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Leech Lake Walleye and Perch

by Matt Grow on 02/07/2010

Kelly's first walleye
I really wasn't sure what I was getting myself into for most recent excursion onto Minnesota's Leech Lake. One thing was for certain; the accomodations of Walker MN and the good company would yield a great time. My hypothesis held true and our group caught fish as a bonus!

This past weekend, Kellie and I were joined by by Brad and Kelly Powell. This would be Kelly's first ice fishing endeavor and hopes were high to make it a memorable one as well as make some sense as to why we men enjoy the sport in the first place. I can rest assured that the point was proven.


Kelly Powell's first iced
fish
After a beauty sleep and beautification, we were greeted with beautiful weather and anxious fish around 9:30 AM when we arrived on Leech lake. Brad quickly began searching for straggling walleyes in shallow water as I set up Kelly and Kellie in the shack out deeper in anticipation of jumbo perch and tullibee for entertainment.
Shortly after Brad had caught the first 19" walleye, My ears were pleasently greeted to the shrills resonating from the portable.
My Kellie is no stranger to the LX5, so I figured what better way to teach Kelly P. than to hear it from another fisherwoman. After a short tutorial from Kellie, Kelly P. had made quick sense of the MarCum and was the source of the resonating shrills from the portable. Kelly was greeted with her first fish through the ice.


Future Mrs. Grow
As the entertained lovely ladies made their way through a mess of jumbo perch, Brad I continued our search throughout the breakline structure looking for a few late straggling walleye emerging from the shallows.
Leech lake walleye have a very predictable daily schedule. Active fish are easily available at dawn and dusk. These active fish are taking advantage of the forage rich shallows of the lake. Day time walleye are available if you're willing to search the barron areas of deep water. In your search for these elusive daytime walleye, you may encounter a sigh of relief in a school of roaming jumbo perch. Kellie and Kelly, stationed in the portable were able to catch many of these roaming fish throughout the day. Pictured right is my Kellie holding a jumbo for the day. And yes gentlemen that is a newly acquired ring on her finger. The Future Mrs. Grow is quite the ice fisherwoman!

Afternoon had our crew sipping a few adult libations and acquiring a jumbo perch occasionally and just as the onset boredom set in, the portable shook and shrieked with excitement. "Matt!..... Matt!" bellowed from the shack. Just as I approached the zipper I heard Kellie calmly reassuring "Keep the line tight,.....OK, now pull". My eyes glistened a bit as Kellie pulled Kelly's 32" Pike from the hole. It was just enough entertainment to keep the anticipation rolling as we prepared for the infamous dusk bite.
I headed back to my section of holes I was working and iced many small walleyes from 8-12 inches, and just as I saw a hovering feeding walleye come through suspended 15' off the bottom, "Matt!" echoed from the portable. I approached and was pleased to see Kelly P. had just caught her first walleye. How many people can claim a 27" walleye as their first? After the "oohs" and "ahhs" subsided the nightlife of Walker called us in.


Not long before for these!
Truck travel is currently not a good option for transportation accross Leech Lake. This fact was reinforced as I encountered pockets of slush covered by deep drifts. After a few grueling minutes through the slush, I was certain a snowmobile would be in order for the next excursion as I go in search of Leech's Monster perch.Leech is a great opportunity to transition into the near perch season. Walleye are still available and the perch nearby are a surefire bonus.

Location : Minnesota
Water Body : Leech Lake
Species : walleye
Technique : ice fishing


--------------------
Matt Grow - Ice Pro Staff
matt.grow@in-depthoutdoors.com
The second amendment.....Americas original homeland security.


Matt Grow

Re: Leech Lake Walleye and Perch

#864505 - 02/07/10 05:45 PM

The "excitement" pike

1265586313_007.JPG


--------------------
Matt Grow - Ice Pro Staff
matt.grow@in-depthoutdoors.com
The second amendment.....Americas original homeland security.

gutone4me

Re: Leech Lake Walleye and Perch

#864507 - 02/07/10 06:02 PM

Wow awesome write up Matt

Congrats on the engagement

--------------------
He who laughs last thinks the slowest

Pete Bauer

Re: Leech Lake Walleye and Perch

#864578 - 02/07/10 09:12 PM

Great report Matt, Congrats!

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Pete Bauer - IDO Fishing Reporter - BauerOutdoors.com

Calvin Svihel

Re: Leech Lake Walleye and Perch

#864591 - 02/07/10 09:46 PM

Nice report Matt....I see that your Kelly has a ring so bright that it makes its own flash...even during the day time...

