Lake of the Woods, Border View Lodge February 28, 2022

"Our houses are situated about 17 miles past Pine Island. The lake is covered with a thick blanket of snow, which is great for planning to have the houses out all of March. As much as we like the sun we are hoping for an overcast March.

Fishing success has varied, some groups are doing very well, while others are not catching as many. Constantly working your lures is important. The Walleye and Sauger are coming by in schools and if you are not giving them a proper presentation while they are going by you will miss them.

With so many options for lures it is almost impossible to say what has been working best. Stick with typical colors for Lake of the Woods, Gold, Glow colors, things with noise. When you are at the store trying to decide, use those guidelines and you basically cannot go wrong. At the end of the day multiple Anglers could prove a different hot lure of the day. The UV colors work well. Also, it is important to have a sonar style electronics.

This week’s forecast has temperatures between single digits and 20’s above zero." — 1-800-776-3474 Border View Lodge

Lake of the Woods, LOW Tourism February 28, 2022

"March is upon us, which brings excitement for many anglers who frequent the south side of Lake of the Woods! Because it's a border lake with Canada, L.O.W. enjoys an extended walleye and pike season, providing anglers with opportunities that they can't get on inland lakes in Minnesota. With fish houses allowed on the ice through March 31st, walleye and sauger season open through April 14, and a pike season that does not close.

As the days get longer and the sun gets stronger, Mother Nature is encouraging fish to start putting on the feed bag. This leads to some great opportunities. Anglers are catching walleyes, lots of saugers, jumbo perch, pike, eelpout, tullibee and even a few crappies.

Many pike anglers have begun using tip ups in shallower waters, 10-17' on average, with big live suckers or dead bait on a quick strike rig. Some nice fish being caught.

For walleyes and saugers, here are a few tips. Electronics help, you can rent them from resorts, outfitters and local bait shops if you don't own them. Be aggressive with the jigging line. Lures with a rattle will attract fish and get some reaction bites. Use goto colors for stained water, golds, glow colors, orange, etc.

Bites can be very light. A small bobber or a rod with a sensitive tip is helpful to detect light bites. If fish are finicky, go small. Most report catching some small fish to catch keepers.

Most ice fishing is taking place in 26 to 33 feet of water.

On the Rainy River, there are some walleyes being caught during the mornings and evenings. Gold, glow and glow colors working the best tipped with a minnow. Always use extra caution as there is current.

The snowmobile trail is groomed and staked from Baudette to Wheeler's Point 12 miles continuing up to the Angle another 42 miles.

Some great walleye fishing reports came in from the Northwest Angle this week too. Most fishing is taking place up there in 22 to 33 feet of water. Gold, glow colors, orange or a combo of these colors productive. Keep lines moving to get and keep the attention of fish. Fish every fish. Small schools move through periodically.

There are various ways to travel to the Angle.

• 1. Drive through Canada (vaccination and COVID test currently required).
• 2. Groomed and staked snowmobile trails (stays in MN)
• 3. LOW Passenger Service (bombardier service across the lake staying in MN)
• 4. Lake Country Air.(stays in MN)

LOW enjoys extended seasons with fish houses on the lake through March 31st, walleye and sauger season open through April 14th and pike open year round. Lodging and fish house openings are available around the lake." — Lake of the Woods Tourism, (800) 382-FISH

Jeff Sundin February 23, 2022 "A New Season Just Around The Corner"

"I’m going to step out on a limb and say that north central Minnesota’s drought is over.  Snowfall from the most recent storm varies by location, but NOAA reports this morning that here in Grand Rapids, 8 inches added to the pile we already had. Last week I measured about 3 feet of standing snow in my yard and yesterday I noticed that my snowblower is struggling to send new snow over the top of my snowbanks.

Luckily, we’re only 25 days away from spring and soon, warm air temperatures will begin melting some of the snow. When the meltdown does occur, it wouldn’t surprise me if shoreline landings and boat ramps that were barely useable because of low water last fall, could easily be flooded with high water this spring.

Typically, late season ice anglers should be looking forward to a re-birth of the ice fishing season by now. Melting of surface snow, followed by a re-freeze usually offers improves travel conditions and offer anglers easier access to fishing locations. It could still happen, but looking at the forecast, it’s not an easy prediction to make right now.

For a lot of folks, it won’t matter after this weekend when the walleye and pike season ends on inland lakes. Folks with large fishing shelters often use the end of the “gamefish season” as an excuse to pull fishing shelters off the ice. Your 2021 fishing and hunting licenses will expire next Monday, February 28, 2021, too. So be sure to pick up a new one if you’re going to fish anywhere in Minnesota beginning on March 1, 2022.

