December 17th, 2024

***Ice Report***

Much needed arctic blast rolled through the Ely area last week quickly improving ice conditions on area lakes. Ice reports on many of the area lakes are now 3-11”. As another cold snap is forecasted later this week, expect ice thickness to even out more by next week. Before you start testing with vehicles, be aware much of the new ice is frozen slush or cloudy ice. This means it will only support half the weight of clear ice. 

***Fishing Report***

Walleye - Walleye anglers have been reporting a good steady bite on area lakes, during the evening hours. Anglers have mainly been fishing 18-23 feet of water. Jigging spoons tipped with a minnow head or deadsticking a lively minnow near the bottom has accounted for many of the walleyes caught.  

Pike - Anglers tip up fishing for pike have been reporting catching good numbers of 25-35” pike at many of the popular bays for pike, this last week. Handful of 40+ inch pike were also reported. Anglers continue to focus on weedbeds for pike. Medium to large size suckers produced the best results for anglers.

Panfish - Anglers have been reporting some good fishing for sunfish on a handful of those lakes. Anglers have mainly been finding them in shallow weedbeds with small jigs tipped with wax worms. Pink, wonderbread and purple were popular colors this last week for sunfish. Crappie anglers have been finding some crappies out in the deeper basins. Crappies have been scattered so drilling holes and covering ground has been the key to catching them.