June 30th, 2026
***Fishing Report***
Walleye - Little has changed with the walleye fishing this last week as mayflies continue to hatch on many Ely area lakes, but based off reports from cabin owners, resort owners and guides the mayflies seem to be past peak on many area lakes and the walleye fishing continues to improve for anglers. As with last week, knowing if mayflies are hatching on your lake or not has been key to many angler’s success. If mayflies are still hatching, crawlers have been the best choice. Spinners rigs, whistler jigs and death jigs, tipped with half a crawler, fished over mud flats in that 15-23ft of water, have been very effective. If the mayflies are done on the lake or you are fishing a smaller lake where they are not that big of an issue, leeches continue to be the best bait for walleyes. Anglers fishing these lakes have been having great luck tipping spinner rigs with a leech, slip bobber and a leech, throwing paddle tails and deep diving jerk baits in 6-20 feet of water. Rock and rock to sand or mud transition areas have been the key here. If the wind has been blowing into these rocks, even better. Hot colors this last week were orange/black, gold and orange.
Smallmouth Bass - Smallmouth anglers continue to enjoy a very strong bass bite this last week. Anglers continue to catch bass on a wide range of lures, depending on the time of the day. Early in the mornings top water continues to be red hot in shallow water, over rocky flats, in rivers and around river mouths. When the sun gets up wacky worms, chatter baits, crank baits, jerk baits, in line spinners, and spinnerbaits are all catching tons of smallmouth bass, but in a little deeper water ranging from 8-15 feet of water right now. Stick to the rocks and rock transitions area as the sun comes up. Hot colors this last week have been loon, green pumpkin and orange/pumpkin.
Panfish - Crappies and sunfish continue to be found in or near emerging weed beds, but just like bass and walleye, the time of day often determines what you will find near or in those weeds. During the day sunfish often dominate the weed edges and weed beds, but as the sun goes down crappies are quick to move in. Angler’s targeting sunfish have been having great success with red worms, wax worms or angle worms, all fished under a bobber. Crappie anglers have been having great success throwing small twister and paddle tails, swimming them about 1-3ft below the surface to catch crappies. Hot colors were white, sext shad and pink.
Pike - Trophy pike fishing is starting to cool off as water temps start climbing into the range trophy pike don’t like. Many anglers have noted that they are still catching numbers of pike while throwing large spoons, swim baits and large top water baits for pike. Weed beds have become the best areas to find active pike, but river mouths and even rivers have also been good areas to focus on pike too. Anglers should focus on 8-12ft.
Lake Trout - Lake trout anglers enjoyed a good week of fishing for lakers in 30-50ft of water this last week. If anglers were fishing in a boat they were often trolling with down riggers for dipsy divers with large trolling spoons. If anglers were fishing from a canoe they were often fishing with large bucktail jigs, squid tail jigs and tube jigs. These anglers are often simply drifting over deep water while vertically jigging. Hot colors have been whitefish, white and pink.
Stream Trout - Stream trout anglers reported mixed results this last week on area lakes. Many anglers reported the best fishing coming while trolling cowbells with a small, brightly colored minnow bait or small spoon. These anglers simply trolled over deep water while getting their cowbells down to that 15-20ft range. Anglers fishing from shore have mainly been fishing with a slip bobber and angle worm about 10-15ft below the surface. Early mornings and cloudy days has been best for all anglers this last week.
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Steve from Arizona caught this nice walleye on Basswood Lake using a jumbo leech. Early summer walleye fishing with leeches has been producing well. Swing by Arrowhead Outdoors – voted #1 bait and tackle shop in MN – for fresh jumbo leeches and all your live bait needs.