Nov. 22, 2020

Ice fishing season is right around the corner! Ice is forming on the area lakes and some fisherman are already out there on the shallow ones. The weekly fishing report will be resuming soon so I wanted to give a brief description of what can be found up here in the Ely area.

Ely, Minnesota is home to MN’s best Stream Trout and Lake Trout fishing. Stream Trout and Lake Trout are most active during the winter months, traditionally slower times of the ice fishing season. These trout provide some of the most exciting ice fishing that an ice angler could experience through the ice. No other fish compares.

No where else in MN offers as many lakes or species of trout than the Ely area - from driving to lakes, to remote walk-in lakes - we have it all here in Ely.

Walleye/Northern Pike - mid November to early January is prime time.

Lake Trout/Stream Trout - Trout opener is mid-January.

Crappie/Panfish - Late winter is a great time to fish Crappie through the ice - usually around mid-March/early April when day temps reach 40’s but the ice is still 12-20” thick.

Eelpout - Mid-February - March is excellent Eelpout fishing.

Classic early-winter Northwoods moment on an Ely-area lake in the BWCA gateway—an angler stands on fresh snow-covered ice, proudly holding a nice walleye vertically against the winter backdrop. The 'eye is a keeper: golden-olive flanks, dark mottled back, white belly, glassy eyes—fresh from the first safe ice. Snowy lake and distant pines behind—pure thrill of kicking off the season in BWCA walleye country with "Winter is Coming!"