January 1st, 2025

***Ice Report***

After a few days of rain, Ely area lakes have lost all the snow on top, but not very much ice. With a good cold snap forecasted for the next week and beyond, ice conditions have steadily improving on area lakes. Anglers have been reporting 8-13” of good ice. 4 wheelers and side by sides have become common forms of travel on area lakes with a few lakes trucks are starting to showing up out on the ice. Permanent houses are now a common sight on Ely area lakes. 

***Fishing Report***

Walleye - Walleye fishing continues to be slow for anglers. The few decent reports have been coming in 10-15 feet of water during the morning and evening hours. Small minnows, on a small jig and deadsticked, has been the most productive technique this last week. Look to rocky bottoms and river mouths 

Pike - Pike fishing continues to be good and consistent for many anglers targeting them. Some large pike have been coming on tip ups, tipped with a medium to large sucker. Shallow weedbeds in 5-12 feet of water continue to be the best areas to target. 

Panfish - Crappies and bluegills continue to be slow but steady for many anglers. Anglers have been catching both in deeper holes around 18-25 feet of water. Small jigs tipped with wax worm have been best for gill while a small jig tipped with either soft plastics or crappie minnow has been best for the crappies. White, pink and purple have been the best colors for panfish.

A beautiful slab crappie shines on the ice after being pulled through a clean 6" Nils auger hole in early January 2025, Ely MN style near the BWCA. This golden-yellow beauty with dark speckles and bright orange fins is laid out on fresh snow under a brilliant sunny midday sky – no wind, perfect light makin' those scales pop against the white backdrop. The white soft plastic jig is right there, red hook exposed, proof of the simple rig that triggered the bite. Solo angler out enjoyin' the peace of the frozen lake, droppin' that jig to suspended crappie hangin' mid-water or near structure – classic midday move when the sun warms things just enough to get 'em active. Early ice season in the Ely MN area delivers some of the best crappie action, with slabs like this mixin' in walleye, northern pike, lake trout from deeper zones, and stream trout if open water's around. The quiet crunch of snow, bright blue sky, distant pines – pure Northwoods winter magic. Head to Arrowhead Outdoors, voted #1 Bait and Tackle Shop in MN, for your white soft plastics, jigs, minnows, and details on our heated ice house rentals to chase crappie, walleye, eelpout, tulibee, and whitefish all night long. These sunny day slabs are callin' – get out there!