Leech Lake

[3Roosters]

DNR NEWS – FORIMMEDIATERELEASE Dec. 8, 2016

Zebra mussel larvaeconfirmed in Leech Lake

The MinnesotaDepartment of Natural Resources has confirmed zebra mussels in their larvalstage in two locations in Leech Lake in Cass County. The DNR has found no adultzebra mussels in the lake, but the locations and numbers of zebra mussellarvae, called veligers (VEL-uh-jers), indicate a reproducing population may bepresent.

The DNR confirmedmore than 30 veligers from a sample collected in deep water off the shore ofPortage Bay, on the northeast side of the 110,000-acre lake, and more than 40veligers from a sample collected in the center of Kabekona Bay, on Leech Lake’swestern edge. No veligers were present in samples collected from three other sitesbetween Portage and Kabekona bays. The two sites where veligers were confirmedare nearly 17 miles apart.

The DNR Fisheriessection collected the samples as part of their Lake Survey Program, whichproactively gathers and analyzes samples from the 11 largest lakes in Minnesotaevery year. Leech Lake is the third-largest lake in the state.

Portage Bay is withinthe Leech Lake Reservation; Kabekona Bay is not. The DNR will work with theLeech Lake Band of Ojibwe, the Leech Lake Association, property owners andlocal governments to conduct a broader search and discuss options.

 

[Jigaman]

our family rented a cabin for a week in July on leech for 3 years in a row. Beautiful lake. damn shame.

 

[Duckslayer100]

It was only a matter of time.

Then again, maybe the mushkis will get a taste for mussels and leave the walleyes alone! Win-win.

 

[svnmag]

I'll say it again. Round gobies.

 

[3Roosters]

The folks used to own a cabin out by Stony Point for a number of year back when I was a snot nosed little tyke and teenager. Fooled our share of walleyes thru the years. Good memories. Lindy Rigs were fairly new back then but they were King for us using nitecrawlers that we used the hypodermic needle on. "Don't set the hook right away, give em line and count to 10 Dad would say". Let them swallow it."Dad had the famous Lowrance Green box fish locater, thought it was an awesome unit back in the day..and well it was.
This lake can't seem to catch a break...Cormorant issues a bunch of years back and now this...yikes.

 

[Mocha]

I live 25 minutes from Leech and fish it at least 10+ times each year. Great lake and I am not real worried about the zeebs yet. They are in so many lakes now that it is just a matter of time. MN fishing regs have 12 pages of lakes infested with AIS. Even with the millions of dollars the State, counties, townships, lake associations & the DNR spend .....they are still going to spread. The most protected lake in MN, Christmas Lake in the twin cities, also has zeebs. Most of the big lakes in MN already have zeebs. Cass Lake, Winni, Mille Lacs and now Leech. Zeebs change the ecosystem of the lake but the fishing can still be very good. The zeebs also seem to run their course like in Mille Lacs and then seem to head in the down ward direction.....at least that was the last I had read about Mille Lacs.

The fishing at Leech has been outstanding now for 8+ years!

 

[bucksnbears]

all the $$ wasted on the "feel good" thoughts that we can stop the spread.

 

[Norske]

They were found in Winnie and Cass years ago. Both those lakes are upstream of Leech in the drainage system. Leech is big enough they were just harder to find.