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Posts: 41
Location: Rochester, MN | Last year I planned a weekend trip to Leech for opener which didn't go well with the high winds and cool water temps that presented themselves. I would like to try Leech again this year but would like to know if there are there any suggestions for better success when planning an early season musky trip? Am i wasting my time if water temps are below a certain temp? Am i better off choosing a different lake that warms faster? |
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Posts: 386
| The advantage of staying on Leech is there are several smaller lakes in the area, some shallower or with shallow bays that you could fish if you get blown off or the water is cold... Kinda hard to tell where we'll be in four months. If you just want to fish Leech, mid-summer and later would likely get you better results. I personally like to start my year out in the metro because:
- less driving
- warmer water temps / don't really have to worry about harassing spawning fish
- fish are typically active or starting to become active
- after a few weeks the water temps typically get too high, so I'll be driving north most of the rest of the summer, might as well fish it while I can
This May sound stupid, but if you like fishing Leech, just do it, enjoy it. If you are more concerned with results then join the crowds at a lower latitude.
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Posts: 2327
Location: Chisholm, MN | I don't fish leech for opener but my experience tells me I pretty much stay away until July. That being said, I bet someone has it figured it.
Water temp isn't always a factor for me on opener. I find that I've contacted and caught lots of muskies no matter the weather up here in northern mn. Muskies are stupid on opener and I like to take advantage of it. There are a ton of good lakes in that area that I'm sure you'd have success on, even if the water is 50 degrees.
Edited by Kirby Budrow 1/31/2017 2:12 PM
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Posts: 1209
| Yeah leech has a reputation for being a slow starter, I'd just bass fish some Muskie lakes near you and pay attention to water temps and learn, you may come across a Muskie or two, and no I'm not saying go bass fishing wink wink. I mean bass. For me the warmer the better till 70*. 2 years ago on opener we had action like crazy then same lake a year later we rode the short buss. |
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Posts: 41
Location: Rochester, MN | I appreciate all of the tips. I have never fished a metro lake before but have been trying to read up on some of them. One would assume that morning and evening would be best due to boat traffic? I had plans to try Waconia last year, but the weather was bad and I didn't make the trip. Since I am coming from the south I figured that this would be a little closer and easier to get to. Any reviews on Waconia or other metro lakes that wouldn't be a pain to get to with good fishing? |
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Posts: 444
| Being you are from Rochester you may want to look at the newer southern MN lakes. They warm up quick, Keyes outdoors did an episode with a guide in southern mn last year I believe and they did well with some big fish. |
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Posts: 4080
Location: Elko - Lake Vermilion | I agree with what others have said.. Leave Leach alone until July.
There are plenty of other Lakes in that area to fish and have more success on.
I have fished V on the opener for the last 16 yrs. with pretty good success.
It's the type of Lake that you can get out of high winds and fish the Northern Bays that have warmer water temps than the Southern Bays. One Bay can be 7-10 degrees warmer than the main Basins or clear water bays.
The darker stained water will also be warmer this time of yr.
Personally I wouldn't fish any where else on opener.....Extremely diverse, forage everywhere, the fish are very predictable, not very many other muskie fishermen about, and as Kirby has said Muskies are stupid on opener and are easily fooled compared to late summer months.
If I didn't fish V on opener, I'd follow Kirby to his favorite Lake...Bwaaa,hahaaa... |
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Posts: 2327
Location: Chisholm, MN | Top H2O - 2/1/2017 11:03 AM
I agree with what others have said.. Leave Leach alone until July.
There are plenty of other Lakes in that area to fish and have more success on.
I have fished V on the opener for the last 16 yrs. with pretty good success.
It's the type of Lake that you can get out of high winds and fish the Northern Bays that have warmer water temps than the Southern Bays. One Bay can be 7-10 degrees warmer than the main Basins or clear water bays.
The darker stained water will also be warmer this time of yr.
Personally I wouldn't fish any where else on opener.....Extremely diverse, forage everywhere, the fish are very predictable, not very many other muskie fishermen about, and as Kirby has said Muskies are stupid on opener and are easily fooled compared to late summer months.
If I didn't fish V on opener, I'd follow Kirby to his favorite Lake...Bwaaa,hahaaa...
Haha! Wonder where that is?!?!?! |
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Posts: 3147
| Metro in June,,not has pretty has up north but metro lakes warm fastest,,find a lake with a lot of cement around it and it will be warmer,,remember that too in late November. |
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Posts: 670
Location: Otsego, MN | For years I fished the opener on the smaller lakes around Leech. The best years were the ones with the coldest crappiest weather. Not sure why but when we had warm springs and warmer water temps for opener it was never good. Lots of nice fish caught and always would see some really big ones. |
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Posts: 386
| Tips on metro lakes can be hard to come by, lol. Which I always find funny cuz there really aren't any secret spots on those lakes, even the more obscure ones at least a couple hundred other fisher persons know about. For me, Waconia is a better fall lake, just my experience. Indy is a better option for June. Some of the dirtier, smaller bays on Tonka get some good early season action. Personally, I like fishing the tiger lakes the first few weeks, particularly if you have a cold spring. I think tigers look cooler, if they consistently reached the same sizes as pure strains I'd consider targeting only tigers. Also, those lakes tend to get a little less pressure. |
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Posts: 41
Location: Rochester, MN | I have only been fishing for muskies for the last 3 years. Fox and French (southern lakes) are the ones that i am most familiar with. They tend to green up quickly and have many surface weeds that makes fishing anything other than spinnerbaits or topwaters challenging. More so on French. Thanks again for all of the tips. |
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Posts: 132
| I would think those lakes shouldn't be too green around opener. If I lived down that way, I would definitely be spending my time early on those two.
If you decide to head to the Metro, I would stick to Indy and Tonka. |
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Posts: 1901
Location: MN | Pedro - 2/1/2017 8:56 PM
For years I fished the opener on the smaller lakes around Leech. The best years were the ones with the coldest crappiest weather. Not sure why but when we had warm springs and warmer water temps for opener it was never good. Lots of nice fish caught and always would see some really big ones.
What smaller lakes around Leech have muskies, other than Benedict and if you are considering the Longville area "around" Leech? |
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Posts: 386
| Leech is definitely not ideal for opener but that doesn't mean you can't catch fish out there early but I don't have a lot of faith until late June, at the earliest. It can be a finicky bastard to figure out at times. If I was planning a trip, and you were set on coming to northern MN, I would avoid Leech until later and go to Plant, Big, or Cass. |
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Choosing a lake to fish for opener in MN? What water temp?