January 25th, 2022
***Fishing Report***
Lake Trout - Lake trout fishing slowed to a grind, this last week for anglers and local guides alike. Seemed all anglers reported seeing only a few trout a day and often trout were not to interested in chasing baits. Still a few anglers managed to find trout, but in less traditional locations. Best reports were from anglers fishing in 80+ feet deep, catching lake trout about 40 feet down. Spoons produce best this last week, but tube baits and bucktails also produced fish.
Stream Trout - Stream trout anglers continue to catch limits of stream trout, but anglers are noticing that getting a limit is becoming harder and harder with every passing day on the more popular stream trout lakes. Rainbow trout continue to bite small tungsten jigs tipped with wax worms about 10-15 feet down. Anglers catching Splake and Brook trout have been doing best in 5 feet of water or less. Here flashy spoons tipped with wax worm or minnow heads, has been very effective.
Walleye - Walleye anglers continue to grind it out, but this is normal for this time of the year. Anglers have been catching only a few walleyes a night or early morning. Every day seems to be different for many anglers, but some quality walleyes are being caught when bite. Deep mud flats in 22-25 feet of water has been most productive. Here minnows hanging under a rattle reel has been very hard to beat, but rippin raps and classic buckshot spoons are also accounting for some fish.
This pic from the January 25th, 2022 report perfectly sums up the shift after opener in Ely MN's BWCA-area lakes—an angler hunkered in a cozy ice shelter or standin' on thick ice, holdin' up a solid lake trout with its classic dark spots and sleek form gleamin' in the cold light, but the vibe hints at the week's challenge: fewer flags, more patience required. The frozen lake rolls out endless behind, snow-covered with distant pine ridges under a pale sky—pure remote Northwoods solitude where travel stayed easy on solid ice. Lake trout action ground to a halt for many anglers and guides; reports were full of seein' only a handful of trout a day on electronics, with fish markin' but refusin' to chase or commit to jigs, tubes, spoons, or dead baits. Numbers were there, but the bite turned picky and inconsistent—classic post-opener slowdown that tests even the pros. Incidental northern pike showed for some while targetin' deeper laker structure, addin' a bonus thrill amid the grind. This shot nails the real deal: crisp winter air, thick safe ice, gear scattered (flashers hummin', rods rigged), and that quiet determination waitin' for the next mark to rise. At Arrowhead Outdoors, we were pushin' jiggin' tips, tube baits, spoons, and persistence advice that week—same today when lakers get finicky in BWCA deep water. These Jan 2022 reports keep it honest for plannin' trips: swing by 1810 East Sheridan in Ely for fresh tubes, bucktails, sharpened blades, and current scoop. Subscribe on arrowheadoutdoorselymn.com for weekly truths—nothin' like grindin' through for those hard-earned lakers up here in the Northwoods!