July 5th, 2022

***Fishing Report***

Walleye - Walleye fishing was surprisingly good, considering may flies continue to hatch on many area lakes. Best fishing seems to be shallow, in 10 feet of water or less.  Shallow flats with scattered weeds, wind blown shorelines and areas around current, has been the best areas to fish. Live bait rigs like spinner rigs and lindy rigs tipped with a crawler or leech has been the way to go. Reports of people catching walleye right off their docks with a slip bobber and leech continue to come in. 

Bass - Topwater fishing for smallmouth and largemouth bass fishing has been excellent this last week. Whopper ploppers and pop-r’s have been outstanding. Anglers should target shorelines with down trees, points or large shallow flats. Smallies love boulders on these flats and largemouth love weeds and lily pads. Soft plastics like sinko’s, fished wacky has also been extremely effective.

Panfish - Crappie and sunfish fishing was excellent with crappies working weedlines during the evening hours and sunfish just starting to get off their beds. Crappies have been hitting beetle spins, jig/twister or a simple minnow under a bobber. Sunnies are found in weedbeds and around down trees. Here small jigs tipped with wax worms or angleworms has been very hard to beat. 

Lake trout - Finally water temps have begun to concentrate lakers and good lake trout reports are finally coming in, from area lakes. Angler have been catching lakers trolling shallow diving minnow baits, behind 5 colors of leadcore, over deep water. Best colors has been solid white or blood nose.  Anglers fishing from a canoe has been catching trout jigging heavy spoon or bucktails over deep water. 

Stream trout - Rainbows have been active this last week. Anglers have been catching them trolling small rapalas or small Salmo hornets, over deep water. Anglers fishing from shore have been having luck catching trout floating crawler off the bottom or casting small spoons.

June 28th, 2022

***Fishing Report***

Walleye - Walleye anglers had mixed results this last week as mayflies begun hatching on many area lakes. While the hatch hasn’t been heavy yet, it has been enough to slow the bite. Anglers continue to find walleyes both in shallow water, 6-9 feet with slip bobbers and a leech or out on sunken islands in 15-25 feet of water, pulling lindy rigs tipped with a crawler. 

Smallmouth Bass - Smallmouth fishing has been outstanding for just about everyone targeting them this last week. Smallies have been crushing topwater lures like whopper ploppers, torpedoes and pop-r’s. Soft plastics are also worth noting. Wacky rigging and Ned rigging have been outstanding!

Stream Trout - Rainbow trout and brown trout have been active this last week. Anglers have been catching both on crawlers floated off the bottom or fished 10-15 feet under a bobber. With the mayfly hatch going on, dry flies in the evening has also been very effective on rainbows in particular.  

June 21st, 2022

***Fishing Report***

Walleye - Walleye anglers continue to enjoy some outstanding fishing as of late. Walleyes have begun to set up out on the humps in 15-20 feet of water and with the recent heat wave, leeches and crawlers have become the way to go. Spinner rigs and jigs, tipped with either a leech or crawler has been very effective for anglers. Anglers have reported seeing mayfly larvae getting active out on the mud flats, so get out and enjoy the bite while it lasts! Blue, gold and white were the top colors last week. 

Smallmouth Bass - Anglers have been having a great time catching smallies, on topwater baits this last week. Whopper Ploppers, Pop-R’s and Torpedo’s have been very popular.  Subsurface baits such as paddle tails and Ned rigs also been very effective for anglers. Anglers should continue to focus on shorelines to find Bass.

Stream Trout - Rainbow trout a largely out over deep water right now, so trolling small crankbaits been very effective on them. Shore anglers have been catching rainbow floating a crawler off the bottom or fishing a crawler 10-15 feet under a bobber. 

Panfish - Crappies have largely wrapped up spawning on area lakes and have transitioned to shoreline structures like downed trees and weedlines.  Beetle spins, jig/twister and crappie minnows under a bobber has been very effective on them. Sunfish have just started to spawn on lake. Shallow bays with sandy bottoms have been key to finding them. Small jigs tipped with wax worms or angleworms, fished under a bobber, has been very effective. 

