Welcome to Arrowhead Outdoors' Ely MN Fishing Reports—your trusted source for Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA) fishing reports since 2017.
Weekly fishing reports are written by Steven Renneberg, owner of Arrowhead Outdoors since 2017. Steven has a lifetimes worth of fishing experience chasing fish throughout northern Minnesota and is eager to teach others on how to catch fish. This experience and willingness to teach others has helped Arrowhead Outdoors be voted as Minnesota’s top bait shop and tackle shop since 2022. Steven’s fishing reports are no fluff—just practical advice to shorten the time between bites, updated weekly.
Welcome to the 2025-2026 Ely Ice Fishing Season!
May 31st, 2022
Smallmouth bass fire up Ely MN BWCA Arrowhead Outdoors May 31 2022 report: shallow bays/rocky points 8-15 ft slow jerk baits tubes drop-shot—walleye steady main lake points jigs/minnows, pike excellent shallow bays suckers, stream trout good spoons crankbaits—gear from the shop for your BWCA summer bite!
May 24th, 2022
Walleye steady Ely MN BWCA Arrowhead Outdoors May 24 2022 report: bigger keepers on shallow rocky points/weedbeds 10 ft light jigs minnows gold blue/white pink/white—pike excellent mud bays river mouths suckers under bobbers, smallmouth emerging slow jerk baits, stream trout good spoons crankbaits—gear up at the shop for your next trip!
April 20th, 2022
Late ice crappie tough Ely MN BWCA Arrowhead Outdoors Apr 20 2022 report: 27-37" thick ice slow openings, slowed bite colder temps more snow—crappies small groups 20 ft bottom edges, tungsten jigs soft plastics waxies minnows—gear up at the shop for final push!
April 6th, 2022
Late ice crappie slowly hot Ely MN BWCA Arrowhead Outdoors Apr 6 2022 report: over 3' thick ice 4" snow un-spring temps, jig small plastics/minnows in shallows bays—gear up at the shop for the final winter push before opener!
Stop in today for fresh live bait to match the latest report — we stock premium crappie minnows, rainbows, shiners, leeches, and wax worms daily. View current live bait stock in Ely MN. Need pro tips or quantity guides for your BWCA trip? Check our FAQs or book a heated ice house rental for winter.