April 22, 2025 "Be Careful What You Wish For!"

The ice line creeps further north every day, albeit slower than some folks would like. I don’t mind waiting because there is good scientific evidence that strong walleye year classes tend to be produced more often during seasons with a later ice out. The reason, primarily, has to do with survival rates of the newly hatched fry.

When there’s an early ice-out, walleye spawning occurs early. Sometimes, walleye fry are hatched before water temperatures warm enough to provide strong algae production. In the cold water, newly hatched fry has less food to eat, and depend on nourishment from a “yolk sac”. They use their stored reserves quickly though, within a few days, and they depend on algae blooms to provide nutrition. Unless plankton, (algae) production in shallow water increases fast, they can suffer from ..." Read Full Report >> Be Careful What You Wish For April 22, 2025

April 22, 2025 "AND MORE Be Careful What You Wish For!"

Also landing squarely in the category of “being careful what I wish for”, is asking for comments about the proposed reduction in the walleye possession limit from FishRapper readers. Most comments resulting from Karry Kyllo’s April 15, 2025 commentary last week were civilized and respectful. But there were also a couple of nasty exchanges. I actually secured permission to share the comments with you here but decided not to shine any additional light on them; here’s why.

As long as I’ve been in the fishing business, I’ve been involved with one group or another. Itasca County Resort and Tourism was the first. Then the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce, then I was the Minnesota representative for the national group, “The Professional Guides Association”. Later, there was the Minnesota Sportfishing Congress, the Game and Fish Coalition, the Minnesota Walleye Alliance, the Northern Minnesota League of Guides and as a forming member of the original ..." Read >> Be Careful What You Wish For April 22, 2025

Wired2Fish April 22, 2025 "Minnow Plug Tactics for Trophy Spring Walleye"

"In this action-packed video, Doug Wegner, accompanied by his wife Jessie Baker and friend Luke Lovrek, ventures onto Green Bay to target post-spawn walleye in shallow water. While Sturgeon Bay smallmouth bass get a lot of the attention on the east side of the bay, Wegner shows that quality multi-species fishing is yours for the taking if you know where to look. He discusses how to find key spots to target walleye and smallmouth bass using a handful of tried and true minnow-imitating plugs, including the ever-popular Rapala Husky Jerk.

Wegner employs a controlled drift, adjusting his trolling motor to keep the boat off the break. With his boat perpendicular to the shore, he and his clients .​..." View Video and Learn More >> Minnow Plug Tactics for Trophy Spring Walleye

Reader Comments April 15, 2025 "Opposition To Reduced Walleye Limit"

"Why I Oppose the Proposed 4 Walleye Limit In Minnesota"

Kyllo; "Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) leadership has announced plans to move forward with a proposal to decrease the walleye limit statewide from 6 daily to 4 daily but is it needed? Not according to scientific data. Interestingly, even a number of fisheries biologists within the organization don’t feel that data supports implementation of a 4 walleye limit statewide and DNR leadership has admitted as much publicly. 

On most Minnesota lakes and by most measurements, the walleye fishery in our state is at or close to its healthiest since the current 6 walleye limit was introduced in 1956.  Research conducted by the DNR at 1,267 lakes based upon 11,268 surveys in Minnesota from 1970-2023, and quantified by what is known as catches per unit effort (CPUE) indicate that the health of our walleye fishery is not trending downward and is in fact quite healthy. Ironically, the DNR even recently ..." Read >> April 15, 2025 Karry Kyllo, "Why I Oppose the Proposed 4 Walleye Limit In Minnesota"

April 17, 2025 "Ice Belt Loosening Grip on North Central Minnesota"

The ice belt is losing its grip on north central Minnesota. As yesterday’s satellite image reveals, Mille Lacs Lake was very close to ice-out, and most of the small lakes from there, heading northwest towards Brainerd are already open. North central Minnesota lakes are softening too, Pike Bay and Cass Lake are due to lose their ice cover soon, likely before Easter Sunday. The same is true here in Itasca County, where Cutfoot Sioux and Little Cutfoot Sioux have estimated ice-out dates of about April 19, 2025.

Dan Schermerhorn, Grand Rapids Area Fisheries Supervisor announced yesterday that his staff will begin preparing for the annual walleye egg take at Little Cutfoot. After the weekend, possibly as soon as ..." Read Full Report >> Ice Belt Loosening Grip on North Central Minnesota April 17, 2025

Lake of the Woods, LOW Tourism April 16, 2025

"For the vast majority of anglers, ice fishing is over for the year on the south side of Lake of the Woods. You may still hear about a few hardcore ice guides targeting pike, and gaining access to ice in select places. Overall, we will now wait patiently, while watching for open holes appearing in the ice. As of today, the Rainy River making its presence known just outside of the Lighthouse Gap and satellite images from clear days show ice that may persist right up until the MN Fishing Opener on May 10, 2025.

As of April 14th, the winter-spring walleye and sauger fishing season is complete. Ditches are running and soon the connected bays will pop open, enabling anglers to access the lake in boats. As far as open water fishing on the lake goes, the focus will be on catching big northern pike, and sturgeon. The season on sturgeon remains open until ..." Read Full Report >> Rainy River, Lake of the Woods April 16, 2025

April 11, 2025 "Minnesota Walleye Opener 29 Days and Counting"

Just a year ago today (April 11, 2024), the scene at Little Cutfoot Sioux included open water and a full setup of walleye trapping gear. The trap nets were in the water, the docks and decking were in place, and DNR fisheries staff were making ready for the annual walleye egg take operation.

As shown in the accompany photo, there's a little bit of open water revealed by the webcams at Williams Narrows Resort. Except for that, most of the small lake remains ice-bound and according to the “Ice-Out Clock” will remain that way for nearly two weeks. That’s right, the current estimated ice out date, if weather conditions remain stable, is slated for April 25, 2025. We’ll see how it plays out, and I’m very curious to learn how accurate that ice-out clock estimate is. As of today, it “appears” that a later than average walleye spawning run should be anticipated at ..." Read >> April 11, 2025 Minnesota Walleye Opener 29 Days and Counting

April 10, 2025 "Countdown to the Minnesota Walleye Fishing Opener"

The countdown to Minnesota’s statewide walleye fishing opener has begun. Thirty days from now, there will be roughly 500,000 anglers vying for position at boat landings across the state. Most will be in pursuit of the walleye, some, like me, will happily “take whatever they can get.” All of them, sights set on simply having a good time.

This year, anglers fishing in northern Minnesota will likely be fishing cold water, spawning stage fish, while those further south will find warmer water, and walleyes well into their post spawn period. To get an idea about the contrast in conditions for the opener, I checked in with the ..." Read Full Report >> April 10, 2025 Countdown To Minnesota Walleye Opener

Lake of the Woods, LOW Tourism April 9, 2025

"On the south side of Lake of the Woods, there is still some ice fishing taking place by a handful of hardcore ice anglers. Most anglers have called it a year, and are looking forward now to the open water fishing season. For those still getting out on the ice, fishing has been good. because, most resort ice accesses have been closed for the year access is liited, and safety should be your first consideration, as always.

Ditches are running along the south end of the lake which means water is running into the bays. Moving water will soon pop open the bays and anglers will be out open water targeting huge pike while they head to spawning areas. Pike fishing is year round on Lake of the Woods and can be excellent during the spring in back bays.