June 14th, 2022

***Fishing Report***

Walleye - Walleye anglers have begun to find walleyes out on sunken islands, in 15-20 feet of water, this last week. Out here, spinner rigs tipped with crawlers, leeches or minnows has been very productive during the day. During evening hours anglers are finding walleyes sliding up on shallow flats, along shorelines. Here a slip bobber and a leech has been very effective in 4-7 feet of water. Hot colors continue to be gold, pink, blue and purple. 

Smallmouth Bass - Bass status ranges from spawn to post spawn right now. Bass spawning are easy picking for anglers. Tube baits fished right on beds has been the easiest way to catch spawning bass. Post spawn bass have been very active and hammering topwater baits, Ned rigs, spinnerbaits and wacky worms. Shallow bays with boulders, down trees and large shallow  points have been great locations to fish aggressive bass. 

Panfish - Crappies and sunnies also pre-spawning, spawning or post spawn. Spawning panfish are located back in shallow bays with hard, sandy bottoms. Small jigs tipped with angleworms or wax worms has been very effective. Crappies seem to be more post spawn and are starting to transition to sunken trees and weedlines. Twisters and beetle spins and crappie minnows under a bobber have been very effective. 

June 7th, 2022

***Fishing Report***

Walleye - Little has changed with walleyes this last week a cool stable air and water temps continue. Walleye anglers we’re frustrated this last week as very high winds keep anglers off the water. Water temps are in the high 50’s to low 60’s. Minnows continue to be very popular with anglers and walleyes. Jig and a minnow, in 10-15 feet of water, along shoreline breaks, has been the best technique during the day. During the evenings look shallower, in 4-7 feet of water. Here a slip bobber and a leech has been deadly on walleyes. 

Bass - Smallmouth Bass have looking to spawn on many of the area lakes. When the wind wasn’t blowing hard, anglers searched for smallies in shallow bays with hard bottoms. Anglers fished mainly with Ned Rigs or senko rigs to catch bass. 

Panfish - Panfish we’re knocked out of the shallow bays this last week as water temps dropped from cold fronts. Anglers have found them just outside the shallow bays. The last couple of days have been sunny and anglers are again starting to finding panfish back up shallow. Wax worms and angle worms have been very effective under a bobber for sunfish. Crappies have been hitting crappie minnows and hair jigs up in the shallows too. 

May 31st, 2022

***Fishing Report***

Walleye - Walleyes continues to be very good for anglers. With water temps hovering around 55 degrees bait of choice can be difficult to figure out, lake by lake. Jig and a minnow continues to be the most productive bait right now, but soft plastics, crankbaits and a leech fished under a bobber, all are effective too.  Thankfully depth range has been consistent. 14-17 feet of water, during the day, has been the key depth to fish. During the evening, a slip bobber and a leech, fish right off shore is slowing getting better and better. We want the water temps to hit 60 before it’s at its best. 

Bass - Smallmouth Bass are starting to show up in anglers daily catches. Many anglers have been reporting bass up on there beds. Anglers have simply been fishing slow in shallow rocky bays with tube jigs, Ned rigs and suspending jerk baits, to catch them. 

Pike - Pike anglers continue to catch good quality pike, up in the shallow bays and around river mouths. Anglers have been catching them with large suckers, fished under a bobber. For pike anglers unable to find suckers, large spoons, large spinnerbaits and large streamers will work just as well, in the same locations. 

Panfish - Panfish anglers have reported finding sunnies and crappies up very shallow looking to spawn. Anglers have been catching them with either a small jig and minnow, worm or leech under a bobber. 

May 24th, 2022

***Fishing Report***

Walleye - Walleyes have begun to move out of their spawning areas. Small walleyes continue to be caught in and near spawning areas, but walleyes worth bringing home, have begun to setup on shallow, rocky, main lake points and weedbeds. Anglers are finding walleyes in 10 feet of water and less. Pitching light jigs tipped with a minnow remains the most effective technique to catch these fish. Top colors continue to be gold, blue/white and pink/white.

