June 13th, 2023

***Fishing Report***

 Walleye - Walleye fishing cooled off this last weekend thanks to good cold front that dropped water temps 10 degrees.  As a result, walleyes dropped to 15-25 feet of water, just off those shallow flats anglers were catching them just days before. Minnows really came back into play for anglers. Simple jig and minnow, worked right on top of those inactive walleye was effective. Pink/white, blue/white and gold remain popular colors for walleyes. Angler have now started reporting walleyes out on sunken islands. 

 Smallmouth - Smallmouth bass continue to be very active and aggressive for anglers. Topwater continues to be very popular among bass anglers. Ned rigs and in-line spinners are also accounting for a large number of bass for anglers. Shallow boulder flats, points and around islands, continue to be areas to focus efforts for bass. Anglers have noticed that crawfish are shedding their shells in the shallows right now and bass are focused on them. 

 Panfish - Weed beds have developed quickly on area lakes and panfish are being found in weed beds or on the weed lines. Angleworms and waxies, fished under a bobber, in those weed beds has been the way to catch sunnies. Crappies are being found just off weed lines during the day, then in the weed beds during the evening hours. Jig/twister or crappie minnows fished under a bobber has been very effective on crappies. 

 Stream Trout - Thanks to the recent cool off, trout have come up in the water column and fishing has improved for anglers. Anglers fishing from shore have been catching trout with small spoons and spinners. Anglers fishing from a boat continue to catch good numbers of trout trolling small minnow baits behind cowbells, about 10-15 feet down. 

June 6th, 2023

***Fishing Report***

Walleye - The skinny water walleye bite continues to be very hot! Walleyes continue to be found in water as shallow as 2 feet (not a typo). Anglers are having great success fishing leeches under a bobber, shallow running minnow baits and trolling slow death rigs. Shallow, wind blown flats, remain the best place to find these hungry walleye.

Smallmouth - With water temps as high as 83 degrees on some area lakes, the bass have largely wrapped up spawning. Topwater baits have quickly become the go to lures for bass anglers. Whopper ploppers, torpedoes, pop-r’s and hula poppers are all catching tons of smallies right now. Ned rigs and wacky worms are also accounting for their fair share of bass. Shallow boulder flats, in 10 ft if water and less is where you will find active bass.

Panfish - Thanks to the rapid warmup in water temps, panfish are being found in shallow bays looking to spawn or wrapping up spawning. Either way, worms, crappie minnows, waxies are all catching lots of panfish in the shallows. If the panfish have already spawned their location is a little different. These panfish are being found out on the weedlines. Small twisters and beetle spins are catching these fish.

Stream trout - Rainbows and brown trout are being caught on area stream trout lakes by trolling small crankbaits, spinner rigs and cowbells. Warm water temps have pushed trout down to 15-20 feet of water. This has resulted in many of the trout being found out over deeper water, cruising around, looking for a easy meal.  

Pike - Warm temps have pushed out most of the big pike, from shorelines. Small pike have remained in the shallows and have remained very active. Spoons, spinnerbaits and large suspending minnow baits have been catching pike. Anglers have been working weedlines, river mouths and mouths of shallow bays, in 12ft of water and less. 

May 31st, 2023

***Fishing Report***

Walleye - As water temps climb into the high 50’s walleye are on the move. While yes, you can still find walleyes hanging around spawning areas, but the majority of them have now left those areas. Now walleyes are cruising shorelines looking for an easy meal. Anglers are now working points, large shallow flats and river mouths. Anglers are finding walleyes in 12-16 feet of water during the day with a jig and minnow, but during the evening hours, walleyes are sliding up as shallow as 3 feet looking for minnows and leeches. Here a slip bobber and a leech, large floating minnow bait, and jig and minnow have been very effective for catching walleyes.

Pike - Pike anglers continue to enjoy excellent pike fishing up in shallow bays. Similar to the walleyes, pike are on the move and cruising shorelines looking for an easy meal. Anglers fishing off their dock or a boat have been casting large spoons, spinnerbaits and floating large minnows under a bobber for trophy pike.

