January 16, 2025 "Minnesota Trout Fishing Opens on January 18, 2025"

I’ve said before that the ideal world of ice fishing, for me, would be a 200-acre lake, a good path to walk on, and a comfortable place to sit. These days, ice fishing for stream trout on Minnesota’s designated trout waters is as close to that ideal as an angler can find. Many designated trout lakes are walk-in, non-motorized areas where peace and quiet is the norm, not the exception.

The inland water trout season opens this weekend, on January 18, 2025, and a friend reminded me recently about some opportunities we have right here, in the Grand Rapids region. There are others too, trout lakes are sprinkled all around the entire state and finding a place to go trout fishing is easy. An interactive map shows where the trout lakes are, and the click-able map links take us to specific information about each of the lakes.

Click on the accompanying image that links to the interactive >> “MN Trout Fishing Streams-Lakes MAP”. OR if you already have a specific lake or county in mind, follow this link to a sortable, interactive table containing more detailed information, follow this link to >> “Table of MN Trout Lakes and Streams”.

Once you choose a lake, you might discover that fishing for stream trout is easier than you think. The stocked Trout are susceptible to capture; Hungry, aggressive and mostly unfamiliar with fishing pressure. Trout are nomadic, so in the past, most of the holes we drilled were visited intermittently by fish.

The fishing depths are often shallower than you may expect. The deepest spots where I’ve caught good numbers of trout in the past are shoreline areas in about 14 feet of water. The shallowest spot was 4 feet deep, and the average depth for our “best action” has been about 10 feet deep. So, wherever you go, shoreline areas in water depths ranging between 5 and 20 feet of water should be a good starting point.

There are several baits that attract trout, and most walleye or crappie anglers already have some good ones in their tackle bags. Lindy's “Frostee Jigging Spoons” are good, I like the 1/16- and 1/8-ounce sizes, in the glow-red color. We like them tipped with waxworms, but using preserved minnow heads works too. Experiment with other small, flashy jigging style baits and try some of the flat, blade style baits as well.

The best rods and reels can be found in most folks’ arsenals too. Simple, 26-to-30-inch light or medium-light spinning gear spooled with 6-to-8-pound test line work well for trout.  Trout are hard, aggressive fighters, so light lines are not suggested, if you worry about line visibility, use a 28 to 20 inch length of clear fluorocarbon line as a leader. — Jeff Sundin, The Early Bird Fishing Guide Office Cell Call or Text 218-245-9858 or Email

Ely Area, Arrowhead Outdoors Fishing Report January 16, 2025

"Ice Report • With cold weather and some serious cold temperatures are forecasted for early next week, ice conditions continue to improve everywhere in the Ely area. As much as 20+ inches of ice is now being reported and ice roads have popped up. As much a 4 inches of new snow now covers area lakes, so now snowmobiles are a common sight on area lakes.

Fishing Report • Walleye fishing continues to be on the slow side but a handful of good bites were reported this last week. These good bites happened in 26 to 30 feet of water. Deadsticking a minnow, during the morning and evening hours has been the bite window. If deep is not happening for you 12 feet of water continues to be another good depth to catch walleyes during the bite windows.

Lake Trout • Lake trout fishing in the BWCA continues to be good to excellent for many anglers willing to walk in. Key depths continue to be that 30 to 50 foot range, close to deep water. Tubes, bucktails, tipped with a sucker, have been an excellent choice. Red, blue and chartreuse colored tubes have been hot.

Stream Trout • Brook trout fishing has been good for many anglers fishing in the BWCA. Anglers have been focusing on downed timber, weeds and beaver houses for brookies. Small jigging spoons, tungsten jigs, tipped with a wax worm or dead minnow have been very effective.

Northern Pike • Pike have slowed up, but more likely because of the cold temps make it challenging to keep a hole open. Anglers fishing from heated houses reported catching a handful of pike but the average size was on the small side. With a short warmup forecasted anglers should focus on river mouths and weedbeds in 5 to 12 feet of water. Medium to large suckers are always a good choice for tip ups.

