Today's Feature Fishing Reports Minnesota Article: February 11, 2026 Ely Minnesota Region Ice Fishing Report Arrowhead Outdoors

"Lake Trout - Lake trout fishing continues to be consistent fishing for anglers targeting them. Anglers continue to find them out in a little deeper water, 50 to 70 feet deep, but some of the bigger trout caught this last week were caught in 25 to 40 feet of water near eelpout spawning grounds. Regardless of where they find them, anglers are reporting tube bucktails and squid tails have been catching the trout. Chartreuse, red/white and pink have been effective colors.

Stream Trout - Anglers continue to report some great rainbow fishing on many of the local stream trout lakes. Many of the anglers report the best fishing is before 8am, so be sure to get out early if you want rainbows. Small spoons, tungsten jigs, tipped with wax worms, dead minnows or even soft plastics. Fish these 5 to 15 feet under the ice. Brook trout anglers continue to find brookies up in shallow water in 5 feet of water or less, with the same lures and baits as they are using for rainbow trout. Look to downed trees, beaver houses or weeds for the best Brook trout fishing.

Walleye - Walleye fishing continues to be more frustrating than fun for walleye anglers. Finding walleyes hasn't been the issue. Getting them to bite has been the issue. Deadsticking, tip ups or rattle reels has been getting the majority of bites. Small suckers or rainbows have been the best minnows to have down.

Northern Pike - Pike anglers set out tip ups this last week and many of them reported great fishing. Classic pike spots like shallow bays, near river mouths and structures near deep water all produced quality pike on medium sized suckers or frozen baits. Best depths were 8 to 15 feet of water, but panfish anglers who took the time to set out a tip up often caught some really nice pike.

Panfish - Panfish anglers started checking popular panfish lakes this last weekend as warm temperatures came to the Ely area. Success for panfish was mixed as February still isn't the best time to target panfish. Anglers found panfish on deep mudflats in 25 to 35 feet of water. Red soft plastics, wax worms and crappie minnows, fished on a small white, pink or chartreuse tungsten jig was effective for any active panfish anglers could find.

Eelpout - Eelpout continue to show up in anglers catches this last week. Evenings and overnight continue to be the best time to target eelpout, but anglers are starting to see them more and more during the day on their electronics. Humps that top out in about 15 feet of water, near deep water, seem to be the best one to fish right now. Heavy, bright glowing spoons or jigs, loaded up with either chunks of minnows or smelt.

Whitefish - Now this is a new one for us and somewhat of a mystery fish for many anglers who regularly fish the Ely area, despite being excellent table fare, strong fighters and eager biters when found. Whitefish fishing through the ice generally peaks in March, so the best is yet to come.

If you are interested in targeting them look for them in 25 to 35 feet of water, over deep, large mudflats. Whitefish behave a lot like lake trout so fish them 5 to 10 feet off the bottom with small to medium size jigging spoons, tipped with minnow chunks, wax worms or small soft plastics. Once whitefish come into your bait, keep the bait moving until they hit it. You stop jigging, they lose interest very quickly and are gone." — Arrowhead Outdoors, 218-365-5358

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