Smallmouth - Smallmouth Bass anglers were starting to find active smallies this last week. Anglers are finding smallies with suspending minnow baits, soft plastics and spinnerbaits. Key now, is to fish slowly. Water is still cold for the smallies and they are sluggish, but they are also very hungry too. Anglers are finding active smallies on large rocky flats, around islands with large rocky flats and along rocky shorelines.

Panfish - Crappie anglers are reporting that crappies are schooling up at the mouth of shallow bays and venturing into shallow bays as water temps climb. Crappie minnows and small hair jigs, fished under a bobber at the mouth of these bays, has been very effective for crappie anglers.

Stream Trout - Now that many anglers got their walleye fix, many have started to look to stream trout lakes. Anglers are finding aggressive trout cruising their favorite stream trout lake. Shore anglers are catching active trout casting small spinners, spoons and jigs. Anglers fishing from a boat are catching trout trolling small spoons and crankbaits. Trout are generally being found in 10 feet of water or less, anywhere in the lake, right now.

Lake Trout – Lake trout anglers were reporting good fishing this last week. Anglers fishing off their campsites, on an island near deep water, had success casting heavy spoons out into the deep water. Laying a dead smelt or sucker minnow off the bottom was also very effective for them. Anglers fishing from a boat or canoe reported catching trout with heavy spoons and deep diving crankbait, trolled out over 30-80 feet of water.

May 23rd, 2023

***Fishing Report***

Walleye - As water temps climb into the high 50’s walleye are on the move. While yes, you can still find walleyes hanging around spawning areas, but the majority of them have now left those areas. Now walleyes are cruising shorelines looking for an easy meal. Anglers are now working points, large shallow flats and river mouths. Anglers are finding walleyes in 12-16 feet of water during the day with a jig and minnow, but during the evening hours, walleyes are sliding up as shallow as 3 feet looking for minnows and leeches. Here a slip bobber and a leech, large floating minnow bait, and jig and minnow have been very effective for catching walleyes.

Pike - Pike anglers continue to enjoy excellent pike fishing up in shallow bays. Similar to the walleyes, pike are on the move and cruising shorelines looking for an easy meal. Anglers fishing off their dock or a boat have been casting large spoons, spinnerbaits and floating large minnows under a bobber for trophy pike.

Smallmouth - Smallmouth Bass anglers were starting to find active smallies this last week. Anglers are finding smallies with suspending minnow baits, soft plastics and spinnerbaits. Key now, is to fish slowly. Water is still cold for the smallies and they are sluggish, but they are also very hungry too. Anglers are finding active smallies on large rocky flats, around islands with large rocky flats and along rocky shorelines.

Panfish - Crappie anglers are reporting that crappies are schooling up at the mouth of shallow bays and venturing into shallow bays as water temps climb. Crappie minnows and small hair jigs, fished under a bobber at the mouth of these bays, has been very effective for crappie anglers.

Stream Trout - Now that many anglers got their walleye fix, many have started to look to stream trout lakes. Anglers are finding aggressive trout cruising their favorite stream trout lake. Shore anglers are catching active trout casting small spinners, spoons and jigs. Anglers fishing from a boat are catching trout trolling small spoons and crankbaits. Trout are generally being found in 10 feet of water or less, anywhere in the lake, right now.

Lake Trout – Lake trout anglers were reporting good fishing this last week. Anglers fishing off their campsites, on an island near deep water, had success casting heavy spoons out into the deep water. Laying a dead smelt or sucker minnow off the bottom was also very effective for them. Anglers fishing from a boat or canoe reported catching trout with heavy spoons and deep diving crankbait, trolled out over 30-80 feet of water.

