February 3rd, 2026
***Fishing Report***
Lake Trout - Lake trout remains very consistent for many anglers this last week. Anglers continue to report that they are finding lakers in 30-60ft of water along points and flats. Chartreuse bucktails, squid tails and tubes remain the most popular choice for successful anglers. Reports of a chunk of minnow suspended 1-3ft off the bottom, fished under a tip up, continue to come in from anglers.
Stream Trout - Rainbows continue to be easy picking for many anglers this last weekend. Anglers have been fishing with small jigging spoons or small tungsten jigs, tipped with a small dead minnow or wax worm. Anglers have been fishing 5-15ft under the ice, oftentimes over 50-80ft of water. Anglers also reported a good Splake bite happening on many area lakes with Splake. Like with the rainbows, jigging spoons or jigs tipped with a minnow or wax worm were very effective on Splake. Many anglers found Splake near deep points or sharp drop offs in 30-70ft of water.
Walleye - As we enter the slowest time of the year for walleyes, walleye reports reflect this. Many anglers reported walleyes to be very negative and when one was caught it often was too small to keep. Anglers had success with smaller minnows, dead stick or fished under a tip up. Best reports came from deeper water ranging from 25-30ft, over mud flats.
Pike - Pike anglers took advantage of the break in the cold and had decent luck fishing weedbeds and river mouths. However, the biggest pike reported this last week was reported being caught over deep water while lake trout fishing. Either way medium sided suckers fished under a tip up was the most effective to get bites. Frozen smelt or alewife’s also produced good numbers of fish for anglers.
Eelpout - Eelpout reports are starting to come in from anglers that are starting to target them. Majority of reports continue to be from the overnight hours. Anglers have mainly been targeting them on sunken islands that range from 15-40ft of water. Humps near deep water or river mouths have been the best ones to target. Heavy, bright glowing jigs, loaded up with the smallest minnows you can get has been the best way to go.
Angler holding trophy northern pike caught ice fishing in Ely MN at Arrowhead Outdoors rental shack, February 2026.