January 29th, 2025

***Fishing Report***

Lake Trout - Lake trout fishing was a little mixed this last week as warm temps and high winds came to the area. Anglers that were able to locate the active lakers reported catching good numbers with some quality trout mixed in by the end of the day. Bait of choice bounced from bucktails, to tube, to jigging spoons, so if you're marking trout but fail to get hookups, switch baits. Best depth remains 30-40ft of water. 

Stream Trout - Rainbow trout and Splake were popular targets this last week and for the most part cooperated with anglers. Rainbow trout were mainly found cruising downed and standing timber. Depth for them was 20-50ft of water. Splake too could be found in those depths, but 15-30ft of water seemed to be a little bit better. Small spoons, small tungsten jigs and rippin raps were all effective baits for catching both rainbows and Splake. 

Walleye - Walleye fishing took a turn for the better this last week as several sleeper houses reported catching limits of walleyes overnight. Key depth for these houses was 12ft of water. Deadsticking a minnow under a rattle reel was the most effective way to catch walleye. Small handful of anglers also reported catching walleyes in 25-30ft of water, also deadsticking a minnow near the bottom. 

Eelpout - Multiple reports of eelpout being caught on several different lakes in the Ely area have been coming in. Seems 5-12ft of water, near river mouths is where eelpout are being caught. Deadsticking a lively minnow and jigging brightly glowing spoons, loaded with smelt chunks or minnow chunks and pounded on the bottom has been effective.

Panfish - Panfish reports were limited this last week as this is simply not the time of year for them. Anglers targeting them reported slow fishing. 25-30ft of water is the depth they located them. Small jigs tipped with a wax worm or crappie minnow were effective in getting them to bite.