May 16th, 2023

***Fishing Report***

Walleye - Anglers found walleye in a classic post spawn pattern, meaning mostly males and largely scattered but hungry fish. As usual, a jig and rainbow reigned supreme over opening weekend for anglers. Gold, gold/red, pink, blue were the top colors over the weekend for anglers. Anglers focused their efforts on current areas and large gravel flats in anywhere from 2 feet of water, down to as much as 16 feet of water. There was a handful of anglers who focused on these same areas with large floating rapalas, during the evening hours, and are being rewarded with some very large walleyes. Peak water temps reported were 53 degrees.

Pike - Pike anglers have not been disappointed so far this year. Anglers have been catching some very large pike with a heavy suckers floated under a large bobber. Shallow water, 10 feet or less has been best. Best areas to find these big pike has been in shallow mud bottom bays, near river mouths, but floating a sucker right off your dock or campsite, no matter the location, is always worth it this time of the year.

Stream Trout - While there were not a lot of stream trout anglers over opening weekend, there were still some who targeted streamers. With the late ice out, trout were located very close to shore and very high in the water column. Small spoons, small crank baits and spinners, casted along shorelines was every effective on hungry trout. Other anglers fishing from shore floated a night crawlers, about five feet under a bobber, and reported having good success.

Panfish - With several days in the high 70’s, crappies were being found in the shallow, mud bottom bays. Crappie minnow or hair jigs, suspended under a bobber was very effective. Pencil reeds and downed trees are areas to focus on within these mud bays.

March 28th, 2023

***Fishing Report***

Crappie - Crappie fishing continues to be slower than usual for this time of year. With 10” of snow or more, on the ice, it may be a few more weeks before things really heat up. Anglers results have been mixed, with some doing good, while others struggling to find biters. Anglers finding biters stay on the move, looking for active crappies. Soft plastics in white, pink, and chartreuse have been very effective in catching active crappies. Less active crappies have been hitting crappie minnows and wax worms. Key locations have been in 20-30 feet of water, over mud flats. 

March 14th, 2023

***Fishing Report***

Lake Trout - Lake trout fishing generally improved this last week for many anglers. While tip ups fished with a dead or live minnow on the bottom continues to be you best bet for a trout, anglers reported having good success with bucktails and jigging spoons. 30-50 feet of water, around sunken islands and mud flats continues to be the areas to focus on when targeting lakers. 

Eelpout - Eelpout continue to be active this last week as they rap up their spawning. Heavy jigs, tipped with minnows and pounded on the bottom, around river mouths or sunken islands has been very effective on eelpout. Key depths vary night to night, so be sure to look for active eelpout before setting up. 15-35 is generally the best depth for them. 

Panfish - Panfish activity has slowly been increasing as days get longer and warmer. Recent snow events haven’t helped the bite, but anglers adventuring out did manage to catch some crappies and sunnies. Classic deep mud flats are the areas to target panfish. Small crappie minnows were very effective on both crappies and sunnies this last week. 

March 7th, 2023

***Fishing Report***

Lake Trout - Lake trout anglers reported having a good weekend of trout fishing finally. Anglers found active trout up on classic lake trout spots such as sunken islands, main lake points and neck-down areas between islands. 30-50 feet of water was the depth to be in. Spoons, and bucktails around 3” in size continue to be the best size to get bites. Dead or alive suckers laying on the bottom have accounted for almost half of the lakers caught this winter, so be sure to tip-ups out with a minnow on the bottom. 

Stream Trout - Stream trout were active this last week, with some very big splake caught from some of the less pressured lakes in the area. Large splake were found in 20-40 feet of water, with spoons tipped with minnow heads. Rainbows and brookies were found in shallower water near downed trees. Here tungstens tipped with waxies was very effective on them. Early morning hours were the best time to fish for them. 

Panfish - With warm temperatures, anglers were out looking for crappies and sunnies. Seemed only a few anglers went home disappointed. Crappies and sunnies continue to be found out in 20-30 feet of water, over deep mud flats. Crappies and sunnies have simply been cruising around the mud flats looking for bugs and minnows. Small tungsten jigs tipped with soft plastics, wax worm or crappie minnows has been very effective.