Panfish • With the drop in temps last week the panfish bite also dropped. Anglers reported that they could find crappies and sunfish in 25 to 30 feet of water, but they often struggled to get them to bite. Downsizing to 1/32 ounce jigs and tipped them with a wax worm or two, accounted for the majority of fish caught." — Arrowhead Outdoors, 218-365-5358

Lake of the Woods, LOW Tourism January 14, 2025

"Ice fishing is going great on the south shore of Lake of the Woods. Traffic is heavy, with resorts and outfitters reporting upwards of two feet of ice in some areas. Every ice road has different weight limits, so check with each resort for details before traveling up. As of now, operators are allowing up to 1 ton vehicles pulling a wheelhouses on many ice roads.

Some good fishing this past week. As a rule, fishing activity is happening in 28 to 32 feet of water. Resorts do just about everything they can to get customers on fish and this past week, some resorts made some long runs, resetting fish houses in new areas miles off shore. Most are reporting good fishing as a rule.

It is common to sort through some small walleyes and saugers to get your keepers on LOW. Naturally, some big fish are showing up, especially in deeper water. In addition, this has been a very good year for jumbo perch with good numbers being caught. Other fish in the mix are eelpout (burbot), pike, tullibees and an occasional sturgeon.

Anglers are using the one-two punch of jigging in one hole and deadsticking the second hole. In the jigging hole, a jigging spoon tipped with a minnow head. Effective color combinations include gold and pink, gold and glow red, glow white and pink, and the "Wonder Bread" color pattern. Some anglers are also finding success on rippin' raps or using jigging spoons with a rattles, especially in the deeper water,

On the deadstick, a small jig with a live minnow hooked behind the dorsal fin set 6 inches to one foot off of the bottom is working well. One day the jigging line catches most of the fish, the other day a deadstick is hot.

Electronics are very helpful to see suspended fish, know when fish are coming through and adjust your presentation to the mood of each fish. Most resorts, outfitters and bait shops in the area rent electronics by the day.

The Rainy River is still producing some nice walleyes and saugers, primarily in the mornings and evenings. A jig and minnow working well. Catch-and-release sturgeon fishing continues to be good for those targeting them. An oversized hole, or three holes drilled together, with nightcrawlers or frozen emerald shiners on a sturgeon rig fished on the bottom are what anglers are using.

Ice conditions on the river can vary significantly due to the current. To stay safe and maximize success, always work with a local resort or outfitter familiar with river conditions.

Up at the Northwest Angle, the ice road from Jerry's on the mainland (Angle Inlet, MN) to island resorts (as of this past week) was open to 1 ton vehicles. Guests drive right to their island resort after picking up a road pass at Jerry's or Point North Services. Venmo is also available at all resorts. Work through your resort for specifics.

ice fishing at the Northwest Angle continues to be very good too. Resorts have fish houses set up on various pieces of structure as well as adjacent to structure in deep mud. A consistent mix of walleyes, saugers, jumbo perch, pike and tullibees in the mix. Shallow structure is best right away in the morning and as the sun starts going down in the late afternoon. Mud is more of a slower bite but all day." — Lake of the Woods Tourism, (800) 382-FISH

News Release January 14, 2025 "Minnesota DNR seeks public input on updates to Lake of the Woods Fisheries Management Plan"

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources invites people interested in Lake of the Woods fisheries to share their thoughts on a draft update of the fisheries management plan for the lake. This opportunity differs from the scoping survey released in February 2024. The scoping survey guided the management planning process, while this is an opportunity to comment on the draft plan.

The Lake of the Woods Fisheries Management Plan was last updated in 2018. It is important for this update to reflect current public values and attitudes about how the lake should be managed. The updated master plan will be used to guide management of Lake of the Woods fish populations. It will include management goals, objectives and strategies for the lake for the next 10 years.

Public input opportunities: Minnesota DNR staff will host a joint in-person and virtual public meeting to provide an overview of the plan and its purpose, answer questions, and collect public input. Registration is not required.

The meeting will be held 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, February 5, 2025 at the Baudette Ambulance Garage Conference Room, 113 1st Ave. SW, Baudette, MN 56623. For people who would like to join virtually, a link to join the webinar is available on the Lake of the Woods page (mndnr.gov/lakeofthewoods) of the Minnesota DNR website.

