Explore Minnesota Weekly Fishing Update - Feb. 20, 2015

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Explore Minnesota Weekly Fishing Update - Feb. 20, 2015
 
    
Jordan’s big pike pulled from Fish Lake – image courtesy of Houston's Guide Service.
Grace & Eben ice fishing in a Lake of the Woods fish house; courtesy of LakeoftheWoodsMN.com
 

While current frigid cold temperatures have helped build ice rapidly, fewer anglers are heading out and fewer reports are available. The season for gamefish species such as walleye, northern pike and bass closes at midnight on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015 for most Minnesota waters. But remember, anglers are allowed to fish for species such as perch, crappies, sunnies, whitefish, tulibees and eelpout continuously in Minnesota, and these are just beginning to turn more active. The temperatures will bemoce more seasonable by this weekend, just in time for the final weekend of the winter gamefish season. For fishing season dates throughout the state, check the DNR fishing seasons web page.

Refresh your knowledge of ice safety by consulting the Minnesota DNR's Ice Safety Guidelines web page. Before heading out, please contact a local bait shop or lakeside resort for the most current ice conditions.

 

[Northeast] [Northwest] [Central] [Twin Cities] [Southern]

Northeast Minnesota
International Falls - Rainy Lake & the Rainy River

Fewer anglers are heading out on to Rainy Lake due to recent frigid cold temperatures. Most anglers that are getting out are congregating around the Ice Road on Sand Bay where walleye and crappies are hitting glow jigs tipped with shiner minnows. Cold temperatures have made it more difficult to hit some of popular spots near the Park Service Ice Road since it requires pulling out portable gear. 800-325-5766; www.rainylake.org

Ely

Walleye and northern pike fishing will end for the season at midnight this Sunday, Feb. 22. This will be the last chance to put some walleye fillets on the table until the spring opener in May. Some folks continue to head out and take a few fish per trip, with the best bite coming late in the day until just after sunset. The fish have settled a bit deeper, with most catches coming from more than twenty feet of water. Anglers are still pulling trout through the ice on area trout lakes, and salted minnows are working as well as any other bait during the day. Daybreak anglers jigging small dark jigs tipped with wax worms are also having some success. Lake trout catches have been sporadic, with a few large walleye mixed in while probing depths down to 70 feet. Ciscoes fished right on the bottom have produced the most fish, but some are responding to airplane jigs and white tubes. 800-777-7281; www.ely.org

Cook County: Lutsen-Tofte, Grand Marais, Gunflint Trail, and Grand Portage

Ice houses are dotting the lakes throughout the county, and the mini icehouse village in the mid Gunflint area is active! Anglers report a mixed bag of fish including some perch, northern pike, and walleye. The fish are moving rapidly as well, sometimes schooling in the shallows and sometimes gathering off rocky reefs. Evenings are best for the most fish. Just out of Grand Marais, on Elbow Lake, the walleye catch is consistent. Head out with your auger and tip ups during morning hours, and hit 10-12 foot depths off the rocky shelves. On Caribou Lake, just north of Lutsen, anglers report a great northern pike bite when jigging one line, and dead-sticking the other nearby. Once again, perch have been scattered in multiple locations; if you are prepared to sort, you can come away with a great meal of fish. On Gunflint Lake, active trout are hitting minnows worked in 18-25 feet of water. Trout action is just picking up, so after the ice houses are removed from the lakes there is a lot of great fishing opportunites in area lakes and streams! And don’t miss the Trout Derby on Sunday, March 8, with great trout fishing and snowmobiling on area lakes. The event starts at the Gunflint Lake boat access landing. Complete details. www.visitCookCounty.com

Duluth - Lake Superior and inland waters

Ice is building rapidly during the recent frigid cold temperatures, so much so that Lake Superior is hosting lots of ice anglers in the Duluth/Superior area. Ice conditions in the Duluth area are hovering around 6 inches, with thinner ice in some areas and thicker ice in others. Please remember that this area of Lake Superior can be very dangerous so extreme caution should be taken. In addition, a crack is forming and the current NNW winds could quickly lead to unfavorable ice conditions. Those that do head out must bring the proper safety gear. Recommended items include a life jacket, chisel/spud, rope, hand spikes, distress signal (whistle), cell phone, extra set of cloths, and a buddy! Another good piece of advice is to devise a plan in case something does happen. Recent reports indicate that the lakers are hitting nearly everything. Depths of 50-70 feet have been holding smelt, lakers, eelpout, and an occasional coho. Jigging fathead minnows with larger spoons, and jigging rapalas tipped with minnow heads have been best. Fish are starting to slow down, however inland lakes continue to produce a nice mix of bluegills, crappies, and northern pike. 800-438-5884; www.visitduluth.com

Grand Rapids

The walleye and northern pike season closes on Sunday, Feb. 22. After this date, ice fishing will remain strong for species such as crappies, bluegills, perch and trout. Small baits are and will be the key to success especially since late ice brings with it a buffet of larvae below the surface. This have been a boom year for ice fishing in the Grand Rapids area, with so many people enjoying great ice conditions and excellent fishing this winter! 800-335-9740;  www.visitgrandrapids.com