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Matt Grow

Re: Leech Lake Walleye and Perch

#864600 - 02/07/10 10:02 PM

Quote:

Nice report Matt....I see that your Kelly has a ring so bright that it makes its own flash...even during the day time...



I won't tell her you spelled her name with a "y"

--------------------
Matt Grow - Ice Pro Staff
matt.grow@in-depthoutdoors.com
The second amendment.....Americas original homeland security.

ecnookAdministrator

Re: Leech Lake Walleye and Perch

#864625 - 02/08/10 05:11 AM

Hey Matt !!!
Great report and congradulations !!!

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Doug Mercer

Re: Leech Lake Walleye and Perch

#864667 - 02/08/10 07:46 AM

Quote:

Hey Matt !!!
Great report and congradulations !!!



DITTO!! Leech has alot to offer & can't wait to get up to the cabin soon!

--------------------
DOUG MERCER IDO FIELD STAFF
MrMuskie

Calvin Svihel

Re: Leech Lake Walleye and Perch

#864679 - 02/08/10 08:13 AM

Quote:

Quote:

Nice report Matt....I see that your Kelly has a ring so bright that it makes its own flash...even during the day time...



I won't tell her you spelled her name with a "y"



Too many Kellie's or Kelly's in that report for me to keep things straight....

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adalinde

Re: Leech Lake Walleye and Perch

#864696 - 02/08/10 08:45 AM

Nice job Matt!

Your finance might have to teach my wife sometime how to ice fish.

Good report!

Maybe we can get out together this coming weekend. Talk to Jessie.

Adam

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The three ingredients to being a good fishermen are to fish hard, fish smart and fish confident.

Kooty

Re: Leech Lake Walleye and Perch

#864775 - 02/08/10 10:56 AM

Did you learn any kickboxing moves this weekend?

Great report!

--------------------
I was born in the 70's, grew up in 80's, made my mistakes in 90's now I'm just trying to make up for lost time.

John

Crossin Big Eyes

Re: Leech Lake Walleye and Perch

#864783 - 02/08/10 11:21 AM

Congrats on the engamement Matt. Let Cal and i know when those rods are for sale. From the sounds of it Kooty might want to get in on that action too.

SAUGER

Re: Leech Lake Walleye and Perch

#864865 - 02/08/10 01:53 PM



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Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish, and he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day .


fishnutbob

Re: Leech Lake Walleye and Perch

#864880 - 02/08/10 02:40 PM

Well done Matt, nice fish. Perch fishing will only get better. Looks like your wife to be can catch a few fish also must be a good listener.

Edited by fishnutbob (02/08/10 02:42 PM)

Luke Haugland

Re: Leech Lake Walleye and Perch

#864904 - 02/08/10 03:43 PM

Very Nice! Did you ever find your rod? Or did you have to sell it to buy that ring?

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Luke Haugland - IDO Ice Pro Staff

Wilson1984

Re: Leech Lake Walleye and Perch

#864964 - 02/08/10 06:03 PM

CONGRATS

Matt Grow

Re: Leech Lake Walleye and Perch

#865020 - 02/08/10 08:26 PM

Quote:

Did you learn any kickboxing moves this weekend?

Great report!



No new moves! I guess I was nice enough to them that they didn't have to teach me any.

--------------------
Matt Grow - Ice Pro Staff
matt.grow@in-depthoutdoors.com
The second amendment.....Americas original homeland security.

Matt Grow

Re: Leech Lake Walleye and Perch

#865024 - 02/08/10 08:28 PM

Quote:

Congrats on the engamement Matt. Let Cal and i know when those rods are for sale. From the sounds of it Kooty might want to get in on that action too.



For sale? If you want custom Thorne rods, all you have to do is follow me around the lake,......Somebody acquired a really nice setup

--------------------
Matt Grow - Ice Pro Staff
matt.grow@in-depthoutdoors.com
The second amendment.....Americas original homeland security.

Bob Bowman

Re: Leech Lake Walleye and Perch

#865129 - 02/09/10 11:07 AM

Looks like a great weekend Matt, nice work buddy

--------------------
Bob Bowman - Loan Officer
City - County Federal Credit Union
 "Get the lowest possible rate on your boat, ATV or vehicle!"


" Hey.....I'll take some of that"

Jeff Jensen

Re: Leech Lake Walleye and Perch

#865556 - 02/11/10 08:01 AM

Nice looking report
Congrats on the engagement Matt!



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