The lake of legendary casts
Leech Lake is a 112,000-acre lake and is the third largest lake located entirely within Minnesota. Leech Lake’s Ojibwe name translates to “the place of the leeching lake”, which reflects its abundant natural resources of fish, wild rice, forests and water.
Vistors find world-class angling opportunities year-round for walleye, yellow perch, muskellunge, northern pike, panfish, largemouth bass and smallmouth bass.
- Management plan update
People interested in Leech Lake fisheries management can share their thoughts on a draft update of the fisheries management plan for the lake through Monday, Aug. 24. This is an opportunity to comment on the draft plan.
The management plan was last updated in 2021. It is important for this update to reflect current public values and attitudes about how the lake should be managed.
The updated plan will be used to guide management of Leech Lake fish populations. It will include management goals, objectives and actions for the lake for the next ten years.
Call the area fisheries office
Before calling to share your commments by Monday, Aug. 24, please review the draft plan and consider:
- What kind of fishing experience are you looking for?
- Are there fish habitat concerns you’d like to share?
- What species of fish are most important to you?
- Do you like catching fewer big fish or a lot of smaller fish?
Online questionnaire
Your answers to a short questionnaire about interests, concerns and related activites will help inform the content of the Leech Lake management plan. You'll be asked to consider these factors.
Open through Monday, Aug. 24
Answer questionsWritten comments
Email comments
[email protected]
Mail comments by Monday, Aug. 24, to:
Walker Area Fisheries
Leech Lake comments
7316 MN-317 NW
Walker, MN 56484
Individuals with a disability who need a reasonable accommodation to participate in these events, please contact Natalie Haberman at [email protected] or 651-259-5190 by Monday, Aug. 3. Calls from Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) users are welcome.- Input group
Members
The DNR advertises available committee seats intermittently when a number have become open. In between these calls, the DNR welcomes applications on a rolling basis.
- Jerecho Worth, City of Walker
- Sarah Bruns, Walker Chamber of Commerce
- John Eaton, Leech Lake Association
- Tanya Roerick, Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, Division of Resource Management
- Michael O’Brien, Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, Division of Resource Management
- Annie Knight, Northern Waters Land Trust
- Scott Peterson, DNR statewide bass workgroup
- Steve Henry, Cass County Aquatic Invasive Species
- Chris Thury, DNR statewide muskellunge workgroup
- Tim Anderson, resort owner
- Ben Jacobson, resort owner
- Bob Weeks, resort owner
- Chip Leer, local business owner
- Adam Arnold, local business owner
- Jim Bedell, local angler
- Chuck Hasse, statewide angler
- Dr. Andy Hafs, Bemidji State University
Purpose
The Leech Lake Fisheries Input Group provides input to the DNR on fisheries management activities for Leech Lake. Leech Lake has maintained a Fisheries Input Group since 2015.
The group advises the DNR on issues that are relevant to the state’s management of Leech Lake fisheries, including any activities that are authorized, licensed, permitted or otherwise regulated or managed by the state.
The DNR will support the group by supplying information that is used to help manage the fishery, including standard fish population assessments, creel (angler) surveys, status of invasive species or other available information requested by the group.
Contact & questions
- About
Leech Lake is the third largest lake located entirely within state boundaries. The lake resides in three glacial zones and possesses an irregular shape with numerous large and small bays, making it one of Minnesota’s largest and most ecologically diverse lakes.