People who are familiar with Leech Lake know that Reeds Sporting Goods, is synonymous with fishing on Leech Lake and hunting, whatever your needs may be! At Reeds, they have a huge selection of everything related to outdoor sports that take place in the woods or on the water. The best part is that if you are visiting with the family, there is something for the kids, the wife and of course, the husband. When people visit the store for their first time, you can tell they are completely awe-struck by the abundance of items and the selection. During my visits to Reeds Sporting Goods, I have seen many well seasoned sportsmen with a childish look of wonderment on their face state “This is my first time here. This place is amazing!” The contents and staff in this store really do put the big guys to shame. You’ll never find the type of customer service or expertise from Cabela’s or Gander that you find in Reeds Sporting Goods.

When you first walk in the store you are in the clothing/apparel section which contains probably the largest selection of women’s, men’s and children’s clothing in Walker, Minnesota. As you step deeper into the store, you start to find all sorts of fishing equipment, ranging from above average items at a great price to professional grade fishing rods, reels, lures and the funnest fishing equipment: electronics. If you fish deep sea or freshwater from a canoe, Reeds has a selection of electronics for you whether you are in search of a navigation system or a simple fish finder. During the winter, they have pretty much any type of ice flasher, depth finder or underwater camera you could ever imagine. They carry products from all of the top companies: Vexilar, Lowrance, Marcum, Showdown, Aqua-Vu and more. If you want to know about one of the items in the fishing department, you can just ask one of the staff. Although, he will have already greeted you before you need to go in search of him. If you aren’t interested in electronics and stick to the old way of fishing, you will be interested in their massive selection of Jigs, Spoons, Spinners, Flyers, Whistlers and whatever type of lure you are in search of.

If you actually make it past the fishing section before the store closes, you will find the gun/hunting department that has the largest selection of firearms you will ever see in your life! From the selection, you’ll find antique handguns, the greatest and newest handguns, rifles and shotguns. Reeds works directly with manufacturers, so they are able to be the first to get some of the newest firearms before anyone else. The employees in the gun department have an abundance of knowledge that would overwhelm the most knowledgeable firearm enthusiasts but they are able to assist those who have no knowledge of guns by informing them, not belittling them. They also have many accessories such as ground blinds, decoys, ladder stands, trap throwers, clay pigeons and other accessories for all types of hunting and an array of ammunition. They even carry odd ammunition such as .280 British!

Reeds has an always changing selection of items, while keeping staple items in stock. My favorite part of Reeds is that they price match! If you find that another store has a lower price, Reeds will match it! Most times, I find they are already the lowest. So next time you’re in Reeds tell them you heard good things about them on LeechLakeTourist.com and that’s why you came. They’ll be glad to hear! They also have a website. Check it out: www.ReedsSports.com.

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.