Fishing Report

When is the best time to go fishing?  Here in the north woods, every day is the best day.  Our area contains a wide range of lakes with varied depths, shoreline structures, and a wide range of fish species.  Seasoned anglers know success requires patience and a willingness to try different techniques.  If you have a youngster in the group, they will most likely catch the biggest fish - it always happens.  So, maybe no technique is a good strategy too.  For those interested in learning about lake structure, water quality, or creel surveys, we encourage you to visit the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Lake Finder page.  Area lakes will either be found in St. Louis or Lake County.  Minnesota Fishing Regulations

Report By Steve Renneberg, Arrowhead Outdoors

October 28, 2025

Walleye - Nice warm weekend had fall anglers out enjoying the great fishing. Walleyes continue to be found from. 8-32ft of water. Large minnows tipped on a jig or fished on a lindy rig continue to be the most popular way to catch walleyes. Anglers have been mainly working deep holes close to structures like large points or sunken islands. Handful of anglers have been trolling large crankbaits in these same areas and over large deep flats and catching some very big walleyes. 

Panfish - Anglers have been reporting that they are finding crappies out over deep basins as crappies settle into their winter pattern. Anglers have been having good luck tipping small jigs with minnows and drifting over 20-30ft of water. 

Pike - Giant pike continue to be found staging over rocky points and river mouths as their favorite prey cisco’s and whitefish start to spawn in the coming weeks. Large minnow baits and large suckers fished under a bobber in these areas have been very effective.

*Just a reminder this will be our last fishing report for the summer season. Fishing reports will start up again once safe ice has come to the Ely area.