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Posts: 925
| I've got a buddy that recently bought a cabin on Leech. Just started musky fishing it.
We were wondering what the top end of Leech is?
My guess is 54". I'm sure bigger have been caught and there's always the outlier but realistically today what's the max? I don't think there's 57's in there like Vermilion or Mille Lacs but maybe I'm wrong.
Thanks - Midge |
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Location: MN | There was a 57 on the lunge log last I checked. I don't see why the lake wouldn't produce more with the amount of bait in there.
I'd love to have a cabin on the lake. Lots of great fishing lakes for Muskies and other species along with great bird hunting in the area. |
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Posts: 113
Location: Twin Cities | Why would the "top end" be 54" on Leech? Am I missing something? It's a super deep lake with high protein forage and the other lakes listed have "Leech Lake" strain fish.... |
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Posts: 1209
| Im thinking 57 as well but I'd figure they would have seasonal movements slightly off the masses of Muskie making them not on targeted areas |
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Posts: 1828
| rbiwer - 8/10/2016 2:34 AM
Why would the "top end" be 54" on Leech? Am I missing something? It's a super deep lake with high protein forage and the other lakes listed have "Leech Lake" strain fish....
Same thoughts here. In my mind they should get as big in Leech as anywhere else. Actually seems like Leech should give the absolute best trophy potential for leech strain fish. |
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Posts: 38
| I fished and guided on Leech for over 4 years. My best was a 54 and a friend got a 55.5. The biggest I saw I would estimate at the upper 50 range. Just a giant. I don't doubt for a second that their is a potential state record in those waters. Big Water. Good growth. Great forage. It ranks right up there with Vermilion and Mille Lacs IMO. |
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Posts: 2082
| Sorry Midge..You are wrong... Plenty of documented 55"-56" muskies have come from Leech and a few 57" have been caught over the years too.. I bet the biggest five muskie living in Leech right now would scare the sh*t out of you, probably almost as long as you - ha!  |
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Posts: 833
| The DNR is also now stocking Lake Whitefish in cooperation with the local Indian Tribe. That will only serve to boost forage base for trophy musky. Also one of the few lakes in MN that is not reliant on stocking. |
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Posts: 358
| I would bet if you could unlock the key to Walker Bay you would find plenty of big fish. Leech is a pretty complex system and you need some time there to see big fish consistently (as I'm learning lol). |
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Posts: 925
| Sheesh, why do some people have to jump on people when they pose a question and question my question? Thanks for the useful responses for those that did.
Going back and reading my wording, maybe I wasn't clear. Of course like I said for those of you that took Statistics 101 in college and know what an outlier is, that I wasn't saying 54" is the top, of course there is going to be something bigger time to time.
I was asking what is realistically caught year after year? My "guess" was that Leech pumps out fish up to 54" every year. With an occasional "outlier" in the 56+ range.
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| MuskyMidget - 8/10/2016 10:40 AM
Sheesh, why do some people have to jump on people when they pose a question and question my question? Thanks for the useful responses for those that did.
Going back and reading my wording, maybe I wasn't clear. Of course like I said for those of you that took Statistics 101 in college and know what an outlier is, that I wasn't saying 54" is the top, of course there is going to be something bigger time to time.
I was asking what is realistically caught year after year? My "guess" was that Leech pumps out fish up to 54" every year. With an occasional "outlier" in the 56+ range.
You can just about say that about any minnesota lake that has leechers. Minnetonka,waconia, indy ,calhoun, etc..in the metro have a few 54's and the very rare 55+. A 55+ is a rare fish anywhere . To run the gauntlet of life as a fish and make it to that length is no easy task. |
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Posts: 32954
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Tough crowd lately, MM. Leech's potential probably is exactly what you are expecting. I really like that water because it's like fishing several different systems on any one day. One trip we hit a pattern in the little harbor mouths that dot the shoreline and caught several in what looked like sterile water.