Review and comment on the plan: The public can obtain a digital copy of the draft update on the Lake of the Woods page (mndnr.gov/lakeofthewoods). Comments may be submitted by:

• Using the online form available at the Lake of the Woods webpage (mndnr.gov/lakeofthewoods).
• Emailing baudette.fisheries@state.mn.us.
• Calling Baudette area fisheries staff at 218-395-6040.
• Mailing comments to 204 Main St. E, Baudette, MN 56623.
• Providing verbal and written comments at the Feb. 5 joint in-person and virtual meeting.
  

The Minnesota DNR is accepting comments on the draft master plan through Sunday, February 16, 2025

About the lake: Lake of the Woods is a large lake that is located on the United States-Canada border. Approximately 300,000 acres of Lake of the Woods are located within the U.S. The Minnesota portion of Lake of the Woods includes several distinct basins, including Muskeg Bay, Big Traverse Bay and Little Traverse Bay. Lake of the Woods is a popular recreational fishing destination for both summer and winter anglers. Some of the more popular species anglers target when visiting the lake include walleye, sauger, yellow perch, lake sturgeon and northern pike. Intensive monitoring of the fish populations occurs on an annual basis due to the popularity of this resource.

More information about Lake of the Woods is available on the Minnesota DNR website (mndnr.gov/lakeofthewoods)."

Ely Area, Arrowhead Outdoors Fishing Report January 9, 2025

Ice Report - Much needed cold snap continues to make quality ice on Ely area lakes. 12 to 20 inches of ice is now being reported on Ely area lakes. 4 wheelers, side by sides, cars and trucks are now driving around on many of the lakes.

Anglers planning on coming up for the 2025 winter trout opener on January 18, 2025, should know that stream trout and lake trout lake ice is now being reported to be between 12 to 18 inches of ice. Unless we get a dumping of snow, which is not forecasted, 4 wheelers and side by sides are going to be the best ways to travel on all lakes, opening weekend.

Fishing Report - Walleye fishing continues to be typical January walleye fishing. Slow. Best time continues to be during the evening hours with a lively minnow deadsticked. Anglers have also reported catching a few walleyes overnight on rattle reels. Best depth continues to be in that 12 to 20 feet of water. Large mud flats in these depths continue to be the best producers.

Lake trout fishing in the BWCA (outside the BWCA opens January 18, 2025) started out with a bang and has remained excellent for many who have made the trek into the BWCA. Best fishing was in 40 to 60 feet of water, near flats, humps and points. Tubes and flukes, fished 20 to 40 feet down were very effective for lakers.

Stream Trout - Brook Trout fishing in the BWCA (outside the BWCA opens January 18, 2025) also was excellent for many anglers. Brook Trout angler's focused on shallow shorelines In 10 feet of water and shallower for brookies. Downed trees and weeds had the best fishing. Small jigging spoons and tungsten jigs tipped with wax worms produced good numbers of trout.

Northern Pike anglers continue to target big pike with tip ups on many Ely area lakes. Medium to large suckers, fished in weedbeds in 5 to 12 feet of water have been producing good numbers and size pike.

Panfish - Both crappies and sunfish have cooled off as air temperatures have dropped. Crappies and sunnies are being found in 20 to 25 feet of water and tight to the bottom. Small tungsten jigs tipped with wax worms or crappie minnows have been the best way to approach these negative fish." — Arrowhead Outdoors, 218-365-5358

Wired2Fish January 9, 2025 "Top 4 Baits for Forward-Facing Sonar Success | Mark Daniels Jr."

"Join professional angler Mark Daniels Jr. as he shares his go-to baits and proven techniques for making the most of forward-facing sonar. Daniels demonstrates how these tools can help you target fish with precision whether you’re fishing offshore or near cover, and land more bites.

JERKBAIT: The jerkbait tops Daniels’ list for forward-facing sonar applications. Its versatility lies in how you can impart custom bait action to the mood of the fish—just figure out what makes ’em tick and voilà, you trigger a bite! Using Garmin LiveScope, Daniels watches fish react to his bait and adjusts his jerk cadence and retrieve speed accordingly. This approach transforms fishing into an engaging game of cat and mouse.

DROP SHOT RIG: Daniels reaches for the drop shot rig when bass ..." View Video and Learn More >> Top 4 Baits for Forward-Facing Sonar Success | Mark Daniels Jr.

