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 102,947.83 acres (416.6151 km2), has 195 miles (314 km) of shoreline, and has a maximum depth of 150 feet (46 m).

Zebulon Pike, who led a party in 1805-1806 to find the head waters of the Mississippi, thought that Leech Lake was the source of that river. The Mississippi Headwaters are actually at Lake Itasca, although Leech Lake also feeds into the Mississippi.

On October 5, 1898, Leech Lake was the location of a conflict between Native Americans and Federal troops of the United States, the Battle of Sugar Point. A firefight broke out between the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment and the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe after one of the soldiers sent to retrieve a bootlegger mistakenly fired his rifle. Oscar Burkard received the Medal of Honor on August 21, 1899 for his participation in the battle.

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 lb, 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.

The long, narrow Shingobee Bay is part of Leech Lake, and is located on its southern end. Shingobee Bay, and the adjacent Walker Bay, boast some of the deepest parts in the entire lake.