For me, logging on to the DNR website and buying my fishing license online is the way to go. In fact, I really think it’s a good idea for most folks who hunt and fish. When I buy my license, I save one copy on my computer as a PDF. Then I print paper copies for the boat, the truck, and the snowmobile. And after that, I save a copy of the license on my cell phone too. No matter where I go, I have a copy of my fishing license handy and for obvious reasons, that is a big deal to me.

I'll admit that the online system isn't perfect, but if you don't rush yourself, it goes relatively smoothly. If you've never purchased your fishing license online before, you'll need to set up an account. Once your account is set up, subsequent transcations will go more quickly. Make sure you have your driver license handy, you'll need that, along with you credit card to complete the transaction. To explore the process, use this link to MN DNR Licensing Portal. If you're ready to rock and want to buy your license right now, use this hot link to the Active Outdoors License Purchasing Page.

For walleye and pike anglers, Lake of the Woods will get all the attention after next week. But a recent email from a reader reminded me that tullibee fishing should move higher on the list too. Lake of the Woods offers great opportunity for those, but you can find them closer to home as well. Winnie, Leech Lake and Bowstring are just a few good ones in my neighborhood, but you will find lots of other good ones too.

Responding to the sender of the email who asked about tullibee fishing, I offered links to some of the articles I had published before. That’s when I realized that 10 years has passed since that last time I talked about tullibees. So, I’ll use that as an excuse to dust off and update some of those original articles and get a fresh one posted here over the next few days." — Jeff Sundin 218-245-9858 or EMAIL

Lake of the Woods, LOW Tourism February 22, 2022

"It's February and anglers are picking away at the walleye and sauger on the south end of Lake of the Woods. Usually by the day's end, there's enough for a good fish fry. Anglers are catching walleyes, lots of saugers, and setting the hook on big perch, pike, eelpout, tullibee and even a few crappies.

Electronics help, you can rent them from resorts, outfitters and local bait shops if you don't own them. Be aggressive with the jigging line. Lures like a Rippin Rap or jigging spoon with a rattle will attract fish and get some reaction bites. Keep deadsticks active. Jig it periodically. Lift it higher in the water column if fish are swimming above your bait or if you aren't getting bit near bottom. Even though it is a deadstick it is helpful to work it. Bites can be very light. A small bobber or a rod with a sensitive tip is helpful to detect light bites.

Put together an entire day, meaning, there are different feeding windows throughout the day and by fishing the day, you will normally cash in on the windows of activity. Most ice fishing is taking place in 26 to 33 feet of water. Gold, Wonder Bread and glow colors have been good this week. Some anglers tip up fishing for pike and doing well.

On the Rainy River, most ice anglers fish the lake this time of year but some fish the river usually during the golden hours just after sunrise and before sunset. There has been some good walleye and sauger fishing on the river. Gold, glow colors, orange or a combo of these colors are effective. A jig and minnow has been doing well.

As there is current, it is very important to know where ice is good, safe places to access the river, etc.

The snowmobile trail is groomed and staked from Baudette to Wheeler's Point 12 miles continuing up to the Angle another 42 miles.

Anglers have enjoyed good walleye and sauger fishing this week up at the Northwest Angle. Most fishing is taking place in 25 to 33 feet of water. Gold, glow colors, orange or a combo of these colors productive. Keep lines moving to get and keep the attention of fish.

There are various ways to travel to the Angle.

• Drive through Canada (vaccination and COVID test currently required).
• Groomed and staked snowmobile trails (stays in MN)
• LOW Passenger Service (bombardier service across the lake staying in MN)
• Lake Country Air.(stays in MN)

Lake of the Woods enjoys extended seasons with fish houses on the lake through March 31st, walleye and sauger season open through April 14th, 2022 and pike open year round. Lodging and fish house openings are available around the lake." — Lake of the Woods Tourism, (800) 382-FISH

Lake of the Woods, Border View Lodge February 22, 2022

"Another week of snow and wind! We will continue on with winter weather. Currently we have houses situated from 18-20 miles from Pine Island. It is hard to say how much further we will go or which direction at this point. Once the major winds subside, we may be able to make those decisions.

Anglers are still catching fish, with many slot sized or over being released. We had a couple of tough days this past week when the wind switched from 25mph out of the South to 30mph out of the North. As for the season, fishing has been excellent.

With so many options for lures it is almost impossible to say what has been working best. Stick with typical colors for Lake of the Woods, Gold, Glow colors, things with noise. When you are at the store trying to decide, use those guidelines and you basically cannot go wrong. At the end of the day multiple Anglers could prove a different hot lure of the day. The UV colors work well. Also, it is important to have a sonar style electronics.

The last week of February is upon us and we still have -20’s in the forecast. According to the calendar Winter lasts until March 20th, 2022" — 1-800-776-3474 Border View Lodge

February 21, 2022 — "What Happens To Dead Crappies During Winter?"