On the Rainy River, the spring open water fishing began over a week ago and has ..." Read Full Report >> April 9, 2025 Rainy River Fishing Report

April 7, 2025 "Comments From The Court Of Public Opinion"

It was a busy weekend as I checked off more annual evets from my “social calendar”. On Friday, the first half of my day began at the Ray’s Marine boat show in Grand Rapids. From there, I drove to Little Falls for the Minnesota Fishing Museum “Night with the Fishing Pros” fundraiser on Friday evening. On Saturday, I spent the day back in Grand Rapids for another appearance at Ray’s Marine, then on Sunday, we hosted most of our family for a party to celebrate Charolette’s 4th birthday.

For me, the best part of these gatherings is the opportunity to greet and chat with “average anglers”. Sure, there are also some advanced anglers represented in the mix. Overall, though, my conversations are typically dominated by people who participate in fishing at a much more casual level than me. For most, fishing is NOT about acquiring technical skills or buying expensive equipment, it’s about personal gratification. Having a fun day on the lake or on the ice with family takes precedence over the pursuit of high catch rates.

Interestingly, even folks with a wide range of interests in fishing still ..." Read >> Comments From The Court Of Public Opinion

News Release April 2025 "MN DNR seeks public comment on Lake Superior fisheries rule proposals"

"News release: The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is taking public comment on a proposal that would adjust the trout season dates for Lake Superior anglers and allow more harvest of Atlantic salmon.

The proposed rule revisions would change the start and end dates for the open season of trout fishing in stream tributaries above and below posted barriers. For brook trout, splake, rainbow trout, and brown trout above barriers and splake and brook trout below barriers, the change would move the opener date from the Saturday nearest April 15 to the second Saturday in April. The season close date would move from Labor Day to Sept. 30 annually. These proposed dates would provide more consistency in trout fishing regulations in streams across northern Minnesota.

The rulemaking proposal would also eliminate a current provision limiting anglers to one Atlantic salmon. The DNR no longer seeks to protect Atlantic salmon as the stocking program has discontinued. Under the revised rule, anglers would continue to be limited to five salmon, but the salmon could be of any species mix. Finally, proposed language clarifies inland rules apply for all other species not listed in the rule, except in the St. Louis River downstream of the Minnesota Highway 23 bridge, where Minnesota-Wisconsin boundary water rules apply.

Comments may be submitted through Thursday, May 8. If adopted, these rule changes would take effect March 1, 2026. Submit comments:

Via email to bethany.bethke@state.mn.us opens in a new browser tab. Please mention Lake Superior Rules in the email subject line.
Via mail to Bethany Bethke, Fisheries Rules and Regulations Coordinator, Fish and Wildlife Division, Minnesota DNR, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155.

More information, including the proposed rule language and contact information for comments, is available on the >> fisheries rulemaking page of the DNR website.

April 2, 2025 "Minnesota Minnow Farms Growing The Grow-Able"

Supplying Minnesota’s anglers with live minnows for fishing bait has always been a big job. Amidst concerns about importing “Aquatic Invasive Species”, strict regulations prevent the importation of minnows from out of state. Regulations prevent trapping minnows from AIS infested lakes and rivers taking a lot of prime water out of production too. Minnows that were once easy to harvest are now off limits because of fear that bait dealers will inadvertently transfer zebra mussels, faucet snails, spiny water fleas or a dozen other nasty critters that we haven’t even heard about yet.

Competition between bait trappers is fierce too; locating places to catch live minnows is increasingly complex. And when they find them, potential fishing waters must first be tested for purity, at the trapper’s expense, before any minnows can be taken. Add it all up and it’s easy to see why keeping up with angler demand is a seemingly impossible job for bait dealers in Minnesota.

One bright spot, or at least a potential point of light has been the birth of ..." Read Full Report >> "Minnesota Minnow Farms Growing The Grow-Able" April 2, 2025

News Release April 1, 2025 "DNR sets open water fishing regulations for Upper Red Lake"

"Anglers fishing on Upper Red Lake during the 2025 open-water season that starts Saturday, May 10, will have a five-walleye possession limit, with only one walleye over 17 inches allowed.

“Upper Red Lake female spawning walleye have been managed at a level that has resulted in a number of strong year classes recently,” said Edie Evarts, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources area fisheries supervisor for Bemidji.

“The summer regulation is an opportunity for anglers to keep abundant young walleye while also maintaining the breeding fish at a level that continues to produce successful year classes.”

To continue producing the most successful year classes, enough female spawning walleye need to ..." Read Full Story >> DNR sets open water fishing regulations for Upper Red Lake

March 31, 2025 "Minnesota DNR Fisheries Summit"

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Summit was held last Saturday, March 29, 2025, at the Central Lake’s College in Brainerd Minnesota. The summit endeavors to communicate a wide variety of fisheries related topics by gathering DNR fisheries researchers, regional fisheries managers, citizen fisheries workgroup volunteers, and various technical advisory staff.

To deliver you a complete account of everything discussed at the gathering will require multiple sessions, so don’t get too far away from your computer or tablet this week, there will be something new most every day. For today’s report, let me start with a bullet point list, and summary overview of the topics that got the most attention at the summit.

In the morning, each of the species-specific workgroups met separately to recap issues they’d been studying over the ..." Read Full Report >> MN DNR 2025 Fisheries Summit

Lake of the Woods, LOW Tourism April 1, 2025

Spring open water fishing has begun on the Rainy River! The river channel is fully open in many areas and as of Monday, March 31, 2025, there are two boat ramps open. The Nelson Park boat ramp in Birchdale and the Frontier Access (about 8 miles to the west of Nelson Park) are both clear of ice. Boats are running the river and the ice pack is deteriorating by the day.

Initial reports for walleyes are very good with some big fish being caught. Most are jigging with either plastics or minnows.

Use bright plastics such as chartreuse, orange, pink and white. for minnows, emerald shiners, fatheads and rainbows have all been productive. Trolling crankbaits against the current is also effective and ..." Read Full Report >> Rainy River and Lake of the Woods April 1, 2025

March 27, 2025 "MN-FISH Grand Rapids Anglers Summit "Free and Open Exchange of Ideas"

The first public version of a “MN-FISH Angler’s Summit took place at the Timberlake Lodge in Grand Rapids, MN on Thursday March 27, 2025. There have been others, 3 or 4 I think, but all of them have been by invitation, and attendance has previously limited to industry experts, professional anglers, DNR staff and politicians.

Attendance at this event was both different, and impressive. Anglers from most every stratum of Minnesota’s sport fishing universe were present. Topics of interest were varied and attracted resorters, guides, and other “interested anglers” from a wide variety of Minnesota’s most popular fishing regions.

Now understand this, I’ve attended lot of meetings like these and at this one, two things really stood out. First, the apparent under-representation of ..." Read Full Report >> MN-FISH Grand Rapids Anglers Summit "Free and Open Exchange of Ideas

Ely Area, Arrowhead Outdoors Fishing Report March 27, 2025

"Ice Conditions • Little to no changes happened to the ice this last week. Trout lakes continue to have between 24 to 26 inches of ice while the panfish lakes have between 30 to 37 inches of ice. Areas to watch out for are current areas and popular accesses. A few of the more popular accesses with lots of vehicle traffic have started to rot from salt and sand tracked onto the ice.

Fishing Report • Crappie - Crappie fishing continues to improve as we get closer to the best month for crappies, April. Generally speaking the evening bite continues to be the best bite, but reports of early morning bite picking up have been coming in.

