With the 2026 Minnesota fishing opener set for May 9, Leech Lake is shaping up to offer a classic early season walleye bite. Following a steady winter and a timely ice out in late April, water temperatures are currently climbing into the mid 40s. We expect these temps to hit that magic 50 degree mark by opener, which is prime for post-spawn activity. Because the ice off date was consistent with historical norms, many of the well known spring areas, specifically the large main lake points and...

Winter simplifies the hunt for crappies. While some fish remain in shallow, oxygen-rich weeds that survive under the ice, the primary bite shifts to the deep basins. In these areas, you’ll find large, nomadic schools feeding on the aquatic invertebrates like bloodworms and larvae that thrive in the soft basin mud. Most lakes feature multiple basins, but the "sweet spot" typically falls in the mid-depth range of 20–30 feet. Whether these depths are more fertile or simply easier to break down...

As summer fades into fall, crappies begin transitioning to deeper water. Driven by cooling temperatures and the need to "bulk up" for winter, their first major move is to the deep weed line, the point where vegetation disappears on your electronics. This shift is triggered by dying weeds and dropping oxygen levels in the shallows; the deeper edges simply offer more stability. During the day, crappies are typically tight to cover along these weeds. However, during prime feeding windows, they...