Leech Lake
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Ojibwa women in canoe, Leech Lake |
Leech Lake is a lake located in north central
Minnesota,
United States. It is southeast of
Bemidji, located mainly within the
Leech Lake Indian Reservation, and completely within the
Chippewa National Forest. It is used as a
reservoir. The lake is the third largest in Minnesota, it covers 111,527 acres (451 km²), and has a maximum depth of 150 feet (46 m).
Leech Lake is a popular
sport fishing hotspot, and is fished for
walleye,
largemouth bass,
smallmouth bass,
panfish,
northern pike and
muskellunge. The state record
Lake Whitefish (12 lbs, 4.5 oz) and
Pumpkinseed (1 lb, 5.6 oz) were both caught here in 1999.
Every February, Leech Lake is home to the International Eel Pout Festival. The eel pout, also known as the
Burbot, is rarely seen in Leech Lake, except in the winter when it is very plentiful. Events include a black-tie dinner, ice bowling, and a contest to see who can catch the largest eel pout.
On Oct. 5, 1898, Leech Lake was the location of the last Indian uprising in the United States, the
http://www.leechlake.org/history.asp Battle of Sugar Point. A firefight broke out between the
U.S. 3d Infantry Regiment and the Leech Lake Band of
Ojibwe after one of the soldiers sent to retrieve a
bootlegger mistakenly fired his rifle. See also
http://www.tolatsga.org/ojib.html*
Leech Lake Township, Minnesota*
Walker, Minnesota*
Onigum, Minnesota*
DNR leech lake info*
Fishing leech lake
