Jordan’s northern pike pulled from Fish Lake near Duluth; photo courtesy of Houston's Guide Service
Anglers are having lots of success throughout the state, especially with panfish, northern pike and walleye. Ice conditions have significantly improved over the last week, and cold temperatures this weekend should cause ice to build rapidly. Anglers planning to venture out must still use extreme caution since ice thickness varies from lake to lake, and from one area to another on the same lake. Before heading out, please consult with a local bait shop or resort for the most current ice conditions.
Take time to review the DNR's Ice Safety Guidelines and General Ice Thickness Guidelines. For rules, regulations and other helpful information on fishing in Minnesota, consult the DNR's Fish Minnesota web page.
Ice fishing is not the only way you can fish in the winter -- learn more at Winter Fishing, No Ice Required. Additional resources are available to help you plan your next Minnesota fishing adventure.
Northeast Minnesota
Kabetogama
Anglers are exploring more of Lake Kabetogama now that ice conditions have improved, allowing anglers access to their favorite spots. While there is no vehicle travel yet, 4-wheelers and snowmobiles are able to get to most of the popular fishing holes. Almost everyone is reporting great fishing action with lots perch and walleye coming through the holes. Spear fishing is also going strong. Most bays are accessible so the options are endless and the opportunity for a trophy fish is great. This has already been a great season on Lake Kabetogama. 800-524-9085; www.kabetogama.com
Ely
More anglers are heading out onto the ice and finding moderate success. Some ice anglers and spearers have taken nice numbers of northern pike from area waters. Most have been fishing near shore in depths 6 to 12 feet. Northern pike have been readily hitting dead or frozen sucker minnows and smelt fished right on the bottom. It appears they aren't interested in chasing live bait. Walleye anglers have had some decent catches, although many are stating that a good number of those caught are undersized fish which must be released. Some of the keepers, however, are good size fish measuring up to 20 inches. Buckshot spoons or jigs tipped with a minnow head or minnows on a dead stick have been paying off. The crappie bite has been slow to materialize, but a few folks have been connecting with slabs in the 13 inch range. Please note that ice conditions vary widely, with some open water still being reported. The thickest ice is in the shallow, protected bays. While most people are using common sense, there are exceptions, with a few driving full-size vehicles out on ice less than 10 inches thick. No fish is worth risking your life over. Have fun, but please exercise caution, and return safely. 800-777-7281; www.ely.org
Duluth - Lake Superior, St. Louis River and inland waters
Anglers are having lots of success on the inland area lakes. Most lakes and reservoirs have from 6 to 12 inches of ice --most are still not suitable for vehicle traffic. Panfish anglers are doing well off the vegetated areas near shallow waters. Small 1/32 to 1/16 size jigs tipped with soft plastics have been best. Some of the reservoirs north of Duluth are getting a lot of traffic which has caused a slowdown in fishing action. It is important to get away from the crowd and stay mobile if things slow down. Tip-ups with shiners or suckers have been turning some nice northern pike, bass and an occasional walleye. It is important to check the tip-ups often, if nothing else, to get the minnow back to moving and to chip away ice from holes. Some portable shacks are popping up in the Duluth Harbor and other areas of the lower sections of the St. Louis River. Anglers are finding mixed success on the shallow flats off the Minnesota side. Jigging spoons, ripping shads and jigging raps are showing equal success. Using glow lures is providing the most action, especially in UV colors. Be sure to also drop a dead stick with a live minnow under a float. Anglers are catching some nice pike, walleye, perch and a few burbot (eelpout). Ice conditions are still a bit shaky, so extreme caution should be taken. Remember the importance of selective harvest on the fishery for future generations. 800-438-5884; www.visitduluth.com
Grand Rapids
The temperatures are about to plummet with lows dipping below zero late this weekend. One benefit will be rapid ice building which will seal up most thin spots and create better ice conditions. Many of the smaller lakes with little or no current have been fishable for a few weeks, and anglers report good crappie and bluegill action. Small baits are the ticket for most panfish species since they mimic the small animals they normally feed on such as bloodworms and mayfly larvae. Light line, soft tip rods and electronics will add to your success. Check with local bait shops for the most up-to-date ice conditions and recommendations on the best lakes and hot spots. Since ice is never entirely safe, please use caution, wear a small life vest under your clothing, and let someone know where you are going and when you expect to return. www.visitgrandrapids.com
Northwest Minnesota
Baudette - Lake of the Woods & the Rainy River
Ice fishing remains very good on Lake of the Woods. The morning bite has been great for walleye, with a greater number of sauger mixed in with some walleye taken in the afternoon. The walleye and sauger are responding best to pink and gold jigs tipped with a shiner minnow. Anglers are having to sorting through a bunch of smaller fish to get to the keepers and extra-large fish. Varying ice conditions are reported throughout the lake so anglers are encouraged to work through a resort for the most current ice conditions, and stay on the marked ice roads since they are checked daily. Also inquire about which vehicles are being let out onto the ice. Auger extensions may be necessary in some areas. On the Rainy River, ice stretches from shore to shore. While some locals that are familiar with the river are heading out, ice thickness varies greatly and currents can change so conditions are unsafe for travel at this time. At the Northwest Angle & Islands area, fishing remains excellent with good ice conditions where resorts are traveling. There are some areas with thin ice, especially where there is a strong current and at the “neck-down” areas. The snowmobile trail from Wheeler's Point to Oak Island is marked and open. Due to lots of ice chunks, be sure to stay on the trail and do not speed. The resorts are checking ice conditions daily, marking trails, and setting out fish houses in areas where there is 12 to 18 inches of ice. 800-382-FISH; www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com
