Leech Lake fishing conditions · Minnesota

Now until 7 pmYellow perch

The bite peaks at 82. Wind builds to 20 mph out of the west by tonight at 10:00 pm.

Right now: 82 for yellow perch, worth the trip · inside the best windowTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Yellow perch, hour by hour

Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.

823 pm
82
82
826 pm
68
68
689 pm
45
45
45Sun
45
45
453 am
45
45
686 am
68
68
689 am
68
68
6812 pm
68
68
683 pm
68
58
586 pm
58
58
589 pm
68
68
68Mon
68
68

Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Water: No reading
Wind: 10 mph
Flow: 94.62 ft gauge height
Light: Daylight
Sky: Mostly Cloudy
Air: 51°F
Barometer: Falling
Moon: 5% lit

What’s biting

Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are Minnesota regulations for these waters.

Yellow perch

Perca flavescens

82Worth the tripNow until 7 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Yellow perch bite in 45–70° water, best near 58°.

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 5–30 ft down.

Keep

20 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Minnesota: 20 yellow perch a day, 40 in possession, open all year.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Minnesota

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Apr–May, Oct–Nov, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on yellow perch

Walleye

Sander vitreus

65MarginalNow until 7 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Walleye bite in 50–72° water, best near 62°.

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Walleye feeds aggressively in low light. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 10–40 ft down.

Keep

4 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. 4 walleye a day, only 1 over 20".

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Leech Lake

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: May–Jun, Oct, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on walleye

Muskellunge

Esox masquinongy

47Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

No water reading here right now. Muskellunge bite in 55–78° water, best near 68°.

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Muskellunge is here Jun–Sep. Holds 10–40 ft down.

Keep

54" minimum · 1 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Minnesota: 54" minimum, 1 a day. Season is the first Saturday in June through Nov 30 (Jun 5–Nov 30, 2027).

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Minnesota

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Jun–Sep, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on muskellunge

Largemouth bass

Micropterus salmoides

47Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

No water reading here right now. Largemouth bass bite in 55–85° water, best near 72°.

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Largemouth bass is here May–Oct. Holds 3–25 ft down.

Keep

6 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Minnesota Southern and North-central zones: 6 bass a day combined. Largemouth are catch and release from Mar 1 to the Friday before Memorial Day.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Minnesota

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: May–Oct, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on largemouth bass

Crappie

Pomoxis spp.

47Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

No water reading here right now. Crappie bite in 50–80° water, best near 65°.

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Crappie is here May–Oct. Holds 3–20 ft down.

Keep

5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. 5 crappie a day.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Leech Lake

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: May–Oct, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on crappie

Common carp

Cyprinus carpio

47Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

No water reading here right now. Common carp bite in 52–86° water, best near 72°.

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Common carp is here Jun–Oct. Holds 1–15 ft down.

Keep

no daily limit

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Minnesota: carp have a continuous season and no limit. Carp may not be taken by spear, archery or dip net in designated trout lakes and streams.

Verified Oct 18, 2026 · Minnesota

Last checked 20 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Jun–Oct, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on common carp

The water

Water temperatureNo reading
River94.62 ft gauge height · steady
Barometer29.82 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

Sunset today4:53 pm
Sunrise tomorrow7:10 am
MoonWaning crescent, 5% lit
Minor solunarToday 3:20 pm–4:20 pm
Major solunarTonight 10:10 pm–12:10 am
Minor solunarTomorrow 6:30 am–7:30 am

Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works

Fishing report

No current report covers these waters.

We only show reports an agency has published, with their date. Minnesota DNR publishes a report for the state.

Licenses and rules: state fishery agencies · fish-consumption advisory

About this spot

A vast north-woods lake renowned for walleye, jumbo yellow perch, muskie, and largemouth bass across its bays and reefs.

WaterLake
AccessPier, shore and ramp
RulesMinnesota
WhereCass County · 47.1500, -94.4000

Nearby

The closest public spots we cover, with the same 36 hours of floats.

Mille Lacs Lake72 mi · MinnesotaBest now until 7 pm

100Go

Lake Vermilion108 mi · MinnesotaBest now until 7 pm

65Marginal

Rainy Lake (International Falls)115 mi · MinnesotaBest now until 7 pm

59Marginal

Lake of the Woods (Zippel Bay)121 mi · MinnesotaBest now until 7 pm

82Worth the trip

Lake Minnetonka158 mi · MinnesotaBest now until 7 pm

100Go

Devils Lake (Grahams Island State Park)220 mi · North DakotaBest tomorrow 6 am–7 pm

68Marginal

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Leech Lake?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Leech Lake you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website

What fish are commonly targeted at Leech Lake?

Leech Lake is listed on this site for 6 commonly-targeted species: Walleye, Muskellunge, Largemouth Bass, Yellow Perch, and 2 more. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.

When is the best time to fish at Leech Lake?

It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Leech Lake against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.

What kind of access does Leech Lake have?

Leech Lake has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Leech Lake?

state agency regulations apply at Leech Lake. Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.

Is Leech Lake tidal water?

No. Leech Lake is non-tidal — water level varies with rainfall, seasonal flow, and (where applicable) upstream dam releases rather than tidal exchange.