Cutfoot Sioux, Lake Winnie Memorial Day Fishing Report July 3, 2025
"We are heading into the Independence Day holiday weekend on a warm note. And as the sunshine warms the waters of Lake Winnie and Cutfoot Sioux, productive summertime fishing patterns for walleye, perch and panfish have taken hold.
Surface temperatures on the big lake range from 71 to 73 degrees, and back bays with darker, calmer waters are running warmer, 74 to 76 degrees in some areas. Vegetation is maturing too, cabbage, coontail and many of the “pondweed” varieties are green and thick. Wild rice beds are starting to stand tall above the surface, and bulrushes are green and mature too. All plants, no matter where they grow, provide cover habitat for fish of all species, including the most popular game fish pursued by our guests.
During the warmup, insect hatches began emerging and hatches of many insects continue today. Fishing for walleyes during any “bug hatch” can be challenging, but in many ways can be rewarding too. Finding the areas where maturing insect larvae is most likely to emerge will lead anglers to success. Where maturing larvae exists, minnows, small gamefish and predators will be nearby; all participating in the “summer peak” food chain cycle.
Marl, the mixture of semi-soft, clay, sand and shell pieces are prime real estate for bloodworms, fish flies and mayfly larvae breeding grounds. Marl can be located whem we ..." Read >> Bowen Lodge Lake Winnie Fishing Report
Ely Area, Arrowhead Outdoors Fishing Report July 2, 2025
"Walleye - Walleye reports have walleyes sliding out a little deeper. Majority of walleye reports this last week has angler finding walleyes in 8 to 16 feet of water now. Anglers have been pulling spinner rigs, tipped with crawlers, along weedlines, transitions area along points and out over sunken islands. Gold, perch and blue spinner blades have been popular this last week. Reports of shallow water walleyes remain. Here anglers are catching walleye with soft plastics fished on a 1/8 or 1/4oz jig, over rocky shorelines. Jig and half a crawler has also been worth noting here.
Panfish - Crappies have been snapping in shallow water in and around lily pads this last week. Thick lily pad beds are no good. Scattered lily pads have been the best for crappies. Anglers have been casting small jig and twisters, crappie minnows under a bobber to these lily pads, to catch crappies. Sunfish remain shallow and are being caught back in pencil reed beds and weedbeds. Wax worms, green crawlers and angleworms, fished under a bobber have been very effective here.
Smallmouth Bass - The once super hot topwater bite has been cooling off to mainly early morning for the best bite (before 9am). Once the sun gets up anglers have been having luck with square bills, wacky worms, chatterbaits and spinnerbaits. Rocky shorelines with downed trees, large flats, out around islands and rivers are all holding active smallies. White, crawfish colors and green pumpkin have been hot colors this last week.
Stream Trout - Area Stream Trout lakes remain popular for good reason. Rainbow trout have been snapping! Limits of rainbows are being caught trolling small minnow baits or small trolling spoons over deep water. Good rule of thumb is the brighter the better as far as colors go. Anglers fishing from shore have been having really good luck casting a 2 inch white twister, small spoons and the tried and true nightcrawler floated under a bobber.
Northern Pike - Pike anglers have been catching good numbers of quality pike this last week. Anglers have been throwing spoons in and around weedbeds for very consistent action. Anglers targeting larger pike have been trolling large spinnerbaits, large minnow baits and large soft plastic baits along weedlines, river mouths and mouths of shallow bays. Best depth for the bigger pike has been 8-14 feet of water.
Lake Trout - Lake Trout anglers have been reporting that lakers are slowly going deeper as surface water temps warm. Anglers have been reporting that they are catching lakers from 30 to 80 feet of water now. Many anglers have been trolling large trolling spoons, with down riggers, over deep water to find active lakers. Anglers fishing from a canoe have vertically jigging large bucktails and tubes over deep water. Red/white, blue/white and solid chartreuse have been popular colors for tubes or bucktails." — Arrowhead Outdoors, 218-365-5358
July 1, 2025 "News release: Public input sought on reducing statewide walleye limit from six to four"
If you’re a believer in reducing Minnesota’s walleye possession limit from 6 fish, down to 4 fish, then this is your happy day! The Minnesota DNR Fisheries Office released the much-anticipated formal announcement yesterday.
MN DNR, “Changes in lake habitat, ecology and conditions coupled with technological advances in fishing gear and methods are prompting the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to seek public input on a possible reduction in the statewide walleye possession limit from six to four fish.
If enacted via a rulemaking process, the change would not become effective until May 2027.
“We consider this a proactive step to maintain quality walleye fishing,” said Brad Parsons, DNR fisheries section manager. “This regulation has been in place since 1956, and conditions in Minnesota’s lakes have, and continue to, change. Our consideration of a walleye limit reduction is a wise management response to what’s happening.”
People can comment from now until …” Read Full Article >> July 1, 2025 Public Input Sought, Reducing Statewide Walleye Limit
Lake of the Woods, LOW Tourism July 1, 2025
"Fishing continues to be outstanding on Lake of the Woods. Whether you’re jigging, pulling spinners, or trolling crankbaits, anglers are enjoying steady action and taking home plenty of walleyes and saugers.
On the South Shore, there are good numbers of walleyes now gravitating to the deep mud basin regions. This time of year, it’s common to see bug hatches over the deep mud, which attracts hungry walleyes looking for an easy meal. Fishing anywhere from 27 to 35 feet has been productive.