February 28th, 2023

***Fishing Report***

Lake Trout - Anglers continue to see a slow but steady improvement in lake trout activity on area lake trout lakes. Smaller than normal baits have definitely been more productive than your typical large lake trout lures. Swedish Pimples and small airplane jigs, tipped with a minnow continue to be the most effective technique for catching lakers.  That being said anglers continue to catch lakers on more popular bait like bucktails and tubes. Key depth continues to be a little deeper then normal in 40-60 feet of water. Deep mud flats have been best, but anglers should also look too sharp drop-offs, deep points, and neck-down areas for active trout. 

Stream Trout - Anglers willing to venture in a little further than most, experienced good stream trout fishing this last week. Brookies and Splake were very active and were generally found shallow near downed trees, points, and near areas where water was entering the lakes. Small tungsten jigs tipped with wax worms or fresh dead minnows have been very effective for trout anglers. 

Eelpout - As we come into another full moon cycle, eelpout activity is increasing and so is interest from anglers. Anglers have been focusing on sunken islands and close to river mouths to find eelpout after dark. Heavy, bright glowing jigs, pounded on sand bottoms, has been very effective. Every night seems to be a different depth so anglers will need to work out what is the magic depth, but when you do success dramatically increases. Anglers have been locating eelpout in 15-35 feet of water after dark. 

February 21st, 2023

***Fishing Report***

Walleye - Walleye fishing continues to be surprisingly good for mid-February. Quality walleyes are being caught with pike suckers, rainbows and chubs, fished under a bobber in 20-25 feet of water, over mud. Orange and white colored spoons continue to be the most popular colors for successful anglers. First two hours of light and the last two hours of light has been the best time for walleyes this last week. 

Stream Trout - Stream trout were biting, on more remote lakes, this last week. As easier to access lakes have taken the majority of ice fishing pressure, stream trout in these lakes have largely been removed by anglers. More remote the lakes still have good populations of hungry trout to catch and this is where anglers should focus their attention. Down trees, weedbeds, and partially areas with water coming into the lake, are areas to focus on to find active trout. Wax worms an dead minnows remain the go to’s for tipping small jigs or jigging spoons. 

Lake Trout - Lake trout fishing continues to improve slowly on area lakes. While it still seems a few lucky groups strike it rich and have a amazing day of trout fishing, most anglers are now reporting that they are at least seeing trout. Getting that laker to bite still remains unusually challenging, even for the most experienced anglers. Swedish Pimples and smaller bucktails are accounting for the majority of lakers being caught right now. Tip ups fished with a dead smelt of pike sucker has also been very effective this year on lake trout. Anglers should be laying dead baits right on the bottom and fishing live minnows just off the bottom. Key depth has remained a little deeper then usual, 40-60 feet of water. 

Pike - Pike anglers continue to find big pike cruising the shallow bays and areas around river mouths. Anglers have been using tip ups tipped with lite northerns or large dead suckers. Anglers have been focusing their efforts in 10 feet of water or less. 

February 14th, 2023

***Fishing Report***

Panfish - Spring like temperatures have angler thinking of spring time panfish. Many anglers were not disappointed! Anglers found crappies very active this last weekend. Deeper holes in 20-30 feet of water, was where anglers found active crappies and sunnies. Soft plastics, wax worms and crappie minnows were all very effective on panfish. 

Walleye - Walleyes have also been very active this last week. Anglers have been catching good numbers and good size walleyes in 20-25 feet of water during the early morning and evening hours. Rainbows suspended under a bobber has been very effective for walleyes. Deep mud or sand flats have been the best areas to find active walleyes. 

Lake Trout - Lake trout fishing improved this last weekend for many. While anglers are still reporting seeing trout, finding the biters remains a challenge for many. Smaller jigging spoons like swedish pimples has become the best technique for anglers to catch on rod and reel. Dead suckers or frozen smelts, laid on the bottom, under a tip up, was very effective for many anglers this last week. Best depth to catch trout remains 40-60 feet of water. 

