May 20th, 2025
***Fishing Report***
Walleye - The much feared cold snap did little to slow down the walleye bite. Anglers that braved the cold found walleyes still snapping in that 15 foot of water range. Here a simple 1/4oz jig, tipped with a pike sucker, got the hardest hits. There were a few reports of leeches, soft plastics and crankbaits starting to work in the shallows, right off the dock in 2-8ft of water. Anglers should still be focused on current areas, large shallow flats and right off their docks for walleyes. Pink, white and gold continue to be the hot colors to have.
Pike - Cold, cloudy weather had the pike fishing hot, hot, hot! Many pike anglers reported excellent pike fishing this last week. Bobber fishing with medium to large suckers or large creek chubs were very hot. Shallow bays, current areas and again, right off the dock were the best places to tie into a giant pike.
Stream Trout - Rainbow trout and Brook trout didn’t have any issue with the cold snap either. Anglers fishing from shore reported catching some nice trout while fishing with a night crawler under a bobber about 5-10 feet down. Brook trout anglers did well casting small silver and blue spoons, white twister and floating a crawler off the bottom.
Lake trout - Lake trout reports remain elusive. High winds are likely the main reason. Not very much fun trolling/jigging in a boat or canoe in whitecaps. The few reports we have gotten have been trolling spoons or deep diving crankbaits down 20-30ft of water, over deep mud flats.
Smallmouth - Now the smallmouth bass were affected by the cold snap. Smallmouth reports quickly dried up when the temperature dropped. As temps start to rise again, anglers should expect smallies to start returning to the shallow flats, in 10ft of water and less, that are covered with large rocks. Suspending jerk baits and NED rigs will be the baits to throw at the smallies.
Panfish - Panfish too were not enjoying the cold snap. Crappies and sunnies dropped out of the pencil reeds and are now being found in deeper water at the mouth of these same bays they were just in. Crappies minnows floated under a bobber managed to catch a few crappies and sunfish for anglers.
A happy angler stands proud on the wooden dock holdin' up a massive northern pike caught May 20th, 2025 in the Ely MN area near the BWCA – this giant's olive-green body is covered in light spots, jaws gapin' wide with razor teeth showin', long body curved and tail flared as he grips it tight in his camo jacket and black hoodie under that calm lake backdrop with pines reflectin' in the water. The winning bait? A frozen herring rigged under a bobber right off the dock – simple shore setup for big pike prowlin' shallow weeds, bays, or drop-offs in early season when they're post-spawn hungry and aggressive. Thaw the herring just a bit, hook through the nose or back, set the bobber depth 2-6 feet (match the fish zone), and let it hang natural – pike cruise slow, inhale it whole, and yank the bobber down before ya set hard with heavy gear and steel leader to avoid cut-offs. The calm water, green trees, dock net ready nearby, and that big smile say it all – dock fishin' for northern pike is easy-access Northwoods fun with no boat hassle, especially in May when big females hang shallow feedin' heavy. These giants mix walleye jiggin' leeches, lake trout deep trolling, stream trout in rivers, and smallmouth on rocks for full early-season excitement. Head to Arrowhead Outdoors, voted #1 Bait and Tackle Shop in MN, for frozen herring, big bobbers, steel leaders, heavy rods, and pike lures to chase these toothy trophies, walleye, lake trout, stream trout, and more right from shore or boat. Dock giants like this? Get rigged and get out!