June 16th, 2026
***Fishing Report***
Walleye - several days of high winds and rain put a damper on the hot shallow water walleye bite this last weekend, for many. As things settled down many anglers noticed walleyes are starting to transition out to the deeper mud flats, in 15-25ft of water, during the day. Anglers have been reporting that they have noticed that walleye caught out here have their stomachs full of mayfly larvae. Out here smaller size leeches and crawlers, fished on spinner rigs to cover ground has been very effective on these fish. Shallow water bite with leeches, fished under a slip bobber or paddle tails continues to keep catching walleye, but many anglers have noticed this bite slowing on some lakes. Anglers looking for this bite are finding the best times have been early in the mornings or late in the evenings in 4-8ft of water now. Rocks continue to be the key here.
Smallmouth bass - Just like last week the lake you're on will determine where they are with the spawn. Majority of lakes are now spawning or post spawn now. If your lake is post spawn you should be enjoying some of the best bass fishing anywhere in the country right now. Square bills, chatterbaits, tumbleweeds, wacky worms, any kind of topwater and spinners is catching all the bass you could ever want right now along rocky shorelines that have large rocks, downed trees or shallow rock flats, all in that 5-10ft of water right now. Don’t overlook current areas/rivers, this time of the year! If your lake still has spawning bass, slow down your presentation. Ned rigs, tumbleweeds, wacky worms and suspending minnows baits continue to be lights out for these spawning fish.
Pike - With high winds and a quick drop in water temperatures, some very big pike continue to be caught while fishing right off the docks this last weekend. The largest sucker or creek chubs you can find, fished under a bobber, did the trick on more than one lake in the Ely area, for anglers. If watching a bobber move around off your dock isn’t your thing, large swim baits, spoons and large topwater baits were also very effective. Emerging weedbeds are the best areas to find pike, but the mouths of shallow bays and river mouths are also great areas to find pike.
Panfish - Panfish anglers were reporting that sunfish and crappies have vacated the shallow waters and are now being found out in deeper water right now. 8-15 ft of water around emerging weedbeds or over mud flats eating mayfly nymphs coming up out of the mud. Small to medium size leeches have been very effective out here.
A nice walleye caught on Crooked Lake in the BWCA. Early summer walleye fishing is producing well right now in the Ely MN area. Swing by Arrowhead Outdoors – voted #1 bait and tackle shop in MN – for fresh bait, jigs, and everything you need to get on the water.