March 10th, 2026
***Fishing Report***
Lake trout - Lake trout anglers continued to struggle this last weekend. Finding lakers wasn’t the problem, getting them to engage enough to bite was. Majority of anglers reported seeing lake trout come off the bottom, race up about half way to their baits and stop, lose interest and swim off. This is a huge clue that what they are looking for doesn’t leave the bottom. This is when you want to fish very close or on the bottom. Pounding the bottom with a small jig (1/8 or 1/4oz), tipped with a small minnow and setting bait under a tip up, within 2ft of the bottom is your best approach. Key depths remain 30-40ft of water.
Panfish - Signs of the spring crappie bite, has started, is being reported from crappie anglers. These anglers reported catching good numbers and quality crappies over the weekend. Small, white soft plastics, small jigs tipped with a crappie minnow or chub for your set lines, are all working. Anglers should be looking for active crappies 10-15ft off the bottom, over 20-35ft of water.
Whitefish/tullibee - Whitefish and Tullibee are becoming very active and easy to catch for anglers. Panfish anglers have been getting a few mixed in, but the anglers targeting them have been doing best right now. If you're looking to try this bite, look to deep mid flats in the 25-35ft range. The same jigs you would use for panfish or stream trout work great for whitefish and tullibees. Small flashy spoons tipped with wax worms, small jigs tipped with soft plastics and even crappie minnows on small jigs tipped all will get their attention.
Stream trout - Rainbows were very cooperative this last weekend despite some anglers saying they would look at their baits several times before biting. When rainbows get like the just letting you bait sit, not moving it at all, is often the best approach to catching them. Wax worms loaded on a small jigging spoon or panfish size jig is the best approach. Rainbows were biting 5-15ft under the ice and more often than not the bite was over by 8am, so get out early if you want some rainbows.
Eelpout - Eelpout reports cooled off some this last week. I’m sure that being post spawn and the weather shifts didn’t help the bite. Anglers are still finding eelpout around spawning areas. During the day anglers reported they caught some out in deeper water during the day, then shallower in the evening and after dark. During the day 40-60ft, during the evening and after dark 15-25ft of water. Bright glowing jigs, pounded on the bottom and loaded up with minnows remains the best way to go.
A grinnin' angler stands proud inside an Eskimo ice shelter holdin' up two beautiful tulibee (cisco) caught March 10th, 2026 in the Ely MN area near the BWCA. Late-winter tulibee action stays hot up here – fish school suspended or near structure in 20-50 feet, hammerin' small jigs or spoons tipped minnows/wax worms in low light, especially afternoons or evenings when they're aggressive feedin' heavy on plankton and bugs before thaw. Head to Arrowhead Outdoors, voted #1 Bait and Tackle Shop in MN, for small jigs, spoons, minnows, wax worms, and our heated ice house rentals to chase tulibee, lake trout, eelpout, whitefish in comfort. Late March tulibee like these? Get jiggin'!