Stream Trout - Stream trout anglers had a good weekend catching streamers in some of the areas more remote stream trout lakes. Anglers focused on shallow water near downed trees, weedbeds or current to find trout. Wax worms or dead minnows, tipped on a small jigging spoons or small tungsten jig, has been very effective. 

Eelpout - Eelpout continue to show up in anglers catches. Anglers targeting eelpout have been finding active eelpout out on sunken islands in 15-35 feet of water. Location on the humps change from one night to the next, so anglers have to work out exact location every night, but once located eelpout have been easy pickings. Heavy glowing spoons, loaded with minnow chunks and pounded on the bottom, has been very effective on eelpout.

February 7th, 2023

***Fishing Report***

Stream Trout - Stream trout fishing continues to be very popular as stream trout anglers continue to report good fishing. Rainbows and brook trout continue to be caught is shallow water near downed trees, main lakes points and weedbeds. Small jigging spoons and small tungsten jigs tipped with a dead minnow or waxies has been very effective. Deadsticking the minnows has been the best technique. Best time has been very early in the morning. 

Walleye - Walleye have become very active this last week. Anglers have been catching good numbers and good size walleyes in the early morning and during the evening hours. Medium to small rainbows fished under a bobber has been the most effective technique to catch these fish. Key depth has been 15-20 feet of water.

Lake Trout - Lake trout fishing seems to of improved a little for anglers. Fishing for lakers continue to be a boom or bust affair for many anglers, but increasingly anglers are working out where biters are located. 40-60 feet of water, over deep mud has been one area where anglers are finding biters. Smaller baits like jigging spoons and smaller bucktails has been more effective as of late. Hanging a smaller sucker or shiner near the bottom has also been effective this last week. 

Eelpout - Anglers have begun to really notice eelpout activity increasing during the full moon. Anglers have been finding them out on humps in that 20-35 feet of water on most lakes. Edge of humps, large rocky flats and near river mouths are areas anglers should be looking if they want to find eelpout.  Heavy pout pounder jigs loaded with minnow chunks and pounded on the bottom, has been the most effective way to catch eelpout. 

January 31st, 2023

***Fishing Report***

Stream Trout - Stream fishing has been good to very good this last week as many anglers reported good success while fishing for them. Rainbow trout and Brook trout are both being caught in very shallow water near downed trees, weedbeds and large flats. Deadsticking fresh dead minnows or deadsticking small jigs tipped with wax worms has been very effective. Any movement when a trout closes in on your bait spooks them off. Best times has been very early in the morning, often time before 9am. 

Walleye - Thanks to a good cold snap, walleyes become somewhat active and many anglers had good success this last week.  Deadsticking rainbows on a plain orange hook was reportedly the most effective way to catch walleyes. As with the stream trout, any movement after the fish showed up on the graph resulted in a quick rejection of the bait. Key depths were 20-25 feet of water. 

Eelpout - Eelpout reports have begone to trickle in as anglers start targeting them more and more as we get closer to their spawning season. Anglers have been finding them in classic spots like shallow humps and shallow flats with sand or weeds on them. Late evening and after dark remains the best time to find active eelpout. Heavy, bright glowing eelpout jigs, packed with chunks of fresh minnows and pounded on the bottom has best. 

Lake trout - Lake trout fishing continues to be unusually slow for just about every anglers seeking them. Anglers continue to report seeing good numbers of lakers on most days, but lakers continue to be uncooperative and don’t chase their baits. There were a few anglers reporting success with suspended a live sucker or rainbow down near the bottom. Large flats in 30-45 feet of water, close to deeper water were good areas anglers reported success. A few big lakers were caught this last week and interestingly they were all caught over deep water (50ft plus), but were spotted 15 under the ice. 

January 24th, 2023

***Fishing Report***

Lake Trout - As unusually warm temps continue, unusually slow lake trout fishing also continues. While anglers continue to see good numbers of trout, they have been reporting that lakers have been very uninterested in their presentation. Anglers seeing the best numbers have been fishing close to very sharpe dropoffs, in 40-60 feet of water.  Small bucktails in the 1/2oz or smaller and small spoons have been accounting for the majority of fish caught. 

