August 27th, 2024

***Fishing Report***

Walleye - Stable weather has changed little with the walleye bite this last week. Shallow water walleyes continue to be found in the rocks and are hitting paddle tails on a 1/4oz jig. Walleyes out on the sunken islands are still hitting orange or chartreuse colored spinner rigs, tipped with a leech or crawler and fished in 15-20ft of water. Trolling continues to improve on many area lakes. Here anglers are trolling crankbaits over large flats in 15-30 feet of water.

Smallmouth - Reports of great smallmouth fishing are coming from anglers looking for walleyes out on sunken islands. Here smallies have been hitting pike suckers fished on a jig, around sunken islands in 15-25ft of water. Smallies continue to also hit topwater baits early in the mornings or on cloudy days. Paddle tails, spinnerbaits and wacky worms have been effective on those shoreline smallies. Anglers should be looking for large boulders, timber and points, in 10 feet of water or less. 

Panfish - Crappie and bluegill bite has been hot on many Ely area lakes. Anglers have been finding the bluegills in a weedbeds and around down trees. Small angleworms or wax worms, fished under a bobber has been very effective. Crappies too have been using the weedbeds, but more often than not don’t show up in the weedbeds until the evening hours when the gills slow down. Jig/twister, beetle spins and crappie minnow, under a bobber have all been effective on crappies.

Pike - Large pike have started to show up in many anglers catches this last week. Anglers have been catching pike while fishing medium to large suckers under a bobber, right off their docks. Anglers fishing from a boat have been casting or trolling large spoons and crankbaits along weedlines or mouths of shallow bays. 

Stream Trout - Rainbow trout have remained active this last week for many anglers. Trolling cowbells, tipped with a small spoon or crankbait, over deep water, continues to be very effective. Anglers fishing from shore or off a dock have also been having good luck catching trout. Night crawlers fished 5-10 feet under a bobber have been the way to go.

Lake Trout - Laker reports have cooled off this last week, which isn’t surprising considering how hot it was last week. Anglers continue to fish for them with down riggers and large trolling spoons along the thermocline in 40-60 feet of water. Anglers fishing from a canoe have been having some luck jigging large bucktails and heavy tube jigs over deep water.

Late-summer smallie stunner! This young angler from Ely, MN proudly holds a chunky smallmouth bass caught on August 27th, 2024, right from the boat on a BWCA-connected lake. He's smilin' wide in a gray hoodie while grippin' the bronzeback by the lip—fish shows off thick football-shaped body, dark green-bronze scales glowin' in the sun, red eye, flared fins, and wide mouth after a solid strike. Calm blue water laps rocky shores behind, thick green pines towerin' under a bright August sky—classic Northwoods summer scene. Smallmouth were crushin' near points, weeds, and structure with tubes, crankbaits, or topwater as they fed heavy in warm water—aggressive bites and scrappy fights. This catch captures the thrill: boat-side battle, scenic vibes, and the rush of a great bronze beauty. At Arrowhead Outdoors, stock up on premium fishing tackle for smallmouth success, plus hunting gear and camping gear for your Ely adventures. Come see us for the gear and tips!