Leech Lake
Nearest Town:
Walker, Minnesota
Lake Size:
111,527 Acres
Fishing Species:
Walleye, Northern Pike, Muskie, Bluegill, Crappie,
Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass
Public Boat Access:
Many located around lake including:
Northwest shore at Squaw Point off State Hwy. 371 & Oak
Point Rd.
Northeast side at Battle Point off Co. Rd. 136
Southwest side at Stony Point off Co. Rd. 13
Leech
Lake River off Hwy 8
Southeast corner off Co. Rd. 39
South
end of lake off State Hwy. 200.
Lake Notes:
3rd largest lake in Minnesota.
The
deepest area of Leech Lake is located in Walker Bay
where depths reach around 150 feet deep. Most of the
lake is less than 35 feet deep. Ice fishing for
walleyes and perch is popular in Walker Bay, Walker
Narrows and Agency Bay.
Leech
Lake Map
Leech Lake Fishing
Species & Tips
Leech Lake Walleye
Fishing
Walleye Fishing Tips
Spring -
Walleye are found tight to the rock and gravel
shorelines in early spring. Concentrate on windswept
stretches and cast small (1/16 to 1/8 ounce) jigs and
fathead minnows. Long casts and a quiet approach are
best when working the clear, shallow water of Leech
Lake. Jig color suggestions start with fluorescent
green, lime green, and green/orange bi-colors.
Summer
- By early summer, walleye leave the shoreline zones of
Leech Lake and move to sand/gravel points, weedbeds,
shoreline flats and rock reefs. Slowly backtroll a
Lindy or Roach rig tipped with a leech along the weed
edges and drop-offs.
Fall
- Try the deep rock humps and bars of Walker Bay, slowly
backtrolling with big redtail chubs on a slip sinker
rig.
Leech Lake Northern Pike
Fishing
Northern Pike Fishing Tips
Most of the shallow weed areas, such as Headquarters
Bay, Boy Bay, Steamboat Bay, Sucker Bay, Brevik Narrows
and the Sheep Pasture, yield good numbers of Northerns
throughout the year. During summer, cast or troll
spoons, in-line spinners (No. 5 Mepps), perch-colored
crankbaits or large tandem spinnerbaits on the weed
edges.
Leech Lake Muskie Fishing
Muskie Fishing Tips
Muskie
Spring -
Muskie action is best in the shallow bays that develop
submergent and emergent weed growth. Headquarters, Boy,
Sucker and Steamboat bays are all excellent early season
choices in Leech Lake. Small twitch baits, crankbaits
or jerkbaits slowly retrieved over the developing
cabbage and coontail beds are effective in the spring.
Summer
- Areas of submergent vegetation and the rock/gravel
reefs offer the most consistent Leech Lake Muskie action
from mid-July through August. Shallow rocks on the
windward side of a reef can be particularly good for
large Muskie. Try top water baits to effectively work
the shallow rocks.
Fall
- At this time on Leech slowly troll deep-diving cisco
or perch colored crankbaits along the deep weed edges.
Weighted jerkbaits and live suckers on quick-strike rigs
also produce when fished along the deep cabbage. By late
fall, the steep drop-offs and deep weedbeds in Walker
Bay are great muskie locations.
Leech Lake Largemouth
Bass Fishing
Largemouth Bass Tips
Bass in Leech Lake are found in the shallow, weedy bays.
Steamboat, Boy Headquarters and Leech River bays all
provide the needed habitat to hold good numbers of
Bass. During spring cast 1/4-ounce white spinnerbaits
or 4-to 6-inch Texas rigged plastic worms into the
developing vegetation. As the weeds become thicker,
bass move into the “slop” and wild rice beds. Weedless
spoons, such as Moss Bosses or Jaw-Breakers, should be
worked through the heavy cover. Flipping or pitching a
6-inch plastic worm or a jig n’ pig into weed openings
can also produce.
Leech Lake Smallmouth
Bass Fishing
Leech Lake Crappie
Fishing
Crappie Tips
Early spring crappie in Leech Lake are attracted to the
shallow bays soon after ice-out. Slip bobber rigs baited
with small fathead minnows should be worked over the
developing weeds or tight to reeds, docks and shoreline
cover. By late spring, crappie leave the shallows and
move to deep water.
Leech Lake Bluegill
Fishing
Fishing Leech Lake in
Northern Minnesota