Nice crappies, too. |
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Posts: 925
| Yes, we are excited to put more time on this water. We did fish a few hours here and there in the past 2 years since he purchased. This year I haven't fished it, but he has spent some more time out there.
He's got I think a 42, 43, 46 and said he saw a top 3 fish that he has seen in his life out there. He hasn't seen many other fish, seems to catch them and not see them ... nothing wrong with that!
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Posts: 2026
| I got the question you posed. Think of a bellcurve, or normal distribution, instead. Outliers are abnormalities, as are IQs of 130 for musky fishermen. 54 is more common than 57, but it happens. The genetics and available forage will determine growth potential. If Vermilion, Mille Lacs, etc have 57 inchers, leech does too. As common as 54s??? No, but science will never be able to "normally distribute" aquatic species. Best guestimate pretty much. |
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Posts: 92
| Yep i agree with others posting here. 57 may be tops.But i think there may be a difference in size from fish that inhabit the weeds to the rocks there. My experience over the last several years is that rocks seem to put out some bigger fish overall there. I think that 56 or 57 Dave Unzeitig fish(the one caught with Jim Flesch) that was caught way back may have actually been weeds though throwing off my theory.i have fished primarily weeds there for years and 53-54 inch fish are about the biggest i have caught/seen out there in a ton of angler hours. Seems on an annual basis putting a few 51 to 52 inch fish in the boat is no problem ,but mind you I'm talking every weekend type of fishing for me and ungodly amount of hours there so not sure i am the best barometer. That has been my experience out there anyway just passing it on. |
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Posts: 400
Location: Metro | MuskyMidget - 8/9/2016 9:45 PM
I've got a buddy that recently bought a cabin on Leech. Just started musky fishing it.
We were wondering what the top end of Leech is?
My guess is 54". I'm sure bigger have been caught and there's always the outlier but realistically today what's the max? I don't think there's 57's in there like Vermilion or Mille Lacs but maybe I'm wrong.
Thanks - Midge
Its amazing how many people jumped on you for this. Obviously they don't know how to read. The man asked a fricken question use your brain.
Sorry on behalf of all the rude people on this site that don't know how to read. |
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Posts: 705
Location: Alex or Alek? | sworrall - 8/10/2016 11:11 AM
Tough crowd lately, MM.
Its been almost as bad as winternet. We need the water to cool down quick before someone loses a limb. |
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Posts: 1425
Location: St. Lawrence River | ARmuskyaddict - 8/10/2016 12:33 PM
I got the question you posed. Think of a bellcurve, or normal distribution, instead. Outliers are abnormalities, as are IQs of 130 for musky fishermen. 54 is more common than 57, but it happens. The genetics and available forage will determine growth potential. If Vermilion, Mille Lacs, etc have 57 inchers, leech does too. As common as 54s??? No, but science will never be able to "normally distribute" aquatic species. Best guestimate pretty much.
You took all the joy and wonderment out of this thread for me |
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Posts: 2026
| Haha! You must not be an outlier. |
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Posts: 233
Location: Iowa | I wouldn't feel too insulted. You asked a question and you got other peoples opinions.
I agree with everyone else. I don't think your right in guessing 54 is the top end with a hand full of bigger ones.
Its a different animal when you compare the three.
Jeremy |
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Posts: 386
| There are some absolute super tankers in Leech, but not the numbers as Vermillion or Mille Lacs back in the day. Just spent 5 days on Leech and I can say with 100% certainty there are fish bigger than 54" in there. |
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Posts: 638
Location: Bloomington, MN | I think that 56 or 57 Dave Unzeitig fish(the one caught with Jim Flesch) that was caught way back may have actually been weeds though throwing off my theory.
Rumor on the street was that was a Lake Plantagenet fish. |
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Posts: 1288
Location: Walker, MN | There are a handful of 54"-58" fish in here but the numbers are very, very low. The real positive for Leech is the great number of healthy 48"- 52"ers. Just look at the historical tournament results and that will kind of tell you what to expect for top-end size. Of course there are always a few giants out there. |
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Leech Top End