Pike - Pike anglers have been reporting excellent fishing this last week. Lite northern and heavy suckers fished under a bobber has been very effective on area lakes. Shallow mud bottom bays and river mouths are the areas to fish for the big pike. Interestingly pike anglers have been catching good numbers of mid-30” pike, but the big girls, over 40” have been few and far between yet.

Smallmouth Bass - Smallmouth bass have begun to show up in anglers catches. Smallies are being caught in shallow bay, over boulders, with slow moving baits.  Suspending jerk baits, fished very slowly, has been extremely effective on these sluggish bass.

Stream Trout - Rainbows and brookies have been very active this last week. Anglers fishing from shore have been catching good numbers of both on small spoons or jig/twister. Anglers fishing from a boat have been trolling small crankbaits or cowbells, and reporting good success.

May 17th, 2022

***Fishing Report***

Walleye - Walleye fishing was outstanding for the majority of anglers this last weekend. Many anglers limited out in under a hour. Anglers found mostly post spawn males in and around current areas. 3/8oz jigs, in blue and gold, tipped with a minnow, was easily the most popular and effective way to catch walleyes. Anglers found walleyes in 10 feet of water or less during low light and after dark. During the day walleyes were located 10-16 feet of water.  

Pike - Pike anglers reported slower fishing then normal for opening weekend. Anglers still reported catching good numbers and good size pike, but the big females, over 40”, were noticeably missing. These big fish are likely still recovering from spawning and should really turn on by this weekend. Anglers catching pike we’re using heavy suckers and floating them under a bobber back in shallow mud bottom bays. Frozen smelt has also been a popular choice for pike anglers. 

Stream Trout - With the hot walleye fishing this year, stream trout anglers have been few and far between.  The few trout anglers out fishing have been reporting good fishing for rainbow trout in area stream trout lakes. Small spoons, jig and twister and the simple night crawler fished under a bobber have all been very effective for anglers. 

April 20th, 2022

***Fishing Report***

Crappie - Late ice crappie fishing slowed this last week as colder then normal temps and several fronts brought several more inches of snow to the area. Crappies continue to only be found in small groups of 3 or 4 crappies and they seem to be on the move. 20 feet of water and around the edges of deeper holes has been the place to be if your going to find them. Anglers have been marking crappies close to the bottom and catching them with soft plastics, waxies or crappie minnows, tipped on a small tungsten jig. 

***Ice Report***

This has become a common question for both anglers looking to fish late ice crappies and anglers looking to fish walleye opener this year. Ice thickness currently ranges from 27” to as much as 37”. Current areas are very slowly starting to open up, but other then that there is very little signs of ice out coming anytime soon. 

April 6th, 2022

***Fishing Report***

Crappie - Despite as much as 4” of snow, still on the ice, over 3’ of ice and un-spring like temps in the forecast, crappie fishing is slowly starting to improve in the area. While many anglers still are reporting marking crappies, only to watch them stare at their baits for several minutes, then drift off, there is a growing number of anglers are starting to report marking schools of crappies and finding groups of active biters. Tungsten jigs tipped with soft plastics has been the most effective way to catch as many active crappies out of a school as you can, before the school moves on. 

March 2nd, 2022

***Fishing Report***

Lake Trout - Lake trout fishing has been up and down for angler this last week. One day trout are on the graph all day. Next day, same spot, it’s the dead sea. When trout are on the graphs, anglers are catching them with 1/2 to 3/4oz bucktails and tubes.  Best colors have been red/white, blue and pink. Interestingly, when anglers fishing humps and point are struggling, anglers fish deep water are making lots of trout. Seems to be little rhyme or reason to when this happens, but it’s happening. If your not marking at you usual spots, try deeper.

Eelpout - Eelpout activity has slowed as we have passed the February full moon. Eelpout continue to be caught, but the bite has largely been at night or very early in the morning or late in the day. Heavy jigs and spoons loaded with minnow chunks have been the bait to have for eelpout.