Anglers continue to find crappies in the traditional crappie holes, in ..." Read Full 200 >> Arrowhead Outdoors Fishing Report March 27, 2025

Wired2Fish March 26, 2025 "Green Bay Spring Walleye Fishing Masterclass"

Professional fishing guide Doug Wegner shares a masterclass in Green Bay walleye fishing during the spring spawning period, focusing on locating and catching trophy walleyes using proven tactics and baits. Wegner emphasizes the importance of understanding walleye location shifts during this transitional time and breaks down how to use electronics and bottom composition to your advantage. Oversized smallmouth bass abound in the bay, so learn how to catch Sturgeon Bay smallmouth bass to diversify your trip to this marvelous Great Lakes mecca.

Targeting Transitions in Spring Walleye Fishing: In late April, Green Bay’s east and west shores fish ..." Read Full Story and Learn More >> Green Bay Spring Walleye Fishing Masterclass

March 26, 2025 "Fishing Issues In The News: 2 Angler Summit Meetings March 27, 2025"

With 2 big fisheries meetings on the schedule for this week, I’m paying special attention to reader questions about all things fish, and fishing in Minnesota. So are both the MN DNR Fisheries folks, and the directors of the private, MN-FISH Sportfishing Foundation & Coalition. Both organizations are particularly interested in hearing from you and have put out last minute remiders.

First up is the MN-FISH Angler Summit to be held at the Timberlake Hotel in Grand Rapids this Thursday March 27, 2025. Apparently, they still have some space available and offered this invitation on Wednesday morning.

"Hey fellow anglers—One last reminder—kinda like your bobber is going down—to sign up and attend the MN-FISH Angler’s Summit, set for March 27 at Timberlake Lodge in Grand Rapids, MN. Registration begins at 9 a.m. Program starts at 10. Admission is FREE and includes lunch.

This is your opportunity to ..." Read Full Report >> Fishing Issues In The News: 2 Angler Summit Meetings March 27, 2025

Ely Area, Arrowhead Outdoors Fishing Report March 20, 2025

Ice Report: There is very little, to no snow remaining on area lakes, so leave the snowmobile at home. Ice thickness remains 20 to 36 inches depending on the lake you are on.

General rule of thumb is lake trout and large stream trout lakes are around the 20 inch mark while your panfish lakes are generally between 30 to 36 inches of ice. Anglers should be aware that with recent rains, areas where water current is present have started to open up.

"Crappie - Crappie anglers were out in force this last week as spring crappie fishing improves. Anglers have been reporting that crappies have mainly been biting in the afternoon hours on many Ely area crappie lakes. Crappies still remain on the ..." Read >> Ely Minnesota Region Ice Fishing Report March 20, 2025

March 19, 2025 "Fishing Issues In The News: Angler's Summit March 27, 2025"

"Just yesterday, I ran into a friend who asked, “Is anybody ever going to do anything about forward facing sonar?” I answered his question with a question, what is it exactly that you would like to see “done” about it?”

He expressed to me that through his own observation of lakes in our region, he’s formed a strong opinion on the subject. In his view, FFS is not only a threat to fish populations, but to the heritage of fishing itself.

That’s one side of the argument.

Another friend, in a recent conversation argued the exact opposite opinion. “Once you use FFS, you will never want to ..." Read >> Fishing Issues In The News: Angler's Summit March 27, 2025

Wired2Fish March 20, 2025 "The No Information Rule: Does the Punishment Fit the Crime?"

What Is the No Information Rule? "During the off-limits period and tournament competition, anglers cannot solicit, receive or gather any information in order to gain a competitive advantage from anyone other than another competitor in the tournament."

The rule has been used for decades by all major tournament bass fishing organizations to ensure anglers’ performances are a result of their own abilities.

Recently, handful of professional bass anglers have been disqualified from national events for not adhering to the “no-information rule,” and it has the bass fishing world up in arms. Some have cheered on the disqualifications, grateful to see blood drawn from anyone because they know full well this kind of thing happens far more often than it’s found out. Others roll their eyes and ..." Read Full Story and Learn More >> The No Information Rule: Does the Punishment Fit the Crime?

Lake of the Woods, LOW Tourism March 19, 2025

"There is still some good ice fishing to take advantage of on the south side of Lake of the Woods. Some resorts have called it a season, and closed their operations, but other resorts have rental shelters remaining on the ice, and plenty of folks are still fishing where there is availability. So, if you still have that itch and want to ice some walleyes, saugers, jumbo perch or big northern pike, give us a call.

Being up on the Canadian border, the colder temps Lake of the Woods enjoys vs much of the region combined with three feet of ice makes a big difference. Fish houses are allowed unattended overnight through March 31, 2025.

Fishing reports have been good. Numbers of walleyes, saugers and ..." Read >> March 18, 2025 Lake of the Woods Fishing Report

Jeff Sundin "A Night with the Pros" | MN Fishing Museum and Hall of Fame

"A passion for fishing, bred into us for generations gives us a common bond. Today, anglers head outside to “test our luck” on fishing lakes and streams all over the state.

The reward for our pursuits varies, for some, only participation in the highest forms of competition while deploying the latest technology is good enough. For others, standing on the bank, hoping for a bobber to go down is equally rewarding. For most of us, happiness lies fishing somewhere between.

It is rewarding to me, to remember the history of fishing in Minnesota. Honoring where we came from, and at the same time, paying attention to where we’re headed. Minnesota’s Fishing Museum, and Fishing Hall of Fame offer a connection between the two. I wholeheartedly support the Minnesota Fishing Museum, and the Minnesota Fishing Hall of Fame. I’d love it if you would ..." Read >> "A Night with the Pros" | MN Fishing Museum and Hall of Fame 2025

Wired2Fish March 18, 2025 "Pike Fishing: Complete Guide for Every Season"

"For anglers looking for great fights, acrobatics, and willing prey, pike fishing can be very rewarding. And even when it comes to table fare, smaller to mid-sized fish make for great eating once an angler learns how to effectively fillet out the y-bones in their anatomy. The other cool thing: Northern pike are found in much of the U.S. and Canada, as well as Scandinavia, Russia, and parts of Europe where they grow to colossal sizes compared to domestic pike.

No matter where you find them around the globe, pike habitat can vary greatly: they can be found in everything from ponds, lakes, and lochs to reservoirs, and rivers. Chances are, if you’re close to freshwater, there are probably pike close to ..." Read Full Story and Learn More >> Pike Fishing: Complete Guide for Every Season

March 16, 2025 "Ice Out: Southern Minnesota Lakes"

"It appears that we’re in for another early ice out season this spring. The accompanying photo of open water on Lake Washington, Le Suer County, came in from Chris Andresen on Saturday. Even if the ice wasn’t already gone completely, it’s obvious that it won’t be long before it is ice-free.

Speculating about when other Minnesota lakes might follow Lake Washington’s lead, I reviewed some of the fishing reports from last spring. You might recall that for most of the state, 2024 was an exceptionally early ice-out season. The exception, Lake of the Woods, lays far enough north to have been closer to its average ice-out. I remember how most anglers in the state were getting their boats on open water, while anglers continued to ice-fish on Lake of the Woods.

Chris’ note about Lake Washington gave me the idea of checking some of the popular sources of information. So, just for fun, I logged into the ..." Read Full Report >> March 16, 2025 Ice Out Dates Coming To A Lake Near You

News Release March 14, 2025 "Minnesota DNR Summer Walleye Regulations on Mille Lacs Lake"

"Anglers on Mille Lacs Lake will have the opportunity to harvest two walleye daily during the upcoming open water season, which begins on Saturday, May 10, 2025 and continues through Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025. Harvested walleye must be 17 inches or greater, and only one of them can be over 20 inches.

