September 1st, 2026
***Fishing Report***
Walleye - Little has changed with the walleye bite this last week as summer like temps continue in the Ely area. We really need a week of 60’s to kick start that fall minnow bite. That being said there have been reports of minnow catching walleye, but crawlers still dominate the reports. Anglers continue to report that they are finding their walleyes with either spinner rigs tipped with either a leech or crawler, fishing around sunken islands or trolling small crank baits over flats in that 15-30ft range. Hot colors this last week have been orange, perch and yellow perch.
Smallmouth Bass - Smallmouth bass fishing continues to be red hot for bass anglers. Crawfish colored crank baits, paddle tails and Ned rigs have been really hot. Spinnerbaits, in-line spinners, topwater baits and urchin baits have also been catching lots of bass right now. Anglers should continue to look to large flats with large scattered boulders, sunken islands and river mouths.
Panfish - Crappie anglers continue to report excellent crappie fishing again this last week as these anglers continue to find crappie in weedbeds. As with the last couple of weeks anglers should focus on thicker stands of weeds to find crappies sitting in the shade. Here beetle spins, jig/twister has been very effective. During the last hour of light crappies will start to roam around these same weedbeds looking for food. Again, beetle spins and jig/twister, fished about 1-2 feet below the surface have been very effective. Sunfish are also being found in these same weedbeds. Oftentimes these sunnies are roaming around in the weeds looking for something to eat. Red worms fished under a bobber have been deadly here.
Stream Trout - Stream trout reports continue to improve for anglers this last week. Anglers trolling cowbells or leadcore small crankbaits or spoons have been having little issues getting their limit of fresh trout for dinner. 20ft of water really seems to be the key depth while trolling over 30-100ft of water. Good rule of thumb is the brighter the crankbait the better. Anglers fishing from shore have been having really good luck floating a night crawler under a bobber about 5-10ft down. Cloudy days have been best for daytime bites, but sunset into dark has really been the best time.
Lake Trout - Lake trout fishing seemed to have slowed up for many anglers this last week as successful reports were few and far between. Anglers have been finding lakers in 50-70ft of water this last week while trolling with either downriggers or dipsy divers. Large flashy spoons continue to be the baits of choice.
Pike - Pike reports have also cooled off some this last week. There were still a small handful of reports of some big pike caught this last week. These anglers were trolling large swimbaits along weedlines, river mouths and over large flats close to deep water. As with the walleyes, a week of the 60's would really help this bite get going.
Local angler Jack Cudd holds up a nice rainbow trout caught while trolling leadcore on an Ely area lake near the BWCA. Trolling leadcore has been producing solid rainbow trout in the Ely MN area. Swing by Arrowhead Outdoors – voted #1 bait and tackle shop in MN – for leadcore line, spoons, and everything you need to get after them.