February 8th, 2022

***Fishing Report***

Lake Trout - Lake trout fishing was slow to very slow for the majority of lake trout anglers this last week. Anglers struggled to even mark fish, let alone get fish to chase.  Anglers able to catch fish reported that bites were very light and trout had to be worked more like a walleye in order to get them to bite.  Small, but heavy spoons were the most effective baits last week.

Stream Trout - Stream trout anglers reported good fishing this last week. Anglers targeting Splake, found them in shallow water, 10 feet or less. Small spoons and small jigs tipped with wax worms was the most effective baits this last week. Anglers targeting rainbows found rainbows in deeper then normal water.  15-20 feet of water was the best depth to find active rainbows. Here again, small jigs tipped with wax worms or salmon eggs were the best baits. 

Panfish - With warmer temps anglers continue to poke around looking for panfish, but reports continue to come back as poor. Anglers are finding some crappies very loosely schooled over deep water, but largely very negative. Anglers managed to catch a few crappies worth taking home with small crappie minnows or soft plastics. 

Eelpout - Eelpout reports continue to improve as we get closer and closer to their spawn.  Anglers are finding active Eelpout around sunken islands, river mouths and large flats near deep water. Anglers have been doing best with heavy glow spoons, loaded with pieces of minnows and pounded on the bottom. After dark has been best but there has been a few reports of eelpout caught during the day now.

This shot from the February 8th, 2022 report highlights the brighter side of a mixed week in Ely MN's BWCA-area lakes—an angler proudly displayin' a fine stream trout (rainbow or splake) fresh through the ice, its vibrant colors poppin' against the snowy white background on a frozen expanse. The lake stretches wide under a winter sky, pine-covered shores distant for that remote Northwoods feel, with small jig rod, spoon, or tungsten setup nearby tipped with wax worms or salmon eggs. Lake trout stayed slow to very slow for most anglers—strugglin' to mark or get chases from fish, light bites requirin' heavy small spoons worked hard like walleye tactics. But stream trout delivered solid action: splake in shallows (10 feet or less, near downed trees or weedbeds) on small spoons and jigs tipped with wax worms; rainbows deeper (15-20 feet) on similar small jigs with wax worms or salmon eggs. Panfish reports were poor—crappies loosely schooled over deep water but sluggish, tempted only occasionally with small minnows or soft plastics. Eelpout picked up near spawn, more active around sunken islands, river mouths, and large flats near deep water—best after dark on heavy glow spoons loaded with minnow pieces pounded on the bottom, though some daytime hits too. This image captures the persistence payin' off: crisp air, safe thick ice, gear rigged for shallows or night runs, and a quality catch amid the laker grind. At Arrowhead Outdoors, we were pushin' wax worms, salmon eggs, glow spoons, small jigs, and tips that week—same today when stream trout shine or eelpout heat up in BWCA waters. These Feb 2022 reports keep it real for winter plannin': stop by 1810 East Sheridan in Ely for live bait, tungsten jigs, glow gear, and fresh updates. Subscribe on arrowheadoutdoorselymn.com for weekly scoops—nothin' like findin' the bite in the Northwoods!