Following years of restrictive regulations, the Mille Lacs Lake walleye (ogaa in Ojibwe) fishery appears to be in a healthy state, a viewpoint shared by both state and Tribal fisheries biologists.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and Ojibwe treaty Tribes drastically cut harvest more than a decade ago, concerned by a number of factors including changing ecological conditions and lower survival rates of young walleye. This approach has paid off. “The walleye population in Mille Lacs is currently in a good place,” said Brad Parsons, Minnesota DNR fisheries section manager. “Ojibwe Tribes and the Minnesota DNR limited harvest, which allowed for an ..." Read Full Report >> March 14, 2025 Minnesota DNR Summer Walleye Regulations on Mille Lacs Lake

March 13, 2025 "Minnesota Lakes Ice Out Clock"

Last Friday (March 7, 2025), I attended a webinar presented by Dr. John Downing, Director of the Sea Grant College Program. As a research scientist and professor at the University of Minnesota, Duluth, Downing has studied the impacts of ice-out dates for Minnesota lakes. In his presentation, “Minnesota Lakes Ice-out 2025” he discusses why Minnesotan’s care, or why we should care, about the variations in ice-dates throughout the state.

Downing packed a lot of information into his presentation including how variations in a lake’s ice out date can impact its fish populations, recreation and overall water quality. As an angler, I was particularly interested in the ..." Learn More >> March 13, 2025 "Minnesota Lakes Ice Out Clock"

Wired2Fish March 13, 2025 "Are Electronics Making You a Lazy Angler?"

"I want to start this out by saying that isn’t an indictment on forward-facing sonar. While FFS might be the most polarizing piece of technology to hit the fishing scene in years, it has its share of fans — and detractors. There are anglers that won’t touch it, and those that won’t leave the dock without it. Whatever your stance, I think it’s fair to say that we have learned more about fish behavior from this innovative piece of tech than anything else in recent history. And you still have to get them to bite once you find them.

But I think there are instances where we have gotten too reliant on technology. We just sort of sit back and let it take over for us. And that’s fine, to a degree. But our reliance on tech has maybe made us ..." Read Full Story and Learn More >> Are Electronics Making You a Lazy Angler?

News Release "Public Input Needed | Fisheries Management Plans For 151 Minnesota Lakes"

March is the month to connect with Minnesota Department of Natural Resources fisheries offices across Minnesota about 151 lakes in 40 counties that will have their fisheries lake management plans updated in 2025.

“People interested in the health and quality of Minnesota’s fisheries are a critical part of the DNR’s fisheries lake management planning process,” said Shannon Fisher, DNR fisheries populations and regulations manager.

“These plans establish fisheries management goals and objectives for each lake and define the work fisheries biologists do each year. Observations and input from a lake’s stakeholders are essential to the planning effort.” The list of lakes scheduled for plan updates in 2025 is here. >> Public Input Needed | Fisheries Management Plans For 151 Minnesota Lakes

News Release March 2025 "Regulation Adjustment: Yellow Perch Limits on Mille Lacs Lake"

From now, through November 30, 2025 the daily and possession limit for yellow perch on Mille Lacs Lake will be reduced from 20 fish, down to five. The perch limit reduction became effective on March 11, 2025 and will remain in effect through the summer and fall, open water fishing season.

MN DNR, "The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is implementing this adjustment to the daily and possession limit to help maintain a good perch population for the future.

Yellow perch are a key species in the Mille Lacs Lake ecosystem and young yellow perch are a primary food source for predators (especially walleye). Maintaining an abundance of older perch will result in ..." Read Full Story >> March 12, 2025 Regulation Adjustment: Yellow Perch Limits on Mille Lacs Lake

Lake of the Woods, LOW Tourism March 11, 2025

"The big question from folks considering ice fishing along the south side of Lake of the Woods is, "how good is the ice up there?"

The specifics of that answer vary between each individual resort, outfitter, or ice road operator. Overall though, ice conditions are still very good and ice fishing is going strong! Obviously, you'll want to pin down details by contacting your favorite outfitter. Also obvious, we hope, stay on marked ice roads and trails and always put safety first.

Being up along the Canadian border, Lake of the Woods is subject to colder temperatures than much of the region. There are up to ..." Read >> Lake of the Woods Ice Fishing Report March 11, 2025

Wired2Fish March 11, 2025 "Giving Up Everything to Make a Living Fishing"

"I sat at my desk between clients at the pilates studio in Lincoln, turning the small ivory envelope in my hands. Outside my window, autumn leaves danced in the parking lot, caught in a restless wind — never still, never settling — much like the way I had come to move about my own life lately. Two tiny, meticulously tied dry flies adorned the front of the card. There was no return address, but I knew exactly who had sent it.

Months earlier, I had found myself on a nearly empty park bus in Zion National Park, Utah, with my shoes still damp from hiking the Narrows. Only one other person sat ahead of me — an older gentleman who turned and gestured towards the fly embedded in the brim of my faded Simms cap.

I told him about a remote island in the ..." Read Full Story and Learn More >> Giving Up Everything to Make a Living Fishing

March 6, 2025 "Fishing Seasons and Licenses"

The new 2025-2026 Minnesota Fishing Regulations books are available now at most outlets where fishing licenses are sold. For folks who buy licenses online, there is also a PDF Version of the full regulation books. For your convenience, available here, on my website I have this full copy of the Minnesota Fishing Regulations as well.

Speaking of regulations, ice fishing shelter removal dates for south central Minnesota arrived last week. Deadlines are fast approaching for folks with shelters on Minnesota’s northern waters. March  17, 2025 is the deadline for removing all shelters except those on Lake of the Woods, Rainy Lake and other Minnesota-Canada border waters.

Minnesota DNR Plans To Reduce Walleye Posession Limits

Also in the news, is an update about the proposed reduction in Minnesota’s walleye possession limit. An email update provided by walleye workgroup member Jim Justesen says; “Brad (Parsons, MN DNR Fisheries Chief) shared that the introduction of the rule making packet reducing the walleye bag and possession limit from six down to four has been delayed due to the late start  of the Mn legislature. The original launch was targeted for March 4, 2025. An announcement is forthcoming.

The process will involve a lengthy open comment period, enabling the public to phone, text, E mail, or visit the website, in order to communicate their up or down thoughts and opinions  to the DNR. The “opinions or votes” will be recorded and tallied by the DNR personnel who receive them. Currently, there are no plans for any public meetings.”

I’ll be sure to stay on top of the walleye limits story and provide frequent updates, along with links to any online surveys as they become available.

Would you like to know how to predict the exact ice-out dates for your favorite lakes?

Well, it might be possible. This morning, I received a note from Heidi Holtan, producer of the morning show on KAXE-KBXE Radio. She let me know about an interesting presentation about predicting ice out dates. From the Itasca Waters website, I located the links to a program scheduled to air tomorrow, Friday March 7, 2025, called “Minnesota Ice-Out Forecast for 2025”.  

“John Downing of Minnesota Sea Grant will present his 2025 ice-out forecasts and show you how you can win your ice-out pool for your favorite lake. Despite high snowfall in 2023 and nearly a winterless winter in 2024, Minnesota Sea Grant’s Ice-Out Clock yielded accurate ice-out forecasts. This year, the models are improved and now gives forecasts for any lake you choose. The new models consider snow, latitude, how big the lake is, cumulative cold and cumulative thawing. Tune in so you can plan when to put the boat in the water.”

