February 12, 2025
***Fishing Report***
Lake Trout - Lake Trout fishing has remained on the good side as cold temps settle into the area. Many anglers reported seeing good numbers of lakers this last weekend and many anglers came home with trout. Lakers were being seen in a little bit shallower than normal. 20-40 feet of water. Blade baits, spoons, bucktails and tubes all accounted for trout. If lakers didn’t hit any of those baits, small to medium size shiners often sealed the deal.
Stream Trout - Splake were a popular catch this last weekend for many anglers looking for stream trout. Splake were often found on flats in water depths of 15-30 feet of water. Bucktails, blade baits and small jigging spoons tipped with a wax worm or dead minnow. Anglers also caught rainbow trout, often while targeting Splake. Smaller jigging spoons tipped with wax worms was the best way to catch them.
Walleye - Walleye fishing continues to improve for many anglers spending nights out on the lake. Deadsticking chubs with bright glowing glow demons have been the most effective way to catch walleye during the overnight hours. Depths continue to be shallow in 12-16 feet of water.
Eelpout - Anglers continue to see more and more eelpout show up in their overnight catches. While many are catching them in the sleeper houses placed in 12-16 feet of water, deep locations out around humps in 20-40 feet of water have been more consistent for catching. Bright glowing spoons loaded with smelt chunks or minnow chunks are popular, but bright glowing tubes are also very effective on eelpout.
A thrilled angler stands proud inside one of our Arrowhead Outdoors heated ice house rentals, holdin' up a chunky lake trout caught February 12th, 2025 in the Ely MN area near the BWCA – this beauty's bronze sides sparkle with spots, huge mouth open, and tail curved as he beams in his vest and cap under the bright shack lights. The cozy white interior glows with the red heater blastin' warm air, small window showin' snowy ice outside, shelf with a can and tools, and green floor keepin' everything dry and comfy. Mid-February lake trout fishin' stays solid up here, with fish on humps or structure in 20-60 feet hammerin' tube jigs, flutter spoons, or rattling baits – drop 'em deep, jig aggressive with lifts and falls, pause to let 'em spiral like injured ciscoes or smelt, and reel away to trigger chase strikes from suspended or bottom-huggin' lakers. The quiet hum of heat, flash of the lure on the flasher, and that heavy bend when one charges up make shack days epic in the BWCA region. These hauls mix with walleye, northern pike, stream trout shallow, crappie, and more for full winter fun. Thanks to our rental houses for makin' it possible – drill holes inside, stay toasty, and fish longer. Stop by Arrowhead Outdoors, voted #1 Bait and Tackle Shop in MN, for tube jigs, spoons, heavy gear, and to book your ice house rental for lake trout, walleye, eelpout, tulibee, whitefish overnight success. Winter trophies await!