June 24th, 2025
***Fishing Report***
Walleye - How skinny is too skinny is what walleye anglers have been asking this last week. Anglers have been reporting that they are catching quality walleyes in as little as 2ft of water this last week, even during the middle of the day, on clear water lakes. Anglers finding them this shallow have been fishing paddle tails, floating raps and leeches under a bobber. Keep in mind this is happening on windy shorelines and often over rocks. Not every lake is doing the same thing, so other anglers have been reporting a great bite happening at 6-10 feet of water. These anglers have been reporting the same baits are working here. Still other anglers have been reporting an excellent bite happening on weed lines and sunken islands in that 12-18ft of water range. Anglers fishing here are catching walleyes with spinner rigs tipped with a crawler or leech. Gold, firetiger and pink were hot colors this last week.
Smallmouth - The great topwater continues on many of the Ely area lakes, but signs are starting to show it’s slowing down. Early mornings have been the best time to fish topwater for smallies. As the sun gets up that bite cools off and subsurface baits like square bills, wacky worms, Ned rigs and paddle tails start producing equally as well. Key areas have remained the same, large boulders, rocky points, current areas and around downed trees. 10 feet and less remains the best depth.
Panfish - Sunfish have remained a popular target this last week as they are still spawning on many Ely area lakes. Small chunk of a night crawler or wax worm, both fished under a bobber, has been very effective. Anglers should be looking for sandy bottoms, in the shallows. Crappies are still being found just off weedbeds. White twisters, beetle spins and small jigs tipped with a crappie minnow and fished in 10-15ft of water. During evening hours look for crappies to slide in a little shallower, in the weedbeds.
Stream Trout - Rainbow trout fishing continues to be excellent this last week. Many anglers reported catching good numbers of rainbows with small red/gold kastmasters, 2” white twisters, small brightly colored minnow baits and night crawlers fished about 5-10ft under a bobber.
Lake Trout - Lake trout fishing continues to be good both inside and outside the BWCA. Warmer temps have pushed them down a little but anglers continue to find them in 25-80ft of water. Anglers fishing from a boat have been using down riggers to get large trolling spoons down. Anglers fishing from a canoe have been drifting over deep water while fishing with heavy tubes, bucktails or heavy spoons.
Pike - Anglers targeting pike this last week picked up and good numbers of quality pike were caught, but trophy pike, over 40”, were few and far between, which is normal this time of the year. Anglers have been using large spoons, large spinnerbaits and large minnow baits in 6-14ft of water. Weedlines, mouths of shallow bays and areas where water comes into the lake has been the areas to target.
A young angler stands proud on the dock holdin' up a solid walleye caught June 24th, 2025 in the Ely MN area near the BWCA – this beauty's golden sides and dark mottled back glow in the late-afternoon sun, big eye glarin', flared dorsal fin up, and mouth open wide with the Thill bobber and leech rig still danglin' nearby after a perfect hookset. Bundled in a gray hoodie and clear glasses, he's smilin' big against the calm lake water lappin' the dock, tall pines towerin' along the shore, green trees reflectin', and that classic Northwoods summer scene with picnic tables and the sound of waves in the back. Dock fishin' for walleye shines right now – rig a fresh leech on a light hook or jig, set a Thill bobber to suspend it 2-8 feet down near weed edges, rock piles, drop-offs, or cribs in 8-20 feet, and let it sit natural – walleye cruise slow, inhale it, and pull the bobber under for an easy fight from shore. Leeches wiggle perfect in warmer water when walleye are feedin' heavy on baitfish and bugs, makin' this one of the simplest ways to target 'em without a boat. The relaxed vibe, clear water, pines silhouetted – that's the joy of BWCA dock fishin' with family-friendly action and quality 'eyes. These walleye mix northern pike spinners, lake trout deep, smallmouth topwater, stream trout flies for full summer fun. Head to Arrowhead Outdoors, voted #1 Bait and Tackle Shop in MN, for fresh leeches, Thill bobbers, light rigs, and dock setups to chase walleye, northern pike, lake trout, smallmouth, stream trout, and more from shore. Dock trophies like this? Easy and fun – get bobberin'!