Where to Catch Walleye on Leech Lake – Shore fishing
You do not necessarily need a boat to catch Walleye or Panfish on Leech Lake. There are several places near Walker that shore fishing can yield some great fish. These shore fishing spots are productive, almost all year. In and near Walker, any of the bridges over the channels of Leech Lake are great spots for Walleye fishing. Another great spot for Panfish and Walleye are the public docks, right in town, on Walker Bay. A local Musky fisherman caught one of his biggest Muskies at the public docks. When you get to town, ask a local for directions to one of these shore fishing spot.
When to Fish
In the spring and fall you can fish almost any time of day. When the sun is out the shallow water warms up and the fish love it there. A cloudy day is great for fishing and if it is raining there is no better time to be fishing. You will catch more fish in the spring then any other time of the year.
In the summer the morning or evening are the best time to fish. If it is a clear, hot, sunny day you are better off doing something else but you can still catch fish. But just like in the fall or spring if it is cloudy you will do well. If it is raining, that is even better!
Assorted Tackle
You don’t need to bring a huge tackle box just bring along some 1/4 oz jigs and a few spinners. Leech Lake is notorious for great activity on chartreuse colored lures, which is a green color that borders yellow. This is the color I always start out with. If they don’t seem to be going for it, try another color or different type of lure. If you are fishing at night or early morning try using a glow jig. They can work wonders at times.
Cast out as far as I can and troll in whatever type of lure you have. Walleye are predatory fish and if they feel or see something moving quickly they are likely to go after it.
The Right Line
Choosing the right type of fishing line is essential. If you are using light line, like Trilene Sensation, for shore fishing, you are likely going to loose many lures on the rocks or weeds. If you are going to get monofilament (mono) fishing line, which is most commonly used, you should get something like Trilene XT (Extra Tough) line which is great for most shore fishing situations. A 6 or 8 pound test line is best.
If you really want the best, you should pay the extra cash and get some braided line. When you compare mono and braided line of the same pound test, the braided line is always going to be thinner, harder to cut and harder to snap. It also has less memory. Mono is high memory, which causes fishing line to twist up and tangle. Some people use a florocarbon or mono leader when they use braided line since it is harder to see.
Fishing Rod / Reel Combos
It is always best to bring at least two combos (a rod and reel) with so if you end up loosing a lure you can still have a line in the water while you tie on another lure on. It’s a good idea to have two different types of lures set up in case the fish aren’t too keen on that color that day. A spinning combo works best in most shore fishing situations.
Essential Equipment
Besides the obvious there are a few essential tools you will need, which will make the experience go smoothly and enjoyably.
- 5 Gallon Bucket – Bring one or two to throw your fish in. If you want you can buy these at sporting good stores but you can always stop in a fast food restaurant and ask if they have any that they are throwing away.
- Pliers – You do not want to reach into the mouth of a Walleye to get a hook out or you’ll get bit! They make pliers and other contraptions just for this.
- Line Clippers – You will need to cut that line some time.
- Food – Bring a backpack with food so you don’t have to leave if the fish are biting.
What to Wear
It is in your best interest to wear some boots in case you need to walk on shore rocks, covered in moss and algae. Water-proof boots are best if you have some that you won’t get too hot in. A good rain suit is a great idea too since the fish bite most when it rains. This is when fishing under a bridge is quite nice.
Music and Comedy at the Woodtick Musical Theater
After eighteen successful seasons, The Woodtick Band has now started their nineteenth season. They play in the quaint Woodtick Musical Theater, located in the heart of Akeley, Minnesota. About a ten to fifteen minute drive, south of Walker, Minnesota. Please, note the map to the right.
Their show has a well balanced mix of country, bluegrass, folk, gospel and comedy throughout. Sometimes, all at the same moment! They add their own style to songs from as far back as you can remember as well as songs that the young ones listen to on the radio. By adding their own style, they convert these songs into something everyone can enjoy while still maintaining the original song. One of the most satisfying parts of the show is that you do not have to worry about your children hearing profanity or any sort of unsavory humor.
The Woodtick Musical Theater is one of the venues I hear the most recommendations for. So, after putting it off for too long, my family and I decided to go. Before the show, the host asked everyone in the audience to show their hands if it was their first time visiting the theater. About half the audience raised their hands. Next, he asked those who had been to the theater before to raise their hands. The other half of the audience then raised their hands! At first, it was surprising but after seeing the show it was easy to see why the theater and band have such a large fan base.