Stream trout - Rainbow trout have been active on area stream trout lakes. Best times have been very early in the morning. Small flies, tipped with wax worms has been very effective on these trout. Anglers have been finding trout very close to downed trees.  

February 15th, 2022

***Fishing Report***

Lake Trout - Lake trout fishing was slow for many anglers this last week. Anglers reportedly saw lots of trout on the graph and cameras, but often the trout wouldn’t chase or bite.  Anglers that caught trout were often using jigging spoons and anglers fished the trout more like a walleye then a lake trout. This means they kept the spoons moving but didn’t reel the spoon away from the trout. Sharper breaks seemed to produce more trout then deep flats, points and sunken islands.

Eelpout - Eelpout have become very active as they are starting to spawn on many of the area lakes. Anglers have been catching them during the day, evening and overnight on heavy glow spoons, pounded on the bottom. Rattle baits have also been very effective on eelpout too, so be sure not to overlook these baits.  Areas to focus on are near river mouths, sunken islands, large shallow flats.  Depth often varies day to day, so be sure to fish different depths.

Stream Trout - Anglers continue to have good luck catching stream trout this last week.  Anglers have been finding Splake and Brook trout shallow, in 10 feet of water or less, close to downed trees or weedbeds. Here, small spoons and tungsten jigs tipped with a wax worm or salmon egg has been very effective.  Rainbow trout have been found very shallow too, but more in the very early mornings and later in the evenings.  During the day, rainbow trout are being found out over deeper water, often cursing just under the ice to 20 feet down. Same baits used for Splake and brookies will work for rainbows. 

February 8th, 2022

***Fishing Report***

Lake Trout - Lake trout fishing was slow to very slow for the majority of lake trout anglers this last week. Anglers struggled to even mark fish, let alone get fish to chase.  Anglers able to catch fish reported that bites were very light and trout had to be worked more like a walleye in order to get them to bite.  Small, but heavy spoons were the most effective baits last week.

Stream Trout - Stream trout anglers reported good fishing this last week. Anglers targeting Splake, found them in shallow water, 10 feet or less. Small spoons and small jigs tipped with wax worms was the most effective baits this last week. Anglers targeting rainbows found rainbows in deeper then normal water.  15-20 feet of water was the best depth to find active rainbows. Here again, small jigs tipped with wax worms or salmon eggs were the best baits. 

Panfish - With warmer temps anglers continue to poke around looking for panfish, but reports continue to come back as poor. Anglers are finding some crappies very loosely schooled over deep water, but largely very negative. Anglers managed to catch a few crappies worth taking home with small crappie minnows or soft plastics. 

Eelpout - Eelpout reports continue to improve as we get closer and closer to their spawn.  Anglers are finding active Eelpout around sunken islands, river mouths and large flats near deep water. Anglers have been doing best with heavy glow spoons, loaded with pieces of minnows and pounded on the bottom. After dark has been best but there has been a few reports of eelpout caught during the day now.

February 1st, 2022

***Fishing Report***

Lake Trout - Lake trout fishing picked up this last week for many anglers. Anglers were finding lakers in 30-50 feet of water, along breaks to deeper water. Sharper the break the better this last week. Small, 1/2oz red and white bucktails and heavy spoons were the top producing lures for many anglers. Tip ups, with a small sucker suspended 5 feet under the ice, was also reported as very effective on trout. 

Stream Trout - Stream trout anglers reported catching good numbers of rainbows in shallow water, near timber. Anglers caught them on small tungsten jigs tipped with wax worms or small spoons tipped with wax worms. Splake were also being caught in shallow water this last week, with similar baits. Fishing near or in timber, was critical to anglers success!

Panfish - With warmer then usual temps this last weekend, many anglers went out in search of panfish. Anglers found crappies loosely schooled up over deep water, but reported poor fishing overall. Crappies and sunnies were sluggish and had to be coaxed into biting. Live minnows and wax worms were the best ways to catch these neutral to negative fish.  

