News at New Leech Lake Campground & Resort

8-8-09  DON'S MUSKIE TOURNAMENT TODAY AND TOMORROW 

8:55 PM --  We had a total of 4 Muskie brought in today.  A 40" by Kendall Hill, a 40.5" by Rick Fernow, a 47" by Dean Smith and a 47.5" by Ken Lundberg.  Great job guys!!  BUT REMEMBER, IT AIN'T OVER TILL THE FAT LADY SINGS...and she don't sing till 11 AM tomorrow.  It is anyones game yet.

11:52 AM --  Well yesterday all the guys AND THE ONE GAL all got checked in.  Then it rained and rained and rained and talk about lightening!!  Wow!  It was great to see all our friends that we haven't seen since last year.  We miss all of the ones who were unable to make this year.  Maybe next year we will see you though.

We ended up with a total of 57 entrants.  This is down from previous years, however as we all know the economy is tough.  You can only do what you can do...  Door prizes are really down this year also. 

Next years tournamet dates will be August 14 & 15, 2010.  MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!  No weddings, no High School reunions, no town celebrations, no Rodeos....just Don's Muskie Classic and bring your friends.

We have had two fish registered so far today.  One by 11 year old Kendall Hill and one by Rick Fernow.  Good job guys, catch some more!!  Check back after 7:30 for the lengths caught for the day please.

8-4-09   A GUEST TODAY CAUGHT A 54.5" MUSKIE AND A  48" MUSKIE!!!  WE HAVE THE PICTURES TO PROVE IT TOO!!  HOW AWESOME, JUST DAYS BEFORE TOURNEY TIME...

DON'S PORTAGE BAY MUSKIE CLASSIC TOURNAMENT -- AUGUST 14 & 15, 2010.  Please call or look on the fishing page of our website for more information.

4th OF JULY FUN!  We try to have a good time on 4th of July for the kids...scavenger hunt, chocolate syrup slip n slide, pie eating contest, water balloon toss...  Come join the fun!

FIREWOOD RESTRICTIONS:  Due to the emarald ash borer (EAB) a firewood restriction order has been issued by the DNR.   Therefore, NO FIREWOOD IS TO BE BROUGHT INTO CAMP.  All firewood must be purchased from us.

REMEMBER TO KEEP OUR LAKE SAFE BY EMPTYING ANY WATER FROM YOUR BOAT, LIVE WELLS AND BAIT BUCKETS BEFORE ENTERING OUR WATERS.  THANK YOU.

5-30-09  LEECH LAKE IS BACK!!  Fishing is doing VERY,VERY well.  To look out on the lake it is just like "the good ole days", there are boats everywhere.  Memorial weekend we even had a LINE OF PEOPLE WAITING TO GET INTO THE FISH HOUSE!  The Walleyes were hitting along with the jumbo Perch, Northerns and a few Crappie.  We couldn't have asked for a better weekend.  There were 46 boats over at the mouth of Federal one morning over Memorial Weekend and this past Wednesday in front of the lodge there were 19 boats.  It is great to see the lake so alive with fishermen...HAPPY FISHERMEN! 

5-3-09  Docks went in real nicely.  The weather was fantastic.  Heck, Mark even made everyones day and go the water turned on to camp...I know, he is a great guy!  So it is really looking like summer around here.  This week we will focus on getting the harbor docks in and the shower house put together.  Yippee!! Sunshine!!!

3-26-09  They are only going out on ATV's at this point.  With the warm weather the access really got chewed up with all the traffic going through it.  One day we had 11 trucks out front pulling in perch. 

2-23-09  We have guys driving out in trucks and hauling fish houses.  The rain beat down alot of the snow.  It is good to go.  Come give it a try! 

