March 12th, 2025
***Fishing Report***
Lake Trout - Lake trout reports continue to be positive for many anglers this last week. Anglers' locations have become really scattered throughout the lake. Large mud flats, humps surrounded by deep water and main lake points have all been producing good numbers of lakes and lots of quality lakers too. Blade baits like spoons and vibratos have been accounting for the majority of lake trout. Depths this week ranged from 20-50 feet of water. Many anglers reported marking and catching lakers 5-15ft under the ice.
Crappies - Crappie anglers continue to report mixed results this last week. Many anglers reported that crappies are now being seen high off the bottom, but remain fussy. Live minnows suspended under a bobber proved too hard for many crappies to pass up. Now that the snow has burned off and warm temps are in the forecast, the crappie bite should only get better.
Stream Trout - Rainbow trout continue to be easy to find and easy to catch. Anglers are finding them over deep water, 30-70 feet of water, but are catching them 5-10 feet under the ice. Small spoons tipped with waxies. Small soft plastics tipped on a small jig have also been very effective.
A thrilled angler beams wide under a black beanie and blue-tinted Ray-Ban goggles, holdin' up a plump golden slab crappie by the line at sunset on March 12th, 2025 in the Ely MN area near the BWCA – this beauty's speckled yellow body shines with dark mottles, big eye glarin', flared dorsal fin up, and fiery fins poppin' against the snowy ice and orange-pink sky with pines silhouetted in the back. The pink/red jig head with white curly tail is still danglin' from the mouth – perfect late-ice rig for triggerin' fussy crappie suspended high or near structure in 10-30 feet on panfish lakes. Early March crappie action ramps up afternoons here as light filters through clearer ice and temps warm slightly, with fish hammerin' small jigs tipped subtle white plastics, wax worms, or minnows bounced slow – keep it light and slow when they're negative but feedin' pre-spawn. The golden glow on the scales, quiet crunch of snow, vast frozen expanse – pure Northwoods late-winter magic before thaw hits. These slabs pair epic with lake trout deep jiggin', walleye shiners, northern pike tip-ups, stream trout shallow, and more. Head to Arrowhead Outdoors, voted #1 Bait and Tackle Shop in MN, for pink/red jigs, white tails, wax worms, minnows, and our heated ice house rentals to extend slab chases, walleye, lake trout, eelpout, tulibee, whitefish in cozy comfort. Sunset slabs like this? Priceless – get after 'em!