The jig bite remains strong. Many anglers are still anchoring up or spot-locking and working a jig tipped with a frozen emerald shiner. Hot jig colors this week include orange and chartreuse, gold combined with orange or pink, as well as glow white. Mixing up your colors and letting the fish tell you what they want can really pay off.
Spinners and crawlers are also gaining momentum. Drifting or slowly trolling at 1.0 to 1.25 mph with a 2 to 3 ounce weight or bottom bouncer, a two or three hook harness with a hammered gold blade paired with pink, orange, chartreuse, or glow red or white beads has been very effective. This technique is a great way to cover water and entice walleyes spread out over the basin. Many anglers report catching a mix of walleyes and saugers using this method.
Trolling crankbaits is another excellent option right now. Some anglers are trolling using downriggers to get their lures down to the fish. Others are using leadcore line, snap weights, or a 3 to 4 ounce bottom bouncer paired with a 6-foot monofilament or fluorocarbon leader with a shallow diving crankbait. These setups are helping anglers reach the right depth and keep their baits in the strike zone. The ability to cover lots of water while presenting wobble, vibration, and color makes trolling cranks a very effective way to locate and catch walleyes.
On the Rainy River, reports indicate that the river is still producing some nice walleyes, and it won’t be long until anglers start shifting their attention to sturgeon again. Sturgeon fishing season opens on July 1, 2025 and the river is loaded with these prehistoric giants. If you’re planning a trip in July or August, soaking a few crawlers on a sturgeon rig can give you the chance to hook into one of the biggest fish of your life.
Excellent fishing also continues up at the Northwest Angle. Walleyes are being found from 12 to 24 feet, relating to both mud and structure. The jig and minnow bite remains solid on rock and sand transitions, while other anglers are also pulling spinners or crankbaits along shoreline breaks and over deeper mud areas. This is producing not just walleyes, but also a nice mix of jumbo perch, pike, and even smallmouth bass.
Muskie anglers have been busy with nice numbers of fish and some big ones. Some fish exceeding 53 inches were caught this past week.
Plan Your Trip. Lake of the Woods is living up to its reputation as the Walleye Capital of the World. With a healthy population of walleyes, saugers, pike, smallmouth bass, and soon, sturgeon back in season, now is a perfect time to get out on the water. Whether you’re fishing with your own boat, hiring a guide, or jumping on a charter, the opportunities for success are excellent." — Lake of the Woods Tourism, (800) 382-FISH
More Recent Fishing Reports
Follow on X • Follow on Facebook • Ely MN 7-02 • Walleye Limit 7-01 • L.O.W 7-01 • Brainerd 6-30 • Sundin 6-27 • Sundin 6-26 • Sundin 6-25 • Ely MN 6-25 • Sundin 6-23 • Lake Winnie 6-20 • Ely MN 6-18 • L.O.W 6-18 • Lake Winnie 6-7 • Mushy Crappies 5-30 • Night Walleyes 5-26 • Lake Winnie Season Outlook • Radomski On Walleye Limits • Don't Land A Citation 5-1 • 200 • MN DNR Rule Changes 02-13 • MN Hall of Fame 01-24 • Charts 1-23-25 • MAPS 1-22-23 • Upper Red Lake 12-8 • Barotrauma Study 1-25-24 • Fish Consumption • Forward Sonar • Panfish Workgroup
Wired2Fish 2025 "Chasing Bruiser Bluegills: Top Tips and Tactics for Catching Bulls"
"Growing up, I could always count on a certain fish to make my day. One that was always willing to bite and put a good bend into an ultralight. That species has made its way into the hearts and freezers of millions of Americans nationwide.
You likely know it as the bluegill. For fishermen across the country, bluegills are often considered a stepping stone into getting hooked on fishing. They’re in most freshwaters across the country, and growing in abundance around the globe. Plus, panfish are relatively easy to catch.
While bluegills are widespread, finding big bluegills can be a challenge, especially catching them consistently. Standard tactics will work, but there are certain baits and presentations that ..." Read Article to Learn More >> Chasing Bruiser Bluegills: Top Tips and Tactics for Catching Bulls
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Be like me, become a duly deputized "Cub Reporter", it's good for fishing! Contact Us or if you prefer to be "social", Fishing Reports Minnesota, the Facebook counterpart to this page is open to the public, so you can post your own fishing update or just share a photo of a nice catch.
Wired2Fish 2025 "[VIDEO] How to Spool a Spinning Reel with Braid"
"Spooling a spinning reel the right way isn’t just about loading line—it’s about preventing slip, reducing twist, and maximizing performance. In this step-by-step video, Wired2fish’s own Kyle Peterson breaks down exactly how to spool braid with a mono backing and why each step matters.
Why a Mono Backing is Essential: Braid lacks stretch and grip, which means it can slip around the arbor under tension. To prevent this, Peterson starts by adding mono as backing. The mono grips the spool better, creating a secure base layer that locks the braid in place.
Choosing Mono Based on Arbor Size: The size of a reel’s arbor determines which mono line works best. A smaller arbor calls for lighter, thinner mono, while a larger arbor can support heavier mono. Peterson uses 8-pound mono for his setup, but stresses the importance of matching the backing to the reel size to avoid bulking.
Quick, Effective Knots for Reliability: Rather than tying complex knots, Peterson uses a ..." View Video to Learn More >> How to Spool a Spinning Reel with Braid