Stream trout - Rainbows continue to be active and continue to be caught on shallow flats. Dead minnows layed on the bottom has been very effective, but small spoons and jigs tipped with wax worms has also been effective. While not the easiest thing to do, deadsticking your waxies or dead minnow has been the best technique for catching trout. 

Panfish - While these unusually warm temps have been bad for trout, it seems to have panfish thinking it’s spring and fishing for crappies and sunnies has been unusually good for this time of the year. Anglers have been finding both in there deep wintering holes. Waxies or minnows, tipped on a jig has been very effective on them. Shallow weedlines have also been productive, but for best results look to deeper water.  

January 17th, 2023

***Fishing Report***

Lake Trout - 2023 Lake Trout opener was a slow one for the majority anglers. Despite excellent travel conditions out on the ice and anglers able to fish great spots normally off limits to everyone but snowmobilers, lakers failed to show up. There were however a few groups that found active trout and really had a amazing day lake trout fishing. These groups found active trout on classic trout spots. Main lake points with sharpe drop offs were the areas these lucky group fished. Aggressively jigged tubes and spoons were the ticket for them, as well as setting out dead suckers, under a tip up. 30-50 feet of water was the best depth to find trout.

Stream Trout - Stream Trout fishing was also unusually slow for opening weekend also. Anglers did catch plenty of trout but many anglers struggled to get a limit of streamers for dinner. Anglers found trout near timber or weedbeds in 10 ft of water or less. Jigging spoons or small tungsten jigs, tipped with wax worms or dead minnow was the ticket for anglers. 

Walleye - Walleye anglers have been locating walleyes in really shallow water for this time of the year. 10-15 feet of water at the mouths of shallow bays has been best. Best times has been during the evening hours. Deadsticking a lively minnow on a orange hook has been the best technique. 

Pike - With the above average temps anglers continue to throw out tip ups for pike and continue to have good results. Active pike continue to be found is shallow bays with either a river coming into it or a weedbed in the bay. Dead suckers has been best, but live suckers have also been catching plenty of big pike. 

January 10th, 2023

***Fishing Report***

BWCA Lake Trout - Lake Trout bite improved in the BWCA as more seasonal temps returned to the area. Active lakers were caught in 40-60 feet of water with red/white tubes. Large deep flats, a long shorelines were great areas to find active trout looking for food. Dead baits layed on the bottom, with a tip up or set line we’re less effective this last week. 

BWCA Stream Trout - Brook trout anglers found active brookies up in shallow water, in 5 feet or less. Downed trees seemed to be the best structure to fish for brookies. Jigging spoons tipped with wax worms or minnow heads was very effective on them. White and chartreuse were very effective colors last week. 

Walleye - Walleye anglers reported a improvement in the bite and some big walleyes, close to 30 in mark, were caught this last week. Key areas has been where sand transitions to mud in a little deeper water 20-25 feet of water. Deadsticking a shiner has been the most effective technique this last week. After dark has also been the best time to for catching walleyes. 

Pike - Trophy pike were active this last week as several in the 40” range were landed this last week. A few pike were caught by lake trout anglers looking for trout. These pike were caught 10-15 feet under the ice, over 40-60 feet of water. These pike must be looking for ciscos or trout when they are found out that deep. Angler targeting pike found them working weedlines and river mouths, in 10 feet of water or less.  Dead suckers or smelt were the baits of choice for these anglers. 

January 4th, 2023

***Fishing Report***

BWCA Lake Trout - Lake Trout anglers reported a slower then normal start to the lake trout season. Still those kamikaze trout showed up to save several trips from being skunked. Chartreuse/ and white tubes took the lions share of lakers over the weekend.  Humps, sharpe breaks and points in 30-50 feet of water was the areas to look for trout. 

