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.