this adventure goes. If I luck out and hook into one, I'll dive headfist in and get a 2nd mortgage on my house to get decked out in gear properly.

Thanks again everyone for posting to this thread and provding some insight on locations/ lures.