1-29-09   We have had men trickling in over the past couple weekends.  They have done well.  The biggest issue at this point seems to be the fact that snowmobiles seem to be the mode of transportation that is able to get out on the lake.  ATVS...not working too well.  We had a couple guys try to take their 4x4 Chevy out last weekend...that did not go very well.  They got out a little ways and went through the crust of snow and then dropped through the crust laying above the approximate foot of slush.  They then went to the snowmobile and that worked great for them.  They hit Perch, Walleye and Northern.  They were able to limit out on Perch.  They were happy with their stay.  They would have loved to hit some more "jumboish" Perch, however there were some other people out on the lake that weekend and were on the spot where we were hoping to get them onto. 

We strongly encourage snowmobiles be brought with for transportation.  However, the ideal spots are withing walking distance if you bring a sled to trail your gear out with.  Our 9 year old son, 8 year old nephew and 7 year old niece made the trek to the ice shack...so it can be done by foot also.

Ice Fishing:    12-23-08   We are sitting here watching the snow continue to fall...wondering where are we going to put all this snow as we plow, plow and plow.  We have gotten about 3 foot of snow so far this winter.  There is a good 2 foot out on the lake so Snowmobiles seem to be the answer at the moment. 

There is a rumor of driving out from the North Star area.  Rumor of driving out from Nodaks and Dennys. How much ice is actually out there?  Well some say 11" and the DNR Conservation Officer said 12".  DNRCO says he is still going out on snowmobile.  The lake is creaking and booming but with the snow on top now (even though the temperature has been brutal) it seems to have slowed down a bit. 

We had a couple young guys here over the weekend and they were spearing, they were happy with the Northern fishing. 

**Nodaks on Winnie has plowed a road on the lake...that is confirmed! 

  12-2008 Although we have not yet sent Mark out to roam the ice...the rumor has it there is 4" to 6" out there of beautiful blue ice.  I know there are spearing houses up on Waboose and Nodaks put spearing houses out yesterday by the river and reported about 4" to 6" in that area.  There is hardly any snow out on the ice.  The temp this morning was a brisk 8 degrees.  So the ice is forming and the time is here to start thinking about ICE FISHING RESERVATIONS.  Call today 218-654-3785

Duck Hunting seemed to go very well.  The hunters who came left happy and many returned over and over again.  My hat's off to those of you who come and brave the elemants the way you do.  Some of the duck hunting days were just down right wicked weather.  COLD AND WET.   

Deer Hunting seemed to be on the slow side this year.  From the guys who stayed in camp an 11 pt, a spike, a 6 pt, one other buck and a doe were harvested.  Honestly not as good as other years, but that is how nature is sometimes.

We want to CONGRATULATE MIKE LUNDBERG who took FIRST PLACE  for MUSKIES INC 2008!!!!  Mike was fishing out of New Leech Lake Campground for Muksies Inc this year along with Craig Berryhill as his partner.  Mikes father (Ken) and his brother-in-law (Duane Hill) and his nephew (KENDALL HILL who TOOK SECOND PLACE for Youth Division MUSKIES INC 2008) were another team that fished out of our camp this year.  Travis Hultgren (2007 1st Place Winner for Muskies Inc) fished out of our camp this year again with partner Cory Conrad.  We also had Curt Miller and Brian Miller (who PLACED 9th in MUSKIES INC 2008) fish as a team out of New Leech Lake Campground also this year.  We are so proud of all you guys.  They went out and fished all day long, every day.  No matter the weather and no matter how wet they got, they stuck it out and put in their hours and it sure seemed to pay off.  At least we think it paid off...all you guys are so great and we sure do love having you here for the tournaments and being able to share in your journey with you. 

