Today's Feature Fishing Report: Ely Minnesota Area Fishing Report February 18, 2026

"Lake Trout - Lake trout continue to cooperate with the majority anglers this last week. Red/white, chartreuse and white bucktails, tipped with a gulp minnow, continue to out produce all other baits for anglers. Reports of lake trout being caught during the overnight hours continue to come in, but the key for success at catching lakers during the overnight hours has been to be on or very close to areas where eelpout are actively spawning. Minnows near the bottom have been key here. Key depths remain 30 to 50 feet of water.

Stream Trout - Rainbows and Splake continue to be a popular choice for anglers as reports of some great fishing continue to keep coming in. Both rainbows and splake are being found out in water ranging from 35 to 70 feet of water. Both are being caught anywhere from 5 to 30 feet under the ice by anglers. Small pink, white or chartreuse jig or spoon, tipped with a wax worm or dead minnow remains very effective.

Walleye - Walleye anglers reported that they are having success this last weekend. Small suckers continue to be the bait or choice for the anglers reporting the best success. Mud flats in 18 to 25 feet of water continue to be the best areas to find active walleyes. White and perch colored jigs, used in a deadstick or tip up has been the way to go. Remember that walleye season closes this Sunday February 22, 2026.

Pike - With another warm weekend anglers were out in force trying their luck for trophy pike. Some real giants were caught too! Medium to large size bait like frozen herring and smelt, fished under a tip up, were extremely popular choices. Large pike were found in classic pike locations like shallow weedbeds and river mouths. Remember that the inland waters Pike season closes this Sunday February 22, 2026.

Panfish - Crappies were a popular choice this last weekend as the area enjoyed spring like temperatures. Overall crappies cooperated with anglers. Crappies were being found in 25 to 35 feet of water. Crappie minnows, tipped on a small jig or a white soft plastic were very effective for anglers. Some large sunfish were mixed in with the suspended crappies, but more often than not, the big sunfish were glued to the bottom and wanted a wax worm tipped on a small jig.

Eelpout - As we near the peak spawning time for Eelpout (next full moon) anglers have been out in force scouting out their favorite eelpout locations. Anglers new to eelpout fishing should be looking to river mouths, sunken islands or large flats, in 10 to 35 feet of water, near deep water to find eelpout. Bright glowing jigs, loaded up with chunks of fresh dead minnows, herring or smelt is really key to getting bites. Best bite remains during the overnight hours, but as we get closer to peak spawning the bite will continue throughout the day.

Whitefish - Walleye anglers have been reporting that whitefish are showing up on their graphs during the day now. Small, panfish sized jigs tipped with small crappie minnows, wax worms or soft plastic bait have been getting bites. White continues to be a popular choice, but red has also accounted for a handful of whitefish. Large mudflats in 20 to 30 feet of water have been the best areas to look for the roaming whitefish. Whitefish are coming in about 5 to 15 feet off the bottom." — Arrowhead Outdoors, 218-365-5358

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