The presentation requires pre-registration, which I’ve done already. So, I’m planning to check out the program and will report back to you soon afterward. If you’d prefer to hear Downin’s presentation for yourself, here are links you’ll need. First login to the “Itasca Waters Website” and scroll to the program announcement. Follow their link to the Zoom Registration Form and sign up to receive your own invitation.

Lake of the Woods, LOW Tourism March 5, 2025

"Anglers are consistently catching limits of walleyes and saugers along the south shore of Lake of the Woods. Most resorts and outfitters are continuing to offer both day rental fishing shelters, and overnight sleeper fish houses. The bite has been good in most areas, and ice conditions are among the best in recent years.

Some ice roads now extend more than 20 miles out, with resorts and outfitters working hard keeping anglers on schools of walleyes and saugers. With nearly 40 inches of ice in many areas, auger extensions are necessary for those fishing on their own.

The March forecast predicts daytime temperatures above freezing and overnight lows below freezing, helping to maintain solid ice conditions through the month. Resort guides and outfitters are on the ice daily to ..." Read >> Lake of the Woods Ice Fishing Report March 5, 2025

Ely Area, Arrowhead Outdoors Fishing Report March 6, 2025

"Lake Trout - Lake trout continues to be a boom or bust venture for some anglers. Anglers that are on the trout, are on the trout with big trout and numbers being landed. Many anglers have been reporting that lakers are flying high in the water column, just under the ice. Anglers continue to focus in 30 to 50 feet of water, but are seeing lakers 5 to 15 feet under the ice. Blade baits and spoons have been the most effective as of late. Anglers have been tipping them with minnow heads to help trigger bites. Dead bait laying on the bottom has also been effective for some anglers.

Stream trout - Rainbow trout have been active and flying high just like the lake trout. Anglers have been fishing 30 to 70 feet of water, but have been catching rainbows 5 to 15 feet under the ice. Small spoons and small jigs tipped with wax worms or soft plastic have been effective for rainbows.

Panfish - Warm, spring-like temps had many anglers thinking crappies this last weekend. While many anglers scraped together some crappies, the bite wasn't hot and heavy yet. Anglers did report seeing some groups of crappies on their flashers. Soft plastics, crappie minnows And wax worms tipped on a jig were effective. Anglers have been finding them in 20 to 30 feet of water." — Arrowhead Outdoors, 218-365-5358

February 28, 2025 "Big Stone Lake Perch Population"

As a member of the MN DNR Panfish Workgroup, perch populations in Minnesota lakes are of special interest to me. That's why this article, published yesterday (February 27, 2025) by Artie's Bait & Tackle in Ortonville Minnesota caught my attention.

Today, I'm offering their comments in original, unedited form, and I'm also forwarding the story to the folks on the Panfish Workgroup. I'll be sure to follow this story and post updates as they become available.

Original Story 2-27-25 • Artie's Bait & Tackle "So...where did the perch go?"

"This is a discussion I have had all winter with our local fisheries biologists. This winter was different then past winters with the walleyes running deep and the perch not biting, and not seeing ..." Read Full Report >> February 28, 2025 "Big Stone Lake Perch Population"

February 27, 2025 "Open Walleye Fishing On Border Waters"

"Inland lakes in Minnesota have been closed for walleye fishing since February 23, 2025. However, the walleye fishing season doesn’t have to be over if you’re willing to explore some of the boundary waters. Lake of the Woods is the obvious choice for many, but most folks haven’t realized how many other places to fish for walleyes during late winter and early spring.

This past Wednesday, I promised to provide a comprehensive list of Border Waters where walleye fishing remains open after the inland season closes.

Below, you’ll find that list, along with links to ..." Read >> February 27, 2025 Open Walleye Fishing On Border Waters

Wired2Fish February 27, 2025 "Dustin Connell’s Clear Water Finesse Swimbait Tips"

"Dustin Connell breaks down the effectiveness of using a finesse swimbait in clear water conditions, particularly around current and suspended bass. When bass are in a pre-spawn feeding mode, the right bait presentation can make all the difference.

WHY FINESSE FISHING SWIMBAITS CATCH MORE BASS IN CLEAR WATER

Bass in clear water environments are often more finicky and rely heavily on sight to locate prey. A small finesse swimbait, like a 2.5-inch paddle tail, creates a natural and subtle movement that mimics a dying baitfish. The key is maintaining a natural fall rate and letting the bait shimmer as it sinks. Connell emphasizes that bass in strong current ..." View Video and Learn More >> Dustin Connell’s Clear Water Finesse Swimbait Tips

Ely Area, Arrowhead Outdoors Fishing Report February 27, 2025

"Lake Trout fishing has gotten to be a little hit and miss and warm temps settle into our area. Anglers on the trout are reporting that they are seeing good numbers of trout with a handful of hook ups. Increasingly spoons and blade baits are accounting for the majority of trout caught. Key depths are on the shallow side 20 to 40 feet of water. Humps have been producing good numbers of trout.

Stream Trout - Spake and rainbows were popular catches this last week. Splake have been a little more structure related than rainbows and are being found near points and flats in 20 to 40 feet of water.

Rainbow trout on the other hand have not been very structure related. Rainbows are being found in ..." Read >> Arrowhead Outdoors Report February 27, 2025

February 26, 2025 "Fishing Seasons and Licenses"

Walleye and northern pike fishing seasons on most inland waters ended on February 23, 2025.

The Hippie Chick and I have already spied lots of anglers towing their wheelhouses home. Most of the southbound traffic, presumably consisted of folks who had their shelters on Upper Red Lake and removed them after the weekend. Smaller lakes, primarily popular perch and panfish waters, including Lake Bemidji, Winnie, Cass Lake, and others, still have robust populations of ice fishing shelters on them.

As you likely already know, border waters, like Lake of the Woods, Rainy Lake and others, remain open for walleye and sauger fishing until April 14, 2025. For walleye fishing enthusiasts, I’ll put up a comprehensive list of places where walleye fishing remains open past the inland closing date. Watch for that update on Thursday morning. No matter where you plan to ice fish in Minnesota this weekend, you will need to ..." Read >> Sundin Fishing Seasons and Licenses Update february 26, 2025

News Release February 25, 2025 "Minnesota DNR adds angling limits for several species"

"Anglers will find these and other changes in the 2025 fishing regulations booklet.

Minnesota will have newly established limits for several species when the new fishing license year begins on March 1, 2025.

The Minnesota Fishing Regulations for 2025 will include daily and possession limits for American eel, yellow bass, whitefish, cisco, and burbot. Those and other changes are available starting on page 13 of the regulations book.

“We remind anglers to check the regulations book for ..." Read Full Story >> Minnesota DNR adds angling limits for several species

Lake of the Woods, LOW Tourism February 25, 2025

"Along the south shore of Lake of the Woods, Big Traverse Bay continues to deliver strong ice fishing results. Resorts and outfitters are still in full swing as ice conditions continue to build, making this one of the best late-season ice years in recent memory.

If you’re fishing on your own, bring an auger extension, as ice thickness is significant. Some ice roads are now extending over 20 miles out, keeping anglers on productive schools of walleyes and saugers. All of the rental operators, resorts and outfitters are still offering both day houses and sleeper fishing shelters.