Bemidji
This past week has been excellent for building ice, and the cold temperatures around the corner will really speed up the process. While most area lakes have 11 to 14 inches of ice it is still necessary to check the ice conditions before heading out! Anglers report a good walleye bite early and late in the day on Lake Bemidji. Look to the shoreline breaks in 8 to 18 feet of water for the most action. Perch are also active in these areas. Wolf Lake is producing some walleyes and crappies. Midge, Gull, Moose and Pimushe lakes are kicking out bluegills and crappies. 800-458-2223; www.visitbemidji.com
Park Rapids
Ice fishing has taken off in the Park Rapids area! Walleye, crappies, northern pike and even some big bass are being pulled through the ice around the weed beds in 5 to 12 feet of water. Tip-ups with minnows or jigging spoons on a stout jigging rod have been working well. Anglers are enjoying a great twilight crappie bite roughly 45 minutes before sunset and well past dark with fish found suspended from 3 to 5 feet off of the bottom. Glow jigs and crappie minnows are your best bet. Look for walleye in 15 to 20 foot depths using a jigging rapala tipped with a small minnow head. 800-247-0054; www.parkrapids.com
Detroit Lakes
Ice conditions in the Detroit Lakes area are good and will continue to improve during the severe cold snap this weekend. At present, ice ranges from 8 to 14 inches thick with the thickest ice on the shallow basin lakes. There are still some inconsistent areas, especially at the areas with current, shallow saddles and neck down areas. Another 3 to 4 inches of snow feel last week so sled traffic is increasing, but not so much snow that it will impede ATV/UTV travel. Walleye are moving deeper. Some panfish remain in the weeds in 8 to 12 feet of water, with some crappies moving to depths of 22 to 30 feet of water. 800-542-3992; www.visitdetroitlakes.com
Central Region
Alexandria Area Lakes
The ice on Alexandria area lakes is improving rapidly, with roughly 8 inches of ice on most area lakes. Please note, however, that there are areas with thin ice so extreme caution must be used when venturing out. Good numbers of walleye and panfish are coming from 18 feet of water on a plain hook or jigging spoon with a minnow head. 800-245-2539; www.explorealex.com
Isle/Onamia - Lake Mille Lacs
At the north edge of Lake Mille Lacs, many areas have 10 inches of ice, although the overall thickness can range from 8 to 12 inches. Fish are being taken off the first break in 12 to 14 feet of water, in depths of 24 to 26 feet of water, and from the top of the flats. A number of jumbo perch (some as big as 14 inches) and a few walleye (some over 29 inches) were caught and released last weekend. Silver, glow pink and green spoons, light jigging with the head of a fathead minnow, and dead sticking produced fish. The upcoming cold temperatures may cause the ice to contract, creating some cracks so anglers are asked to please travel slowly, use extreme caution and do not venture out after dark. As of late last week, on the south edge of Lake Mille Lacs, ice conditions were good in many areas of Lake Mille Lacs, and expectations for another great fishing season were high. The three bays on the south end have 8-12 inches of ice in most spots and much of the main part of the lake is covered in 4 to 8 inches. Northern pike action has been pretty good in 9 to 12 feet of water, with live suckers turning the most fish for anglers and spearers. Some of the spearers have commented on the large number of big walleye cruising through the holes, checking out their decoys. The best walleye bite, however, has been best in 18 to 20 feet of water. Most structure seems to be holding at least a few fish. Copper pimples and jigging rapalas have been best. Anglers will want to brush up on specific Lake Mille Lacs regulations for both species. Learn more at the DNR's Mille Lacs Lake fishing regulations web page. 888-350-2692; www.millelacs.com
Willmar
On average, area lakes have 4 to 6 inches of ice, however, many lakes still have open water in the middle and the accesses are in poor condition. Anglers must use extreme caution on the lakes since areas with 6 inches of ice can be just 10 feet away from an area with only 1 inch of ice. Fortunately, the arctic blast predicted for the weekend should result in much thicker ice next week. Currently, reports of walleye, crappies and sunfish have been good on Willmar and Foot lakes, with walleye coming from Diamond Lake. The western basin of Norway Lake continues to give up good-sized walleye. 800-845-8747; www.willmarlakesarea.com
Minneapolis-St. Paul Area
Lake Waconia
As of Dec. 19, 6 to 7 inches of ice could be found in Wagener’s Bay, Waconia Bay, and at Pillsbury Reef. The ice was mostly in good shape, however, warm temperatures left it icy so ice cleats are recommended. There are some areas that should be avoided. Previous “goose hole” locations such as North Center Reef and north of Center Reef either remain open or have very thin ice. These areas are lightly marked with lath board and flagging tape. There is another area that an angler marked just north of West Center Reef (and east of Pillsbury) that is thin as well. A long pressure ridge that extends south and west of Coney Island has been marked, as have two of the main springs and a thinner area east of Cemetery Reef and west of Anderson’s Reef. Because of the many thin ice areas, walking out remains best to get access your fishing spot. 952/442-5812; www.destinationwaconia.org
Southern Minnesota
Lanesboro - Southeast Bluff Country trout streams
As of Thursday, Dec. 21, fisheries staff reported that all branches of the Whitewater Stream were running clear with a normal water flow. Please note that Carley State Park, and Trout Run Creek (Saratoga, Troy through Bucksnort) are not open for angling, and will not reopen until Jan. 1, 2018. Southeast stream trout maps are available under “Area Highlights” on the Lanesboro Area Fisheries web page. 800-944-2670; www.lanesboro.com
Anglers may obtain fishing licenses 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, by dialing 1-888-665-4236, or accessing DNR License Sales.
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