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!
September 27th, 2022
Walleye tough late September Ely MN BWCA Arrowhead Outdoors Sep 27 2022 report: poor weather slow bite reports hard to come by—smallmouth mixed shallow bays rocky points topwater soft plastics, pike pickin' up cloudy days suckers bobbers shallow bays river mouths, crappie peak weedlines downed timber beetle spins jig/twisters minnows—gear up at the shop for your BWCA fall transition!
September 6th, 2022
Smallmouth bass hot Ely MN BWCA Arrowhead Outdoors Aug 16 2022 report: topwater Whopper Ploppers Torpedoes Pop-R’s soft plastics wacky/Ned rigs shallow bays rocky points weedlines—walleye steady 18-28 ft Lindy rigs crawlers/leeches evenings shallow 8-12 ft slip bobbers—pike good weedlines spinnerbaits—gear from the shop for your BWCA summer smallie family action!
August 30th, 2022
Walleye upswing Ely MN BWCA Arrowhead Outdoors Aug 30 2022 report: 6-12 ft weedbeds/points/flats live bait rigs leeches/crawlers crankbaits Shad Raps—smallmouth mixed sunken islands, pike rampin' cloudy days suckers bobbers shallow bays river mouths, crappie peak weedlines downed timber beetle spins jig/twisters—gear up at the shop for your BWCA late summer walleye bite!
August 23rd, 2022
Walleye steady late August Ely MN BWCA Arrowhead Outdoors Aug 23 2022 report: trolling Shad Raps 12-18 ft flats/points/islands spinner rigs hammered gold/copper/nickel blades leeches light bites—smallmouth good spinnerbaits soft plastics Whopper Ploppers 4-10 ft points flats rivers—crappie peak weedlines downed timber beetle spins jig/twisters minnows—pike pickin' up rainy days suckers bobbers shallow bays river mouths—gear up at the shop for your BWCA late summer bite!
August 16th, 2022
Smallmouth bass hot Ely MN BWCA Arrowhead Outdoors Aug 16 2022 report: topwater Whopper Ploppers Torpedoes Pop-R’s soft plastics wacky/Ned rigs shallow bays rocky points weedlines—walleye steady 18-28 ft Lindy rigs crawlers/leeches evenings shallow 8-12 ft slip bobbers—pike good weedlines spinnerbaits—gear from the shop for your BWCA summer smallie family action!
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.