The bite in February has been excellent, with lots of fish being caught and plenty of opportunities for fresh fish fries. Most fish houses are positioned over deep mud, while some remain on or near structure. As always, expect to ..." Read >> Lake of the Woods Ice Fishing Report February 25, 2025

Wired2Fish February 25, 2025 "Old Anglers Rule!"

"When I retired from my longtime job as a newspaper outdoor writer, I dwelled on all the things I could no longer do. I couldn’t scramble up and down the riprap the way I once did. I didn’t have the stamina or the balance to stand at the bow of my bass boat for hours on end as I did years ago.

I couldn’t portage into a remote Canadian lake like I did in my younger days, and I lost my confidence in being able to wade in water up to my waist to cast for river trout or white bass.

As I approached my 70s, I fell into the same trap that many old-timers do: I thought my best days were over. Then I was rescued by Rick Clunn, one of the greatest professional bass fishermen of all time. He became the oldest pro to ..." View Video and Learn More >> Old Anglers Rule

February 24, 2025 "Ice Fishing Late Winter Season"

"Before we head into the new week, I want to thank everybody at F-M Walleyes Unlimited, Inc. for inviting me to speak at their annual meeting last Thursday. The folks there were warm and gracious in every possible way. They were especially welcoming of the topic of my talk, “Better Angling Through Inward Facing Technology”.

My presentation isn’t your basic how-to-catch-‘em seminar, where speakers pontificate about using various technologies, hopefully to find and catch more fish. Instead, I explore our deeper, primordial connection to both fish and fishing, looking into our innate instincts and how they influence a typical day on the water.

Though I’ve never featured the topic in any presentation, it is not new. Frequent visitors to my fishing reports and media have seen references to ..." Read >> Sundin Report February 24, 2025

Ely Area, Arrowhead Outdoors Fishing Report February 20, 2025

"Lake Trout - Lake trout fishing continues to be good for many anglers as cold temps remain. Several large lakers were caught this last weekend in 30 to 50 feet of water. Blade baits, bucktails and tubes all produced trout. Tip ups tipped with a dead smelt or small minnow also was effective on lake trout this last weekend.

Stream Trout - Splake continued to be a popular catch for many anglers this last week. Anglers have been finding them between 20 to 40 feet of water. Small tubes, soft plastics and dead minnows, tipped on a small jig or jigging spoon have been very effective on Splake.

Rainbow trout have also ..." Read >> Arrowhead Outdoors Fishing Report February 20, 2025

Lake of the Woods, LOW Tourism February 18, 2025

"Ice fishing remains strong across Big Traverse Bay, along the south shore of Lake of the Woods. Most resorts and outfitters are reporting great action on both walleyes and saugers.

Ice thicknesses continue to build, making this one of the best ice travel seasons in recent years. If you're fishing on your own, be sure to bring an extension for your ice auger, as ice thickness is significant.

Most fish houses are positioned over deep mud, while some remain on or near structure. Some of the plowed ice roads are now extending over 19 miles out, which is necessary for staying on productive schools of walleyes and saugers. Be prepared to ..." Read >> Lake of the Woods Ice Fishing Report February 18, 2025

Wired2Fish February 18, 2025 "Fish Armor Shuttles | Fish Finder Portability and Protection"

"Premium fish finder shuttles transform your forward-facing sonar setups into portable, protected systems. Why limit this technology to just hard or soft water? Whether fishing on the ice or open water, mounting it to a snowmobile or boat, feature-rich shuttles provide a self-contained and powered way to transport and protect this technology.

Many factory fish finder setups lack the flexibility anglers need, making aftermarket shuttles a practical solution. In this video, Brad Kolstad from Fish Armor USA explains how these shuttles work, their design, and the options available for anglers looking to improve their ..." View Video and Learn More >> Fish Armor Shuttles | Fish Finder Portability and Protection

February 17, 2025 "Appearance F-M Walleyes Unlimited Thursday February 20, 2025"

I’m excited to let you know about my upcoming appearance at the annual meeting of the Fargo Moorhead Walleye Club event this Thursday, February 20, 2025.

The F-M Walleyes Unlimited, Inc., was inducted into the Minnesota Fishing Hall of Fame in 2023, North Dakota Fishing Hall of Fame in 2015 and the US National Fishing Hall of Fame way back in 2011. Over the years, I’ve known about the club, been familiar with some of their members and have had many friends go over and speak at their events. For me though, this Thursday will be my first ever speaking engagement, in fact first ever visit to any club event.

The F-M Walleyes Unlimited website offers this announcement. “Annual Meeting and Chili Feed, featuring Jeff Sundin. We are pleased to host MN Hall of Fame Guide Jeff Sundin! For over 40 years, Jeff has ..." Read and Learn More >> Appearance F-M Walleyes Unlimited Thursday February 20, 2025

Ely Area, Arrowhead Outdoors Fishing Report February 13, 2025

"Lake Trout - Lake Trout fishing has remained on the good side as cold temps settle into the area. Many anglers reported seeing good numbers of lakers this last weekend and many anglers came home with trout.

Lakers were being seen in a little bit shallower than normal. 20 to 40 feet of water. Blade baits, spoons, bucktails and tubes all accounted for trout. If lakers didn't hit any of those baits, small to medium size shiners often sealed the deal.

Stream Trout - Splake were a popular catch this last weekend for many anglers looking for stream trout. Splake were often found on ..." Read >> Ely MN Area Ice Fishing Report February 13, 2025

February 13, 2025 "Ice Fishing For Burbot"

Eelpout, or Burbot fishing has been gaining in popularity in recent seasons. Late winter ice fishing is an especially good time to target eelpout, so the time is right to dust off an In-Fisherman article by my friend Dan Johnson that explains where, when and how to catch them.

Johnson. "Burbot are hard-fighting, voracious predators that make fine table fare, yet relatively few hardwater warriors rejoice when one of these frequently maligned, freshwater members of the cod family stretches their string. Fewer still pursue these elusive, enigmatic fish with the passion of Canadian iceman Jeff Matity.

"Friends question my love for "burbot or eelpout" but I say, 'Who doesn't love big fish and lots of them?'" he says. "Burbot are also the cure for the midwinter blues when ..." Read >> Dan Johnson, Ice Fishing For Burbot. In-Fisherman Online

Wired2Fish February 13, 2025 "Why Do Spinnerbaits Hate Me?"

"Some 30 million spinnerbaits are sold in America yearly, according to a report published in Game and Fish magazine. Bass Pro Shops currently lists about 225 different makes and models of spinnerbaits and buzzbaits in their catalog, and Tackle Warehouse currently has models from 77 different manufacturers. It’s safe to say that spinnerbaits can be found in the tackle boxes of most Americans.

Spinnerbaits are everywhere because they just always seem to work. You don’t need any fancy techniques to fish them effectively, just cast them out and reel them back in. They can cover the water column from top to bottom, just by varying your retrieve. Snake them through cover, fish open water, rip them through the weeds. Wherever they are used, they just get bit. But if they’re so damned effective, why don’t they ..." Read Article and Learn More >> Why Do Spinnerbaits Hate Me?

Lake of the Woods, LOW Tourism February 12, 2025

"Ice fishing remains strong on Big Traverse Bay, spanning across the south shore of Lake of the Woods. Resorts and outfitters are staying on top of nice schools of walleyes and saugers with ice roads extending up to 16 miles out.

Many of the fishing shelters are positioned over deep water and mud bottoms and most fishing activity is taking place in 26 to 32 feet of water. Some of the rental shelters, depending on resort's specific operating areas are on structure like deep points or reefs.