Northwest Minnesota
Baudette - Lake of the Woods & the Rainy River

Good reports have come in this week from Lake of the Woods anglers. While fish have been spread out, electronics have helped locate nice schools. Good action has been reported between Knight and Bridges islands, and at Garden Island in 27-33 feet of water. A good morning bite has taken place in depths of 18 feet off Pine Island. Around Zippel Bay, fishing the structure in 23-30 of water has been best, with some morning action reported in the shallows. Reefs off of Long Point are producing a mixed bag of fish, with some nice jumbo perch in the mix. Combinations of walleye and saugers, however, are the norm. Most anglers are catching their supper each day, with many limits and some trophies also being taken. On the Rainy River, anglers are doing well when using orange or chartreuse colors with frozen shiners in 15-20 feet of water. Some sturgeon have also been reported. Before venturing out, be sure to work through an outfitter or bait shop so you know where you are going on the ice. Up at the Northwest Angle, fishing remains good around the reefs in 23-30 feet of water. Jig one line, and dead stick the second line for the most fish. A mixed bag, with more walleye than saugers, is being reported. Some jumbo perch, northern pike and eelpout are also being taken. Please note that while fish houses must be removed from the ice on Lake of the Woods by Mar. 31, the walleye season remains open on these border waters until April 14! 800-382-FISH; www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com

Bemidji Area Lakes

The season for gamefish species such as walleye, northern pike and bass closes at midnight on Sunday, Feb.22, 2015. But remember, anglers are allowed to fish for species such as perch, crappies, sunnies, whitefish, tulibees and eelpout continuously in Minnesota. Walleye fishing has been spotty on most area lakes, with a flurry of activity in the mornings and evenings, but slower during the day. Most of the successful anglers have been fishing tight to the structure in 18-28 feet of water, depending on the lake and the specific piece of structure. The deeper humps will usually have the most active fish on top of the structure. The larger bars and shoreline structure have the most active fish using the tips of the points, turns on the structure, and other unique structural features. Fish are cold-blooded, so they don't want to be too far away from their main food sources during the winter. Anglers should note that all species like to locate where there are minnows, baitfish or insects in the area. Walleye anglers will usually find walleye feeding on whatever forage species are most plentiful in the lake, which often means smaller perch. Jigging spoons tipped with a piece of minnow has been working well for walleyes. The smaller piece of minnow encourages the fish to strike at the hooks, instead of short-hitting. Neutral colored spoons have been working best during the day and UV glow lures have been best under low light conditions. 800-458-2223; www.visitbemidji.com

Detroit Lakes

Fishing and fishing activity in the Detroit Lakes area have slowed considerably, especially during the current cold front. Look for fish activity to improve as temperatures rise this weekend. Walleye angling has been slow, with short feeding activity early in the morning and just before dusk. Some walleye are in the deep waters and some have moved to the shallower green weed areas holding bait fish. Your best bet for walleye this weekend are Otter Tail and Lida lakes. The best bite in the area continues to be the panfish bite. Crappies are holding on breaks in 18-30 feet of water, with most found suspended. Actively jigging with jigs or jigging spoons tipped with wax worms, small minnows, minnow heads or plastic tails has been best. Sunfish activity has been good in the 8-13 foot weedy areas on almost all area lakes. The problem is finding the larger bluegills. Tamarac, Height of Land, Rock, Little Detroit and Sieverson lakes have been consistent for the larger bluegills. Nice perch are coming from the deep waters of Otter Tail, Rush, Big Pine and Many Point lakes. 800-542-3992; www.visitdetroitlakes.com

Central Region
Isle/Onamia - Lake Mille Lacs

This should be a busy weekend around the Mille Lacs area with three fishing contests, the end of the spearing season and the end of the winter walleye season. Lots of folks are expected to give it "one last try." This week, most anglers have been chasing northern pike, however, decent-sized perch and an occasional walleye are also being taken. 888 -350-2692; www.millelacs.com

Willmar Lakes Area

This cold, windy weather has been tough on anglers. Those that have braved the cold have noted very active northern pike on most area lakes. Sunfish have been most active around 8-10 a.m., and the crappie and walleye bite has been best during the last hour of the day. Please note that the 2014/2015 winter fishing season ends this Sunday, Feb. 22. Permanent fish houses need to be off Willmar area lakes by midnight on Mar 2. 800-845-8747; www.willmarlakesarea.com

Southern Minnesota
Lanesboro -Southeast Bluff Country Trout Streams

As of late last week, ice shelf issues were developing on some streams. Before traveling, please check out the new detailed fishing easement maps. Learn more about the expanded winter trout season which began January 1, 2015. As updates on stream conditions become available, they are posted on the Southeast Minnesota Stream Conditions web page. You are also welcome to call the office for updates at 507-467-2442. 800-944-2670; www.lanesboro.com