The show is reminiscent of Prairie Home Companion, minus the pretentiousness. The members of the band are all local artists who each bring their own musical and comical styles to the table, creating a premium blend of that old fashioned, Northern Minnesota charm we all love. The size of the theater is small enough to make it personal, yet it fits enough people to hear roaring laughter.
Soon enough, we will be able to say we’ve been there more then twice! If you want to find out more about the theater and show times, the Woodtick Musical Theater has their own website. Be sure you call ahead to reserve tickets. Often times, the shows are sold out!
Woodtick Musical Theater’s official website: www.woodtickTheater.net
Goodbye Ice, Hello Water!
Last Ice Fishing on 2009 Ice
Choose Your Lure!
Before you choose your lure you need to know what are you going to be fishing for and what consider what time of year it is. Leech Lake has most of the species of freshwater fish that fishers of all types aim to catch. Most are looking to catch Walleye but the open season on Walleye does not start until May 15, 2010. So you are going to want to keep those small jigs around for Panfish, like Crappies, Bluegills and Pumpkinseed since they are always in open season. They can be a lot of fun to catch too since when one is biting usually all of the others are too. This means many platefuls of fish!
Panfish
Get some bobbers. They are cheap and make all the difference in being able to see any nibbles. Use some tiny jigs, even ice fishing jigs will work. For bait, wax worms and maggots are best. Panfish are not too picky about color. They are not too hard to persuade. If it looks mostly like food, they will try to eat it. As long as you stick to brighter colors they will usually try to bite.
Eel Pout Festival
Each year, thousands of people swarm the quiet winter town of Walker, Minnesota. Walker Bay essentially becomes an extension of the town over Eel Pout weekend. You might be wondering “Eels in Minnesota?” Well, it is technically a type of Cod, not an Eel. Regardless, it looks just like an Eel and the name Pout is fitting for such an ugly fish.
In the early years of the festival, most people had a line in the water anticipating a bite. As more people began attending, the more it has turned into a huge drunken party on the ice. This year was my first Eel Pout Festival experience. I was at the store when a aquantence of mine invited me out on the lake. I asked if I should get my own fishing equipment from home. He told me I wouldn’t need it. I assumed he was going to lend me some of his equipment. On the drive out to his plywood shanty, I saw old school buses, camping trailers, some normal fishing shelters, very unconventional fishing shelters and a mess of people everywhere.
My aquantence parked his truck in front of his shelter. We had arrived! When I stepped out of my car there was so much music and amplified voices it nearly became white noise. We walked to the shelter and opened the door to a small party of people dancing to loud music. There was a recently caught Eel Pout hanging from the ceiling with slime dripping off it. Immediately, I realized that no one here had plans of fishing. After a little bit of chatting we decided to see what was going on around us. We came across a bar in the middle of a giant snow bank. They were serving anything… for free. Most people who had bars set up outside or in their heated shelters were doing this. Just giving away free drinks.
While it was fun watching people (some of them anyway) and having a chance to get out to see what was happening I sensed that things were not as wild as they were soon to be come. It was still early and the sun had just gone down. So, I got my butt out of there.
For Those who Want to Fish
If you are interested in actually fishing in the competition, you could win some great prizes and it was only ten dollars to enter this year (2010) to enter. You can set up your ice fishing shelter far away from the main festival area very easily. Roads are plowed all over the lake, providing easy access to people in cars as well as trucks and ATVs. This year the big prize was a Custom Made Eelpout Fish House to the one with the biggest Pout and thousands of dollars in prizes to several other categories.
Winter Hiking in Walker, Minnesota
Chippewa National Forest
Winter hiking can be one of the most relaxing and quiet things to do. It can also be one of the most exciting things to do. You just have to find the right places to hike.
Even in the winter many of the parks in and near Walker, Minnesota are maintained well, even through the winter. Trails are well groomed for cross country skiers and wide enough for anyone up for a winter walk in the woods not to desturb the ski path. Surprisingly, there are very few people who take advantage of these trails and those who do rarely wander too far from their parking spots. This area is premium for hikers and cross country skiers of all sorts. In the Chippewa National Forest, almost all of the trails have difficulty markers and a map at each split in the trail.
This area is quiet enough for wildlife to feel unthreatened and provide visitors with an encounter with many animals. Through out the winter deer seek refuge here. This is evident by all the trails and beds in the snow you can find.
The Chippewa National forest spans a vast area. It has some of the best views and best hiking one can find in Minnesota. It is one open secret that people tend not to find when they visit. Many people decide to visit the nearby Itasca State Park and skip these hidden areas along the way.