Overall, February has been very productive for most anglers, and they're finding a healthy mix of walleyes and ..." Read >> Lake of the Woods Ice Fishing Report February 12, 2025

News Release February 11, 2025 "Minnesota DNR Fisheries Rulemaking | Proposed Fishing Gear Rules"

"The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is asking for the public to comment on proposed rules about fishing methods that, if adopted, would go into effect in March 2026.

The rules propose increasing the maximum allowed distance between hooks in tackle configurations with multiple hooks from 9 to 18 inches.

The rulemaking also allows for the use of certain automatic hook-setting devices for ice fishing that currently are not allowed and includes clarification of the definition of “hook.”

These changes would allow anglers to use a wider range of ..." Read Full Article >> February 11, 2025 Minnesota DNR Fisheries Rulemaking | Proposed Fishing Gear Rules

Wired2Fish February 12, 2025 "Pro Fishing Legends: Where Are They Now?"

"Do you ever wonder what some of the legends of the pro bass fishing game are doing now that they’ve retired? They follow the same retirement plan that many retirees do. They go fishing.
Wired2Fish tracked down seven of the all-time greats of the game and we found out what they are up to.

Roland Martin, one of bass fishing’s pioneers, just can’t quit. At age 84, he still guides on Florida’s Headwaters Lake and Lake Okeechobee for the hefty sum of $1,500 per day. And he’s still in demand. “People want to catch that bass of a lifetime, and I can help them with that,” said Martin, who still lives in ..." Read Article and Learn More >> Pro Fishing Legends: Where Are They Now?

Ely Area, Arrowhead Outdoors Fishing Report February 6, 2025

"Walleye fishing has steadily improved this last week. Anglers have mainly been catching quality walleyes in 10 to 16 feet of water, overnight, in their sleepers.

Less active minnows like chubs have been the bait of choice for successful anglers. Glow demons in orange or green have been the colors to use.

Lake Trout - Lake Trout fishing was good for many this last week. Anglers reported catching trout in 30 to 40 feet of water. Flats and sunken islands have ..." Read >> Ely Minnesota Ice Fishing Report February 6, 2025

Wired2Fish February 6, 2025 "Pike Using Saltwater to Invade More Habitats in SC Alaska"

"Invasive northern pike are expanding their territory in Alaska by using salt waterways to invade new freshwater areas in the south-central area of the state, according to a study recently published by the journal PLOS ONE titled, “Estuarine dispersal of an invasive Holarctic predator (Esox lucius) confirmed in North America.”

The study says that University of Alaska Fairbanks researchers working with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADFG) discovered the spread of the invasive northern pike by analyzing small ear stones called otoliths from fish caught in the region. This is the first documented proof that pike are using estuaries where fresh water mixes with ocean water to colonize new territories.

The otoliths have a unique composition of strontium isotopes in their layers, which can ..." Read Article and Learn More >> Pike Using Saltwater to Invade More Habitats in SC Alaska

Lake of the Woods, LOW Tourism February 5, 2025

"Ice fishing is still going strong throughout Big Traverse Bay on the south shore of Lake of the Woods. Some ice roads are now extending more than 16 miles out, with over two feet of ice reported in most areas. Resorts and outfitters continue increasing weight limits.

As a rule, fishing continues to be very good with consistent action for anglers. Most anglers are targeting deep mud with others fishing structure if available where they are going out of. There are fish in both areas.

Most fishing activity is taking place in 26 to 32 feet of water. Anglers are finding ..." Read Full Report >> Lake of the Woods Ice Fishing Report February 5, 2025

Wired2Fish February 5, 2025 "Electrified Kayak : Old Town Sportsman BigWater"

"In my humble opinion, striped bass might just be the perfect gamefish. They eat everything from invertebrates nearly invisible to the naked eye up to 15-inch baitfish. This means you can catch them on just about any type of gear you desire, from flies and light tackle to heavy trolling setups. Among my favorite ways to chase them is with spinning rods; the kind you might use for largemouth. In my mind, there’s no better sport than a 28-inch striper ripping drag as the reel screams.

Another cool thing about stripers is the variety of habitats they utilize. Depending on the season, you can find them in extreme shallow waters with depths measured in inches or ..." Read Full Article and Learn More >> Electrified Kayak : Old Town Sportsman BigWater

February 2, 2025 "Grand Rapids Trout Fishing"

Our kids, Joelle and Patrick love to fish for trout and that idea sounded fine to us. So, after researching a few possibilities, we settled on a nearby Grand Rapids area lake with relatively easy access, and a good supply of trout stocked by the DNR Fisheries.

When we set out on the journey, conditions were favorable, the breeze was light, and the air was dry. By the time we made it onto the ice, the wind was picking up and the skies were turning darker. Pat quickly set up the fishing shelter, and got the heater going and then he, and I started exploring.

My target depth range was 10 to 15 feet, that’s been my best depth in the past. Of the holes I drilled, my first one was “the best”, I had an active fish appear on the screen almost immediately.  It raced up to my lure, took a quick swing at it and ..." Read >> Ice Fishing Update February 2. 2025

January 30, 2025 Maps and Charts 101 | "Wrapping the Wrap-Able"

Today’s installment marks the end of my Mapping and Charting 101 series. The topic, mid-lake humps, wasn’t included in Richard Mullet’s original list of questions, but it’s only logical to include it as we wrap up. So, let’s talk today about humps in general, and then use them to practice some of the terminology we discussed this past week.

“Humps” differ from the January 22, 2025, topic “breaklines and bars” in that mid-lake humps are free-standing structures, not shoreline related.

“Humps” may also be called reefs, sunken islands or mudflats; names vary by region. No matter the nicknames, their common feature is that they ..." Read >> January 30, 2025 Maps and Charts 101 | "Wrapping the Wrap-Able"

Ely Area, Arrowhead Outdoors Fishing Report January 30, 2025

"Walleye fishing took a turn for the better this last week as several sleeper houses reported catching limits of walleyes overnight.

Key depth for these houses was 12 feet of water. Deadsticking a minnow under a rattle reel was the most effective way to catch walleye. Small handful of anglers also reported catching walleyes in 25 to 30 feet of water, also deadsticking a minnow near the bottom.

Lake Trout - Fishing for lake trout was a little mixed this last week as warm temps and high winds came to the area. Anglers that were able to locate the active lakers reported catching good numbers with some quality trout mixed in by the ..." Read >> Ely Minnesota Ice Fishing Report January 30, 2025

Wired2Fish January 30, 2025 "How To Slay Winter Catfish From a Hall of Famer"

"John Jamison looks forward to fishing in the type of weather that sends a chill down the spine of a fair-weather fisherman. Temperatures in the 20s? A frigid wind chill? A little snow and ice? No problem. To Jamison, that signals it’s time to launch his boat on the Missouri River and start chasing big winter catfish.

“I fish all winter long [for blue catfish] as long as there aren’t ice floes going down the river,” said Jamison, a member of the Catfishing Hall of Fame. “Really, it’s some of the easiest fishing of the year.” “The blue cats will still bite in the cold water and they’re predictable. You know where they’re going to be,” added Jamison, who lives in Spring Hill, Kansas, and is one of the nation’s top tournament fishermen, as well as ..." View Video and Learn More >> How To Slay Winter Catfish From a Hall of Famer

January 29, 2025 "A Solid Foundation of Lake Maps Knowledge"

I think we’ve laid the groundwork for answering Richard Mullet’s January 22, 2025 Q&A about defining lake structures and terminology. Today, I think we can drill into some more specifics about the topic of “break lines.”