BWCA Stream Trout - Brook trout anglers found active brookies up in shallow water, in 10 feet or less. Downed trees seemed to be the best structure to fish for brookies. Jigging spoons tipped with wax worms or minnow heads was very effective on them. 

Walleye - Walleye anglers reported a slow but steady bite this last week. Active walleyes are largely being found out around rock piles where the rock meets the mud. There has been a decent morning bite on some lakes, but most reports are the the evening and overnight bites have been best. Deadsticking a shiner or pike sucker has been the best technique for these neutral to negative fish. 

Pike - While most anglers have moved on from pike fishing, there are still some out there targeting pike. Big suckers and frozen smelt have been very effective for pike as of late. Anglers have been fishing then under a tip up. Shallow weedbeds and river mouths have been the best areas to find pike. 

December 13th, 2022

***Ice Report***

Above average temps in the 30’s has slowed the ice making process and very little ice was added this week to area lakes. 11-14” of ice is now being reported on many area lakes. Permanent houses and ice roads have sprung up in all the traditional places. 

***Fishing Report***

Walleye - Walleye fishing has been very consistent for many anglers, on just about every lake in the area. Key depth remains 16-20 feet, but there has been plenty of good reports shallower in as little as 10 feet of water. Loud baits like rippin raps or buckshot spoons have been very effective at calling in walleyes. Deadsticking a juicy shiner has also been hard to beat also. Mud and sand flats have been the most productive areas. 

Pike - Pike fishing continues to be good in the shallow bays and river mouths. Dead suckers, smelt and alewifes have been popular choices to fish under a tip up. Pike dropping the baits continues to be a issues, but quality fish continue to come up the hole. 

Panfish - Panfish fishing has been very good for all three species of panfish (crappie, sunfish and jumbo perch). Crappies and sunnies are being found mixed between weedbeds/weedlines and hanging out over deeper wintering holes. As long as green weeds can still be found, weeds are going to place to find the most active fish. Here waxies, crappie minnows and soft plastics have been very effective. Jumbo perch are being found in deeper water over sand. 18-22 feet of water on sand flats have been giving up some very large perch and in good numbers. Out here jigging spoons tipped with a minnow has been very effective on calling in these fish. 

December 7th, 2022

***Ice Report***

Below normal temps have helped to improve ice conditions in the Ely area. 8” of solid ice was reported by just about every angler. As a result, permanent houses have popped up over night on area lakes.  

***Fishing Report***

Pike - Pike fishing was very popular this last week, but reports were somewhat mixed from anglers. One day the fishing was excellent, with several pike over 30” caught, then the next day ice cold. Dead suckers fished under a tip-up was the most effective approach to catching pike. Shallow bays, weedbeds and weedlines are the areas to focus on. 

Walleye - Solid ice has improved anglers access to deeper water where walleyes are being found and reports have been good. Buckshot spoons and rippin raps have been very effective calling in walleyes and catching aggressive walleyes. Shiners, under a dead stick, has been very effective for those less aggressive walleyes. 16-20 feet of water has been the depth for finding walleyes. 

October 12th, 2022

***Fishing Report***

Walleye - Walleye fishing continues to be good for anglers still chasing them. 10 feet of water or less also continues to be where the best reports keep coming from. Up here bigger minnows like creek chubs and or pike suckers has been the bait of choice. Tipping them on a light jig or lindy rigging them has been very effective.  Weedbeds, points and river mouths are where walleyes have been hanging out. 

Pike - Pike fishing is where the best fishing has been this last week. That cold snap really has the big pike up shallow and very aggressive right now. Big suckers and the biggest creek chubs you can find, has been deadly. River mouths have been the best areas to find pike right now, but large rocky points and any green weeds you can find, is where anglers are finding the pike. 

Smallmouth - Smallies have really started to put on the feed bag right now. Find any sunken island and drop a big minnow on it, your going to get bit, quickly! Bigger minnows will help keep off smaller smallies, so don’t be shy to drop a 8” minnow down there!