Eelpout - Eelpout reports have started to trickle in from area lakes. Anglers have been finding eelpout in deeper water, 40-60 feet of water, on deep humps a flats. Heavy pout pounder spoons loaded with pieces of minnows has been very effective on eelpout.

January 25th, 2022

***Fishing Report***

Lake Trout - Lake trout fishing slowed to a grind, this last week for anglers and local guides alike. Seemed all anglers reported seeing only a few trout a day and often trout were not to interested in chasing baits.  Still a few anglers managed to find trout, but in less traditional locations.  Best reports were from anglers fishing in 80+ feet deep, catching lake trout about 40 feet down. Spoons produce best this last week, but tube baits and bucktails also produced fish. 

Stream Trout - Stream trout anglers continue to catch limits of stream trout, but anglers are noticing that getting a limit is becoming harder and harder with every passing day on the more popular stream trout lakes. Rainbow trout continue to bite small tungsten jigs tipped with wax worms about 10-15 feet down. Anglers catching Splake and Brook trout have been doing best in 5 feet of water or less. Here flashy spoons tipped with wax worm or minnow heads, has been very effective.  

Walleye - Walleye anglers continue to grind it out, but this is normal for this time of the year. Anglers have been catching only a few walleyes a night or early morning. Every day seems to be different for many anglers, but some quality walleyes are being caught when bite.  Deep mud flats in 22-25 feet of water has been most productive. Here minnows hanging under a rattle reel has been very hard to beat, but rippin raps and classic buckshot spoons are also accounting for some fish. 

January 18, 2022

***Fishing Report***

Lake Trout - Opening weekend was a excellent weekend for many lake trout anglers.  Almost all anglers reported graphing multiple trout, over the course of the day and many reported limiting out the first day. Anglers found active lakers in the usual 30-50 feet of water, around sunken islands, large main lake points and neck down areas.  Blue and pink bucktails, large spoons and tube jigs, all actively jigged, caught good numbers of trout. Some anglers reported only catching trout on live bait, fished on the bottom, under a tip up, so be sure to always fish two lines when lake trout fishing. 

Stream Trout - As usual, stream trout anglers had little issue catching their limit of trout on opening day. Small tungsten jigs, tipped with a wax worm accounted for many of the best catching reported. After opening day trout were very shy of baits, but non the less anglers adjusted and continued to catch fish. Small tungsten jigs tipped with either wax worms or single salmon egg, ever so lightly jigged, got bites. Jig to aggressively and trout would turn their noses up at it and swim away. Shallow areas with timber, produce the most trout for anglers.

Walleye - Walleye anglers have begun to catch a few walleyes. Anglers have been reporting that they are finding active walleyes in 20-23 feet of water, largely close to deep basins. Minnows fished under rattle reels has been tough to beat. Bite windows continue to be all over the place, but evening and after dark has been the best for anglers. 

December 28th, 2021

***Ice Report***

Ice conditions continue to improve in the Ely area. 11-14” of good solid ice is being reported on the majority of Ely area lakes. With enough ice for trucks, plowed roads have quickly popped up and are expanding quickly.  For anglers that aren’t comfortable with driving on the ice yet or there is no plowed road to they favorite fishing spot yet, 4 wheelers, side by side and snowmobiles are all still being used to get around on area lakes. 

***Fishing Report***

Walleye - Walleye anglers continue to quality walleyes on area lakes. Numbers of fish caught, each outing, swings wildly for many anglers. One day you can catch well over a dozen, then the very next day get totally skunked. Gotta love winter walleye fishing! Best bite continues to be reported in 20 feet of water and during the evening hours. Jigging spoons, tipped with a minnow head and dead sticking a good lively shiner or rainbow, continue account for the majority of walleyes being caught. 

Pike - Big pike continue to come up the hole, weather your targeting them or not. Anglers targeting them continue to find the in shallow weedy bays and continue to catch them under a tip up with a live or dead medium suckers.  Main lake points near deep water also continues to produce fish. 