Following up on the recent article about the impact of barotrauma on freshwater panfish, Jim Atkinson wrote, “Hi Jeff, I have been following your conversation concerning barotrauma. The question I have is if you released crappies from deep water during the ice season and they died, would they float to the surface when the ice melts? 

The reason I ask is I fish a small private lake during the ice season. I have released maybe thirty crappies caught from around twenty-five feet. In early Spring it would be easy to cruise the shoreline and see dead fish if they were there.

After researching more and reading your comments I have decided to keep any fish I catch. I have been unable to locate shallower crappies in this body of water. I'm under the impression there aren't many crappies shallow during the ice season.  Is it possible that in some lakes the shallows are void of catchable crappies when ice covered?”

A) I wish there was 1 simple answer to your question Jim, but I'm afraid that there are a few variables that get in the way of that. The short answer is that some fish float, but other fish sink.

Anecdotally, I have seen many dead crappies laying on the bottom with my own eyes. But the most compelling account came from a friend who fishes crappie tournaments on an international level during the winter. He uses underwater cameras extensively when he fishes and has told me about tournaments where most of the contestants fish in deep water. “Sometimes there are dead crappies laying all over the place on the bottom,” he's reported.

On the other hand, I’ve seen lots of crappies floating on the surface after unsuccessful deep-water releases too. So, presumably there must be a percentage of fish that float up and lay under the ice. At some point, those fish could drift toward the shoreline, if they don’t get eaten by any critters first. So, I can’t see how cruising the shoreline after ice out.

It would be a monumental task to locate 30 individual crappies on any lake, big or small. Then, there still wouldn’t be any way to know for sure what caused their demise or where it happened. Unless your lake receives massive pressure from ice anglers and there are multiple thousands of fish being released, (like the Lake of the Woods scenario I shared last week), then I doubt data from shoreline viewing would be accurate enough to prove anything.

Regarding the 2nd part of your question, there usually are at least some crappies located in shallower water, even in winter. Unless the lake you fish has no shallow water habitat whatsoever, it would be a stretch to believe that all the crappies in the lake were located in the deep-water holes. That said, finding fish in shallow water takes longer and frequently requires fishing during the prime time feeding runs during early morning and late evening. Large schools of fish, tacked up along the breakline or holding over the bottom in deep water are easy to find and that’s why most folks pursue them there.

I like the point you already made in your comments “I have decided to keep any fish I catch.” I think you’re on the right track, when you’re planning to harvest some fish to eat, fish the deep hole. Exploring shallower water during the crepuscular periods will eventually lead you to new opportunities, eveb if they turn out to produce species of fish other than crappies. — Office Cell Call or Text 218-245-9858 or EMAIL

Jeff Sundin February 18, 2022 "Lake of the Woods Smelt Update"

Regarding the Lake of the Woods (2-16-22) smelt story, I ran the question past Nate Altendorf. Altendorf owns a lake place in the Rocky point area, guides on Lake of the Woods and has lots of friends up there. “I’m having a very hard time believing that one, I have never even heard of a smelt on Lake of the Woods”, Altendorf said. Still, he accepted my advisory about seeing them listed in the DNR fisheries reports and was open to the idea that they could be there.

Later, I found a reader comment via message to my office phone, and it offered some guidance. “If you happen to catch one of the small fish, or have one in possession, check to see if the critter has teeth.” According to the caller, this is a good way to field test the I.D. and determine if they are in fact, smelt. So, to double check the tip, I logged into the US Geological Survey website and found this; “The snout (of a rainbow smelt) is pointed with well developed, canine-like teeth on the tongue and roof of the mouth.”

Coincidentally, there is a map on the site showing the distribution of smelt in the United States. On it, there is one small yellow dot at Rocky Point, indicating that at least one report has been previously verified on Lake of the Woods. — Jeff Sundin 218-245-9858 or EMAIL

Reader Comments Februray 18, 2022 "More About Lake of the Woods Smelt"

T.R. James wrote,

"Hi Jeff, Here are a couple links to some information about rainbow smelt in LOW. The first is to a 2010 article (by a fisherman) about smelt in Rainy Lake and Lake of the Woods. The second is a published paper about smelt distribution in several watersheds. Smelt have been in Lake of the Woods since at least 1991, and there has been concern and some speculation about if or when they might become an issue or problem. Being non-native and invasive (like us) there is potential for them to screw things up. Ha ha

Also, I appreciated your article, responding to (Alan) about barotrauma." Thanks, TR

February 18, 2022 — "Are Fish Safer If Caught Higher In Water Column?"