News Release January 2025 "Minnesota DNR looking to fill 200 paid summer internships"

"The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is looking for passionate and dedicated students interested in learning more about natural resource careers through paid summer internships.

DNR summer interns receive valuable training, develop key skills and contribute in important ways to the department’s mission of working with Minnesotans to conserve and manage natural resources, provide outdoor recreational opportunities, and provide for commercial uses of natural resources in a way that creates a sustainable quality of life.

The DNR has a wide variety of internship opportunities throughout the state, including in fisheries, forestry, park operations, watercraft inspections, communications and more. Interns work 20 to 40 hours per week and receive a competitive wage of $19 per hour. To be considered for an internship, fulfilling an academic requirement or receiving academic credit is required.

To review the internship opportunities and apply for those of interest, click here to visit >> State of Minnesota Careers Website. opens in a new browser ta Select “Search for jobs” from the toolbar. In the External Applicants box, select “Search for jobs now” and select “View all jobs.” Filter by “Natural Resources Dept” in the Agency category and “Student Worker and Internships” in the Job Family category.

Internship applications will be accepted through January 31, 2025. Positions will start in May and June, 2025. Applicants seeking employment with the DNR who are not eligible for an internship should regularly check the website for seasonal and year-round opportunities."

Lake of the Woods, LOW Tourism January 7, 2025

"On the South Shore of Lake of the Woods, anglers will find that ice fishing is in full swing. Access increases daily as resorts and outfitters continuing to report solid ice conditions and some good fishing. Many ice roads are now open to 1 ton vehicles pulling a wheelhouse. Every road has different weight limits, check with each resort for details before traveling up and out on the ice.

Most fishing activity is happening in 26 to 32 feet of water. Most anglers are sorting through some small fish to catch their keepers with an occasional slot or trophy walleye. Most buckets have some good quality walleyes and saugers. Jumbo perch, northern pike, and large eelpout are also adding excitement to the mix, with a few sturgeon showing up as well.

Anglers are using the one-two punch of jigging in one hole and deadsticking the second hole. In the jigging hole, your favorite small to mid sized jigging spoon in gold, glow red, glow white, pink, chartreuse or a combo of these colors tipped with a minnow head. Rattles can help as well in the stained water. Some anglers are finding success on jigging raps and rippin raps as well. More aggressive techniques at times are really getting it done. On the deadstick, a small jig with a live minnow hooked behind the dorsal fin set 6 inches to one foot off of the bottom is working well.

Using electronics is very helpful to see suspended fish, know when fish are coming through and adjust your presentation to the mood of each fish.

The Rainy River is still producing some nice fish but the good early ice walleye bite has slowed somewhat. Anglers are catching some decent numbers of walleyes and saugers, with several nice-sized sturgeon showing up nicely for those angling for them. However, caution remains crucial on the river, as ice conditions can vary significantly due to the current. Catch-and-release sturgeon fishing continues to be good. To stay safe and maximize success, always work with a local resort or outfitter familiar with river conditions.

Up at the Northwest Angle, ice fishing is going very well. Resorts have fish houses out with anglers already enjoying excellent success. "The Angle" is delivering its usual consistent fishing, with a nice mix of walleyes, saugers, jumbo perch, and pike being caught. Resorts and outfitters in the area are working hard to place fish houses on points, reefs and over deep mud.

Ice fishing is in full swing and there are openings for lodging and fish house rentals on both ends of the lake." — Lake of the Woods Tourism, (800) 382-FISH

Ely Area, Arrowhead Outdoors Ice Fishing Report January 2, 2025

Ice Report: After a few days of rain, Ely area lakes have lost all the snow on top, but not very much ice. With a good cold snap forecasted for the next week and beyond, ice conditions have steadily improving on area lakes. Anglers have been reporting 8 to 13 inches of good ice. ATVs, 4 wheelers and side by sides have become common forms of travel on area lakes with a few lakes trucks are starting to showing up out on the ice. Permanent houses are now a common sight on Ely area lakes.

