October 1st, 2024
***Fishing Report***
Walleye - Some good news on the walleye front has been coming in this last week, walleyes are starting to hit big minnows and slowly transitioning to traditional fall locations like sharp breaks and deeper water. These walleyes have been hitting large minnows fished on a jig or lindy rig in 15-20 feet of water. That being said, reports continue to come in of nice walleyes being caught over shallow rocks, 5-10ft of water, with paddle tails and scattered walleyes being caught trolling crankbaits over 25-30 foot deep flats.
Smallmouth - Smallmouth bite remained on fire this last week. Water temps still have the smallies scattered for the most part, but pockets of fat, aggressive smallies are starting to group up on sunken islands. Shallow sunken islands that top out in 12-15 feet have been the best ones to find groups of active smallies. Large minnows and large paddle tails slow rolled over these humps have been deadly
Panfish - Anglers have been reporting that some good crappie bites have been happening in many Ely area lakes. Crappies are slowly starting to school up. Anglers are still finding crappies in and around weedbeds on area lakes. Anglers should not overlook trees laying in the water and standing timber in some area lakes. Jig/twister, beetle spins and crappie minnows fished under a bobber.
Pike - Pike fishing has remained on the slow side this last week, but that doesn’t mean trophy pike were not caught this last week. Pike anglers have been focusing on mouths of shallow bays, rocky points and river mouths to find big pike. Large suckers fished under a bobber accounted for the majority of 40+ inch pike caught this last week. Large spoons, spinnerbaits and crankbaits were also effective.
Stream Trout - Rainbow trout remain a popular trout to target for trout anglers. Night crawlers fished 5-10ft under a bobber remain very effective. Small spoons, spinners and jig/twisters have also been effective on rainbows. Anglers fishing from a boat have been having good luck trolling small crankbaits over deep water and along standing timber.
Lake Trout - Season is closed inside and outside the BWCA.
