February 19,2025
***Fishing Report***
Lake Trout - Lake trout fishing continues to be good for many anglers as cold temps remain. Several large lakers were caught this last weekend in 30-50 feet of water. Blade baits, bucktails and tubes all produced trout. Tip ups tipped with a dead smelt or small minnow also was effective on lake trout this last weekend.
Stream Trout - Splake continued to be a popular catch for many anglers this last week. Anglers have been finding them between 20-40 feet of water. Small tubes, soft plastics and dead minnows, tipped on a small jig or jigging spoon have been very effective on Splake. Rainbow trout have also been a popular catch for anglers this last week. Rainbows have been running a little deeper in 40-60 feet of water. Small bug flies, tipped with a wax worm or dipped in scent, have been very effective at getting rainbows to bite.
Walleye - Walleye fishing continues to be slow but steady which is normal for mid February. Less active minnows like chubs, deadsticked on a rattle reel, continue to be the most popular and effective way to catch walleyes. 12-18 feet of water continues to be where the majority of walleyes are being caught.
Eelpout - Eelpout continue to show up in anglers' catches, day and night. Anglers fishing for lake trout have been finding eelpout out on humps that top out in 15-30 feet of water, surrounded by deep water. Walleye anglers have also been catching eelpout in shallower water and near river mouths in 10-20 feet of water. For both locations, heavy bright glowing jigs loaded with smelt chunks and pounded on the bottom has been very effective.
A proud angler stands on the snowy ice holdin' up a chunky lake trout caught February 19th, 2025 in the Ely MN area near the BWCA – this one's a real looker with bronze-green sides dotted in yellow spots, huge head open wide, and tail draggin' as the sunset paints the sky pink-orange behind distant pines. Bundled in a blue long-sleeve and dark pants, glasses on, he's smilin' big with the fresh hole and ice shavings circled at his feet, rod nearby – classic open-ice setup for droppin' big pike suckers deep. Late February lake trout fishin' stays prime up here, with fish on humps, points, or flats in 30-60 feet hammerin' large suckers or chubs rigged on heavy jigs or tip-ups – let that bait swim lively or bounce it slow to mimic an easy meal, and lakers rocket up from the depths when the light's fadin'. The quiet vastness of the frozen lake, crunch of snow, golden glow on the fish's scales – that's the raw thrill of BWCA winter fishin'. These hauls pair with walleye on shiners, northern pike tip-ups, stream trout shallow, crappie slabs, and more for end-of-season fireworks. Head to Arrowhead Outdoors, voted #1 Bait and Tackle Shop in MN, for pike suckers, big minnows, heavy gear, and our popular ice house rentals to make your lake trout chases cozy overnight successes with walleye, eelpout, tulibee, whitefish too. Sunset lakers like this? Can't beat it – get out while the ice holds!