Panfish - Sunfish and crappie anglers have been finding both fish inside weedbeds and on weedlines. Recent snowfall will cause the weeds to start dying back and both fish will start moving out to deeper water. Wax worms and soft plastics, both tipped on small jigs have been very effective on both crappies and gills. Anglers have been focusing the majority of their time in 15 feet of water and less.

December 22, 2021

***Ice Report***

After a wild week of weather including over 1.5” of rain, then snow, we have had excellent ice making weather. Majority of anglers are reporting 8-11” of good solid ice on area lakes, a few brave anglers have been seen driving small truck on some area lakes. Slush has not been a issue for anyone. Won’t be long now and trucks will be a common sight on area lakes again. Ice roads continue to be maintained to popular spots. 

***Fishing Report***

Walleye - Walleye anglers have been getting out their permanent houses out to popular walleye haunts and reports are showing it. Many anglers have reported good to excellent walleye fishing so far, during the evening and overnights. 20 feet of water continues to be the most popular depth for catching eyes along with a good lively minnow. 

Pike - Pike angling continues to be excellent for many anglers, with many anglers catching their new personal best.  Sucker minnows continue to be the most popular bait of choice, but it seems dead suckers have been a little better then alive. Anglers should focus on weedbeds, with green weeds, in 5-12 feet of water. 

Crappie - Crappie anglers have finally started getting out to winter crappie locations and are catching fish. Anglers have been finding fish in 20-30 feet of water, in typical mud basins. Once anglers locate the crappies, a small crappie minnow, fished under a bobber, next too a actively fished jig and soft plastic, has been a deadly one two punch. Many anglers have reported catching good numbers and size crappies, so far this year. 

December 15th, 2021

***Ice Report***

After a warmer then average week, last week, ice conditions changed little in the Ely area.  Ice thickness on many area lakes is between 5-8”. Good news is slush is not a issue on the vast majority of area lakes. Truthfully we have gotten no reports of slush being a serious issue anywhere. Only lakes where it is a little bit of a issue is the smaller lakes in the area. Even then, 1-2” of slush isn’t much of a issue. Snow cover on area lakes range from 3-5”. Ice roads have started being plowed and maintained with 4 wheelers on a few of the more popular area lakes. Smaller permanent houses have also begun to pop up on area lakes. 

***Fishing Report***

Pike - Pike fishing has been hot, hot, hot for both numbers and size of pike. Anglers continue to find active pike in 5-10 feet of water, in weedbeds and weedlines. River mouths and mouths of shallow bays are also worth noting as areas to check. Medium sized suckers, preferably dead, has been very effective when fished under a tip up.

Walleye - Walleye fishing has been good this last week. Interestingly the best reports have been coming in 10-15 feet of water this last week. Angler found active walleyes right on top of shallow, rocky points, and on weedlines.  Rippin raps or buckshot spoon have been effective on calling walleyes in and getting bites. Shiners or rainbows fished under a bobber also remains effective for the little less active walleyes that won’t hit a aggressive bait.  

December 8th, 2021

***Ice Report***

Finally we are getting some excellent temperatures for making great ice and making it fast. There has already been a few reports of ice as thick as 9 inches on some of the smaller lakes in the area. 4 wheeler have become a common sight on many area lakes now.  High winds, after the snow storm seemed to keep the feared slush issue to a minimal.  

***Fishing Reports***

Northern Pike - Pike fishing was excellent this last weekend as a big weather change got pike of all sizes, snapping. Anglers found active pike fishing shallow bays in 10 feet of water and less. Medium size sucker, dead or alive and frozen smelt, suspended under a tip up was the most popular way to catch pike. Multiple groups reported catching several in the high 30’s to low 40’s. 

Walleye - As ice conditions improve and anglers are now about to get to some of the more popular walleye locations, good reports have been coming in. Anglers have been finding walleyes in 20-27 feet of walleye. Base of main lake points that drop into the main lake basin have been the best locations so far, according to reports. Active walleyes were hitting jigging spoons and rippin raps, during the evening bite. Live shiners and rainbows fishing under a bobber or tip up was also very effective on walleyes and shouldn’t be over looked.