The forces of nature were at work today on Leech Lake. We awoke with the lake ice pushed to the north from my vantage point, which is the "Big Lake" looking east towards Goose Island. This afternoon after the rain began the wind switched to the north and is now pushing the ice back to the south. Now at dusk on Sunday April 26 I see no ice between my home and Goose Island. I also heard my first loon of the season this afternoon. It will still be a couple of days before the officials will declare "ice out" because Walker Bay is always later with it's deep cool waters. It's always a special day when you can see open water. This is about two weeks earlier than it was last year.
In addition to the first loon we continue to see the migration north of many birds. It is surprising how the birds know when ice out happens, or is about to happen. The geese are pairing off to begin their spring duties. The first greens of spring grass continue to sprout along the roadway and in ditches. If we have some rains and a few warm days this week we will continue to see things green up. The tops of the birch, poplar and aspen trees along the road are beginning to show green. The trees along the lake will be a week or so later because of the temperature difference.
Two weeks until "Fishing Opener" when the north country will really begin to come to life. Have to remember to buy my fishing license for this year. I have a lot of outdoor work to do before I can seriously think about fishing.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Closer To Spring
95% or more of our snow has disappeared in the last week or so. We have had incredible weather with highs in the 60 and lows in the 40’s My prediction of ice out by May 1st needs to be revised to earlier. Today is April 20th and all I see is rotting ice as far as I can see on the main lake. I now predict by this weekend, say the 28th or 29th. We no longer see any ice fisherman venturing out very far with ATV’s, or snowmobiles on the main lake.
I opened up the road into Oak Point Estates this past weekend. The gravel road is in great shape with no mud holes to get your car dirty on. Seeing more deer out by the roadways with shoots of green grasses attracting some attention. We are also seeing more birds coming north. One more sure sign of spring is the filling of potholes by the public works crews. The rumor is that the Oak Point Road will receive an overlay of new bituminous this year. Yea, Yea.
On the flora front we are seeing tulips and snow drops starting to pop up. During the next two weeks we will have more activity on this front. We will have plenty of wildflowers that will start shortly to beautify the forest lands.
I opened up the road into Oak Point Estates this past weekend. The gravel road is in great shape with no mud holes to get your car dirty on. Seeing more deer out by the roadways with shoots of green grasses attracting some attention. We are also seeing more birds coming north. One more sure sign of spring is the filling of potholes by the public works crews. The rumor is that the Oak Point Road will receive an overlay of new bituminous this year. Yea, Yea.
On the flora front we are seeing tulips and snow drops starting to pop up. During the next two weeks we will have more activity on this front. We will have plenty of wildflowers that will start shortly to beautify the forest lands.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Happy Easter
Easter is coming this Sunday. We have put together three days in the high 30 and mid 40’s. Our snow is melting once again. Our Aprils fools joke came a day early in the form of 12 to 14 inches of snow. Our road that we live on called Chippewa Beach Road is filled with muddy ruts once again. We have more signs of spring with wild life sightings. Duck, geese and other waterfowl can be see where they can find open water, like the Steamboat River Lake by the bridge on Highway 371. We see plenty of Bald Eagles over the lake with them occasionally resting in trees along the lake shore look for a quick meal.
Our weather forecast is for a warm Easter weekend. This should help to dry out our road at Oak Point Estates. We are hoping to get that road reasonably dry before we have traffic. There have been signs of walking traffic looking at the lots.
It’s hard to believe that in only one month we will have open season for Walleye fishing once again on Leech Lake. The old timers in the neighborhood think we will still have lake ice until May 1st. The old-timers include me. The earliest ever recorded ice out on Leech Lake was April 9, 1945. The latest May 23, 1950. I myself can recall a few years when we were not totally ice free for the opening of walleye season. My favorite fishing spot for Walleyes is evening fishing off my dock. I have caught many limits of fish with a jig and minnow off my dock in shallow water. We have excellent fishing using this technique that will last until the mosquitoes drive me inside. Believe me nothing is better then catching a few fresh fish and have them in the frying pay the next evening for dinner.
Our weather forecast is for a warm Easter weekend. This should help to dry out our road at Oak Point Estates. We are hoping to get that road reasonably dry before we have traffic. There have been signs of walking traffic looking at the lots.
It’s hard to believe that in only one month we will have open season for Walleye fishing once again on Leech Lake. The old timers in the neighborhood think we will still have lake ice until May 1st. The old-timers include me. The earliest ever recorded ice out on Leech Lake was April 9, 1945. The latest May 23, 1950. I myself can recall a few years when we were not totally ice free for the opening of walleye season. My favorite fishing spot for Walleyes is evening fishing off my dock. I have caught many limits of fish with a jig and minnow off my dock in shallow water. We have excellent fishing using this technique that will last until the mosquitoes drive me inside. Believe me nothing is better then catching a few fresh fish and have them in the frying pay the next evening for dinner.
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