March 14th, 2023

***Fishing Report***

Lake Trout - Lake trout fishing generally improved this last week for many anglers. While tip ups fished with a dead or live minnow on the bottom continues to be you best bet for a trout, anglers reported having good success with bucktails and jigging spoons. 30-50 feet of water, around sunken islands and mud flats continues to be the areas to focus on when targeting lakers. 

Eelpout - Eelpout continue to be active this last week as they rap up their spawning. Heavy jigs, tipped with minnows and pounded on the bottom, around river mouths or sunken islands has been very effective on eelpout. Key depths vary night to night, so be sure to look for active eelpout before setting up. 15-35 is generally the best depth for them. 

Panfish - Panfish activity has slowly been increasing as days get longer and warmer. Recent snow events haven’t helped the bite, but anglers adventuring out did manage to catch some crappies and sunnies. Classic deep mud flats are the areas to target panfish. Small crappie minnows were very effective on both crappies and sunnies this last week. 

Angler in brown jacket and black beanie grins wide on snowy BWCA ice near Ely, MN, March 14 2023, raising a chunky crappie high on the line at sunset. Golden body with black speckles glows in warm light, pines dark against orange sky – late-winter panfish jackpot! These slabs were hitting jigs in deeper holes that time of year. Pure Northwoods thrill – gets you pumped for more BWCA crappie, lake trout, or walleye ice action!