Ice Fishing Report: Walleye fishing continues to be slow for anglers. The few decent reports have been coming in 10 to 15 feet of water during the morning and evening hours. Small minnows, on a small jig and deadsticked, has been the most productive technique this last week. Look to rocky bottoms and river mouths

Northern Pike fishing continues to be good and consistent for many anglers targeting them. Some large pike have been coming on tip ups, tipped with a medium to large sucker. Shallow weedbeds in 5 to 12 feet of water continue to be the best areas to target.

Panfish, crappies and bluegills continue to be slow but steady for many anglers. Anglers have been catching both in deeper holes around 18 to 25 feet of water. Small jigs tipped with wax worm have been best for gill while a small jig tipped with either soft plastics or crappie minnow has been best for the crappies. White, pink and purple have been the best colors for panfish." — Arrowhead Outdoors, 218-365-5358

Wired2Fish January 2, 2025 "Gear Test: Gill Meridian-X Waterproof Jacket and Bibs"

"When the mercury plummets, you better be wearing the right cold weather gear. As far as first-world problems go, there’s nothing more miserable than getting cold in the morning of a long winter day on the water and never being able to warm back up. I was at risk of doing just that last Saturday while fishing a local pot tournament on Lake Martin here in central Alabama. It’s a good thing I happened to be testing out the Gill Meridian-X Waterproof Bib and Jacket.

The air temp was hovering around 30 degrees when we took off and the water temps were in the mid 40s when we dropped the trolling motor in the water. Our rod guides clogged up with ice every 10 casts for about the first hour, and there was ice on the water’s surface in the ..." Read Article and Learn More >> Gear Test: Gill Meridian-X Waterproof Jacket and Bibs

Lake of the Woods, LOW Tourism January 1, 2025

"Ice fishing is in full swing along the south shore of Lake of the Woods. Resorts and outfitters are continuing to report solid ice conditions. A colder weather pattern is expected over the next couple of weeks, which will further strengthen ice and ensure safe and productive fishing. Many resorts have sleeper fish houses on the ice, offering anglers the chance to spend extended time fishing in comfort.

Although every ice road is different, many are now allowing mid-sized vehicles as ice thickness improves. Be sure to check with your ice road operator for specific conditions and weight limits to ensure a safe outing.

Most fishing activity is happening in 24 to 30 feet of water, where anglers are reporting steady action. While some sorting is required to find keeper-sized fish, buckets are being filled with quality walleyes and saugers. Jumbo perch, northern pike, and large eelpout are also adding excitement to the mix, with a few sturgeon showing up to surprise anglers as well.

Anglers are using the one-two punch of jigging in one hole and deadsticking the second hole. In the jigging hole, your favorite jigging spoon in gold, glow red, glow white, pink, chartreuse or a combo of these colors. Rattles can help as well in the stained water. On the deadstick, a small jig with a live minnow hooked behind the dorsal fin set 6 inches - a foot off of the bottom is working well.

The Rainy River continues to produce great results for those heading out. Anglers are catching good numbers of walleyes and saugers, with several nice-sized sturgeon showing up nicely for those angling for them. However, caution remains crucial on the river, as ice conditions can vary significantly due to the current. Catch-and-release sturgeon fishing has been excellent, offering a thrilling battle for anglers seeking a unique challenge. To stay safe and maximize success, always work with a local resort or outfitter familiar with river conditions.

Ice fishing is going strong up at the Northwest Angle too. Resorts have fish houses out with anglers already enjoying excellent success.The NW Angle is delivering its usual consistent fishing, with a nice mix of walleyes, saugers, jumbo perch, and pike being caught. Resorts and outfitters in the area are working hard to ensure safe ice conditions, with marked trails and ready-to-fish houses set up for a seamless experience. Check with your favorite NW Angle resort for details.

Good news for snowmobilers: the snowmobile trail from the south end of the lake across the ice to the Northwest Angle is staked and open! Scratchers are recommended with some melting snow last week.

Happy Holidays from Lake of the Woods Tourism! Tight lines and safe fishing!" — Lake of the Woods Tourism, (800) 382-FISH

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Helping your fellow fishermen and women stay abreast of fishing conditions in your area is good for everybody and it's easier than you think! You don't have to write a book, you don't have to share your secret fishing spots and you don't even have to mention your lake. But even a few words about general trends, seasonal patterns and local weather conditions can really help.

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.