July 22nd, 2025

***Fishing Report***

Walleye - Walleye fishing remains very good for many anglers this last week. Crawlers on a spinner rig or jig and half a crawler continue to get the job done for anglers. Many anglers are reporting 10-15 feet of water, along weedlines, edges of flats and on top or around sunken islands has been where anglers are finding active walleyes. Windy shorelines or exposed humps, even better. Hot colors continue to be firetiger, pink and gold.

Smallmouth - Smallmouth fishing also continues to be very good for bass anglers. Topwater continues to be very good early in the morning. As the sun gets up anglers switch to chatterbaits, spinnerbaits, wacky worms and Ned rigs to keep catching bass. Anglers will find smallies in rivers, river mouths, downed trees, large rocky flats and out in the sunken islands in 6-15ft of water. White, loon and any crawfish colors have been very effective.

Panfish - Crappies and sunfish continue to be found right inside thick weedbeds or around downed trees. Not all downed trees or weeds are created equal, so anglers will often have to check a few downed trees and weed clumps before they find the ones the fish are relating to that day or that time of day. During that last hour of light crappies have been leaving the thick cover and cruising around the weedbeds looking for minnows or bugs to eat. Regardless of the species, 2” twister, thumper jigs, small jigs tipped with a chunk of worm, wax worm or crappie minnows, fished under a bobber have been very effective.

Stream Trout - Rainbow trout and Splake were common catches this last week for stream trout anglers. Many anglers are catching trout simply trolling small crankbaits or small trolling spoons, over deep water and catching nice limits of trout. For both baits, the brighter the better is a good rule of thumb. Depths range from 10-30ft of water. Anglers fishing from shore have been reporting that they are catching trout floating a night crawler 2-4ft off the bottom. 

Lake Trout - Lake Trout anglers reported a little bit of a slow week this last week. High winds and storms kept canoe anglers grounded. Boat anglers reported decent lake trout fishing trolling with down riggers and large trolling spoons. Key depths this last week continue to be caught 30-80ft. 

Pike - Pike anglers had a good week. Cloudy, cool and rainy days are perfect days to target pike. Some nice pike in the mid 30 inch range were caught. Anglers have been having good luck throwing large swim baits, large spoons and spinnerbaits along weedlines, mouths of shallow bays and river mouths. 

A thrilled angler stands proud on the boat holdin' up a massive giant walleye caught July 22nd, 2025 in the Ely MN area near the BWCA – this trophy 'eye's dark mottled back and bright golden-yellow sides glow under the partly cloudy sky, big eye glarin', flared dorsal fin up, and mouth wide open as she grips it tight in her yellow hoodie and cap, boat deck with rods ready, calm lake water lappin' the hull, thick green pines towerin' along rocky shores and islands in the backdrop – classic Northwoods summer scenery. Caught while trollin' Rapala Shad Raps – those deep-divin' crankbaits are on fire mid-summer, trolled slow (1.5-2.5 mph) on lead core or snap weights to reach 15-30 feet over humps, points, rock piles, or breaklines where big walleye school up feedin' heavy on baitfish as water temps peak. The tight wiggle, flash, and rattle trigger reaction strikes from larger fish holdin' deeper or suspended – especially cloudy days, mornings, or evenings when they're aggressive. The boat setup, clear water, pines reflectin' – that's the thrill of BWCA trolling for trophies with steady action and quality bites. These giants mix smallmouth spinnerbaits, northern pike topwater, lake trout deep crankin', stream trout flies for full summer fun. Head to Arrowhead Outdoors, voted #1 Bait and Tackle Shop in MN, for Rapala Shad Raps (perch, firetiger, natural colors), lead core, snap weights, and trolling setups to chase giant walleye, smallmouth, northern pike, lake trout, stream trout, and more. Mid-July monsters like this? Keep trollin'!