Knowing what a breakline is does give us a common vocabulary and that allows us to share information with our fellow anglers. It’s great when somebody gives us a “hot tip” about catching fish in Lake Wishiknew, somewhere along a shoreline break, or on mid-lake structures and the like. But how can anglers, like Richard, pick up a paper map, or fire up his Lakemaster chart and find their own spots that might be productive?

Let’s take a look at one of the scenarios I look for when I ..." Read >> January 29, 2025 Lake Maps Solid Foundation of Knowledge

Wired2Fish January 28, 2025 "How to Catch More Crappies During Winter Months"

"Jack Uxa of Jack’s Guide Service on Lake of the Ozarks shares advice for finding and catching winter crappies on reservoirs. During the colder months, crappies tend to group in larger schools and hold in areas longer, making them easier to target. With the right approach and gear, anglers can experience the finest crappie fishing of the season.

HOW TO LOCATE WINTER CRAPPIES: Winter crappies gather near main lake points, docks, and brush piles. Uxa explains how to find these schools using forward-facing sonar while maintaining the proper distance to prevent spooking the school and make effortless casts. He then discusses where to ..." View Video and Learn More >> How to Catch More Crappies During Winter Months

January 28, 2025 "Weed Lines, Weed Flats and Weed Mats"

The search for definitions about weed lines, weed patches and fishing in vegetation was part of the original reader Q&A that got me started on this series about charts, maps and fishing terminology. Fishing in weeds is a big topic and warrants an entire book of its own. In the interest of keeping the discussion simple though, I’ll offer you some general guidance about the definitions, maybe not so much detail about how to fish in them

Submerged vegetation varies not only from lake to lake, but from one region of the Midwest to another. The underwater grasses that I discover in lakes within my home territory may not even exist in yours, and vice versa. So, knowing that I can never address every definition of weed formations in your lake, take my advice and ..." Read Full Report >> January 28, 2025 "Weed Lines, Weed Flats and Weed Mats"

January 27, 2025 "FLATS Mysterious, But Productive"

"Flats, and where to fish on them, can drive “structure anglers” like me crazy. Why? Because of the seemingly endless amount of “structureless territory” that they occupy on many of my favorite lakes. Flats are important to anglers because fish, at one time or another, could turn up almost any place on a flat.

For me, defining a flat is easy; any long, sprawling region of a lake where water depths change little, if at all. When you cannot find a drop off, or a weedline, or come across any fast-changing depths readings on your sonar, then you’re on a flat. Flats can, and often do occur in shallow water, mid-depth range water and again, in deep water.

Depending on the lake, and fishing pattern a writer is describing, you could ..." Read Article >> January 27, 2025 Flats Mysterious but Productive

January 26, 2025 "More Charting the Chart-Able Mid-Lake Bars"

To study mid-lake bars, the most common of all open-water structure, I’ve chosen a map of Lake Winnibigoshish in Minnesota’s Cass County. My reason for this choice is that folks who fish on Winnie frequently use the term “bars” to describe numerous fishing areas on the lake.

As you can see, “The Bena Bar” pictured here is actually a steep breakline that leads from the shoreline, all the way out to the lake’s deepest water. Following the edges of the bar in either direction takes anglers on trip around that deep water hole.

Depending on which region we fish, anglers may also refer to “bars” using other names. “Deep water breakline”, “mid-lake breakline”, or “deep basin breakline” would all be reasonable alternative choices. Just remember that most every natural lake will ..." Read >> January 26, 2025 "More Charting the Chart-Able Mid-Lake Bars"

January 25, 2025 "Understanding Lake Charts Submerged Shoreline Points"

Today, I’m back to the project concerning interpretation of terminology used to describe lake map and charting data. So far, we’ve compared images of steep breaklines, and soft, slow tapering breaklines. Descriptions of both are simple, and straightforward, making interpretation easy. Eventually, we’ll get into more complex and nuance structures, but in the interest of building on a solid foundation, let’s continue with a few more basic structures. Today, let’s talk about submerged, shoreline related points.

“Shoreline Related” simply means that the structure, or structures are connected directly to the adjacent land mass. So, points can occur not only along the main shoreline of a lake, but also adjacent to islands found further in the lake. Note: Structures that are not directly connected to a land mass will ..." Read >> January 25, 2025 "Understanding Lake Charts Submerged Shoreline Points"

Jeff Sundin January 7, 2024 "Baraotrauma - We Already Know More Than You Think" Fishrapper Fishing Articles Section: Barotrauma Research, Studies and Reports

I was on the phone Saturday (1-6-2024) morning with Uncut Angling’s Aaron Wiebe talking about his recent video presentation about barotrauma affected crappies. I was then, and am now, most grateful for his willingness to engage with me in the lost art of civil discourse. Our conversation was fairly long, so I won’t bore you with every little detail. Instead, I’ll just cut to the chance and start by saying that I agree with 90 percent of his presentation. Where we differ, opinions about whether fish caught in 35 feet of water can be “safely” released, will likely lead to more conversations down the road.

You’re probably worried now that I’m headed down the path toward debating the “science” of barotrauma again, but I’m not! We’ve debated enough about that already. I wonder though, after following the commentary, have you noticed a certain behavioral phenomenon like I have? Have you noticed that folks have a tendency to pick and choose selected details from a story, and then use those, and only those select details in order to advance their own, personal opinions? Wiebe and I talked about that, and I shared with him, my concern about one of ..." Read >> January 7, 2024 Baraotrauma - We Already Know More Than You Think

Jeff Sundin January 5, 2024 Barotrauma, "Responding to the Respond-ABLE"

Personal responsibility, that’s my thing, and folks who know me understand what I mean. I’m sure my kids grew weary of hearing me use the phrase “low expectation, low result” during their formative years. Folks that know me well realize too, that I never set a standard that’s higher for someone else than the one I set for myself. Still, even when I try my hardest to be responsible, I still can’t always reach the “high bar”. I realize my shortcomings and try to correct them. I like to think that my standards are set high enough so that even when I can’t score high on the curve, I at least come close.

If you don’t already know, those standards extend to the service I’ve set out to provide for you. I want you to know that before I write an article for you to read, I’ve studied, learned, and reflected on information I’m preparing to share. I try to get my facts straight, and close to being accurate, to the extent that its possible. To do that, I interact with a lot of people who are smarter than me, people whose knowledge I respect.

Disappointing to me is the number of people in our world who would bypass the pursuit of excellence. Folks who believe that they were born with more knowledge than ..." Read >> Succesful Release or Wishful Thinking? January 5, 2024

Jeff Sundin January 4, 2024 Pointing Fingers Or Working It Out? — Releasing Crappies Caught In Deep Water, Who Proved What To Whom?

Ever since last week, when I shared the Uncut Angling video of Aaron Wiebe challenging the “integrity” of the Lindner Media and MN DNR video about barotrauma, there’s been something bothering me. I feel like I should come down on somebody’s side and support them, but I can’t. There isn’t anybody who is clearly in the right, or in the wrong either. I’m conflicted because laying assumptions and opinions aside, nobody, me included, actually KNOWS for sure, what they’re talking about.

In case you missed it, the video produced by Uncut Angling host Aaron Wiebe accuses Minnesota’s DNR Fisheries Staff of purposely creating a flawed study. Wiebe’s assertion is that the project, a joint video production between the MN DNR and ..." Read Article >> January 4, 2024 Pointing Fingers Or Working It Out?

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