MIKE LUNDBERG ended up with an amazing total of 5 Muskie (obviously he is still trying to catch up to his dads 6 fish he caught to take 1st Place one year they fished as a team out of our camp...) measuring 41.5", 42", 43", 45.5" and 45.5".  Again, this acheived FIRST PLACE 2008.  BRIAN MILLER PLACED 9th FOR MUSKIES INC 2008 with three fish measuring 49", 42" and a 44".  TRAVIS HULTGREN Placed 23rd with a 46" and a 43.5" Muskie.  KEN LUNDBERG Placed 85th with a 42" Muskie.  CRAIG BERRYHILL Placed 96th with a 41" Muskie.  CURT MILLER Placed 78th with a 43" Muskie.  We cannot forget KENDALL HILL who at 10 years old (don't forget he took 3rd Place at our DON'S MUSKIE CLASSIC TOURNAMENT 2008) took 2ND PLACE IN THE YOUTH DIVISION FOR MUSKIES INC 2008. We only wish that Duane and Cory could have pulled fish in also for a chance at the vehicle.  God knows it was not from lack of trying.  Everyone of these men did fantastic and we are so proud of each of you.  These men fish...let me tell you.  And when I say "fish", this is a hard working, exhausting verb I am using.

Congratulations to each and everyone of you. 

When the guys returned from the awards banquet, we had to cheer for Mike and Kendall, ok I had to. Against Mikes wishes we made them pose for a few photos.  I will be getting these posted onto the Photo Album section of the website.  Please check back and take a peek.  I will also be getting Travis' photos of his 4 Muskie that took him to 1st Place 2007 for everyone to see.

Again, we CONGRATULATE each and everyone of you men.  We know how hard you all fish when you are working at a tournament.  We appreciate that you allow us to be a part of it with you by choosing to stay here with us.  Thanks so much.  Heck, I have already got my fingers crossed for next years winner.  Lets go for 3 years in a row of winners coming out of NEW LEECH LAKE CAMPGROUND!    

Glad to say that the week before the tournament the Muskie turned on and have been hitting since.  GO MUSKIES!!!  As always the Bucktail is an old favorite and the depth of choice seems to be around 8'. 

Muksies Inc. is right around the corner and we wish everyone the best of luck.  Travis Hultgren took First Place in the Muskie Inc tournament in 2007 and we are proud to say he fished out of our Campground.   We wish Travis the best and hope he can do it again.  GO TRAVIS!   

TOURNAMENT UPDATE:

TOURNAMENT RESULTS:

Kevin Fietek won Ease Out Number One for the 2009 year.  Congratulations Kevin!

Northern Division:  No fish was entered into this division so we decided that we would once again roll the original prize money over into the 2009.  That means that the winner for Northern Division for 2009 would recieve $600.

3rd Place Muskie prize went to 10 year old Kendall Hill with a 43" Muskie registered at 7:07 PM Saturday. He won $500!

2nd Place Muskie prize went to newcomer Derrick Wilson with a 43" Muskie registered at 7 PM Saturday.  He won $600!

GRAND PRIZE Muskie went to Rod Anderson with a 46" Muskie registered Saturday.  He won $1200!  Congratulations Rod!

Don's Lucky Draw went to Bill Heyer who registered a 43" Muskie he caught on Sunday at nearly 7 AM.  Bill won $1000!

It worked out great that all four of the men who caught Muskies during the tournament were able to receive a prize. 

We gave out a prize hat to the only female in this years tournament (Beth Buyers) that said Don's Muskie Classic Muskie Mama.

We gave out a hat for Don's Muskie Classic Greenhorn and that went to "Jesse James".  There were two young men who had never Muskie fished before this tournament.  Alexander Mudge was one and Jesse James was the other.  So we picked a number between 1 and 10 and 7 was guessed and 7 was the number so Jesse O. took it.

We also gave out a hat for the most "seasoned" man in the tournament (you know like wine there are other things in life that get better with age) so there we 2 men at the age of 76, Rod and Harland.  So we had to go to a tie breaker with birth dates and Harland ended up winning the Don's Muskie Classics FINEST hat.

We gave out a pair of hats in honor of Bob Deal to Harland and Kenny that said TEAM DEAL and toasted "To Bob."  Something really seemed to be missing without Bob here. 

Check the photo album in a couple days and look for pictures, more of the winners will be added next week also.

We thank everyone who joined us for the weekend.  We wish everyone a safe trip home.

                                   Patti, Holly & Mark and Ginger too..and we can't forget all the kids!