Barotrauma came up again in the reader questions department on Thursday (2-17-22) when Alan Jechort wrote, Recently, I read some posts about barotrauma, something I had heard a little about before but never looked into anything. I searched around the web and found a few things, mostly in the comments to fishing reports. The MN DNR mentions this briefly but doesn't really make it seem like it's a problem.  I also read the research report that you posted on your site.

I have a place in the Grand Rapids area, and the lake I mostly fish on has some 30-to-35-foot holes. These have become my go-to spots in the winter for crappies. I do not keep many fish and love to do it for sport and bring friends and family out to enjoy the fun of fishing.
In these spots, the crappies are mostly suspended at 20 to 25 feet. From what I have read, the depth from which the fish are taken is the main point and not necessarily the entire depth of the water column. What are your thoughts here? Just wanted to see what else I can learn about this.” Alan

A) Alan, the effects of barotrauma have been known and discussed for a long time, especially among tournament anglers. But you’re right, until recently, there wasn’t a lot of published information about barotrauma in freshwater lakes. A few years back, my earliest reports relied on information gathered from saltwater studies and a couple of Canadian publications.

These days barotrauma definitely is on the radar screens of more fisheries biologists throughout the Midwest. My guess is that you’ll be able to find more and more information in the near future. That's good news because this isn't the sort of study that most of us can conduct on our own. Knowing whether fish we release today, seemingly healthy, will still be healthy in a day, a month or next year is all but impossible.

As studies are conducted and scientific data become more widely available, questions like yours will be easier to answer. So, remember to allow plenty room for expansion and don’t assume that my anecdotal evidence provides definitive answers. That said, I do have some ideas based on situations I've observed and in most cases, my experiences do match the published information I can find.

To your point about fish suspended higher in the water column, I do think that often, fish caught higher in the column appear to be more easily released than those found deeper. Personally, I do "feel better" about the prospects of fish surviving a trip topside from 25 feet than I would if they were hauled up from 30 feet. Unfortunately, it isn’t that simple, there isn’t a single number that I offer as “the safe depth” for releasing a fish.  We’ve caught fish in 28 feet of water that darted away fast and apparently, in good health. But we’ve also seen evidence of barotrauma when fish are caught much shallower, in depths of 18 to 24 feet for example.

My observation is that there appears to be some correlation between water depth and the length of time a fish has been living there. For example, fish that make temporary moves into deep water, like after a cold front, seem to be easier to release. But fish that have been in the same spot for days or weeks, suffer more when brought to the surface. Since we never know how long a fish has been holding in any given spot, we have no choice but to assume that some percentage of fish we release survive and some of them don't.

A friend of mine, Pete has lake property on the Canadian side of Lake of the Woods in an area where ice fishing for crappie is highly popular. During winter, anglers catch and release thousands of crappies, most go home happy and never think about those fish again. But Pete thinks about those fish alot because every spring he sees them washed up along the shoreline. Hundreds of fish gone to waste because anglers were unaware of the damage they'd done would be enough to get anyone's attention, but since we're not there to see it, we assume that the problem doesn't exist.

That’s why personally, I really don’t recommend ever “sport fishing” for panfish in deep water. If I don’t intend to harvest the fish I catch, I’ll move to a shallower spot or fish for a different species of fish. In the past, I’ve written numerous articles about finding lakes that have good panfish populations, but do not have deep water. There are lots of good panfish waters in our region that provide good fishing in water depths of 20 feet or less.

That said, I realize that re-locating lakes isn’t always practical and sometimes may not even be an option. So, if your only choice is to stick with the lake(s) you fish now, then I’d suggest only fishing the deeper water to harvest fish you want to eat. Then, with a little exploration, you will learn that there are more spots, some of them in shallower water, where you can “catch and release” to entertain your friends. — Office Cell Call or Text 218-245-9858 or EMAIL

Jeff Sundin February 17, 2022 "Noting The Note-Able"

Remember the photo I shared yesterday, the one of a pile of small fish caught on Lake of the Woods? The angler who caught them identified the fish as smelt. I speculated that they might have been big emerald shiners, like the ones we saw on Lake Winnibigoshish a few years ago.

Well, I did some research about Lake of the Woods and according to the fisheries data and the lake does indeed have smelt in it. So, even though I’m not an expert at identifying either species, I’m leaning in the direction of believing that he was right. I shared the photo with a fisheries biologist, and there’s still some question because the image resolution isn’t high enough to ensure accuracy in identification.

Now that my curiosity has been piqued, I’d love to know for sure what they are. So, if you happen to be fishing on the big pond and want to lend a hand, try to catch a few, and get some good close-up photos. Let’s have a little fun with it.

Slush, deep snow, and transportation problems were the topic of yesterday's report. But it wasn't until later in the morning that I got a heads up from another friend about problems with ice fishing shelters getting frozen in. I should have thought of that myself but didn’t because I don’t have a fish house out on the lake. His phone call heightened my sense of awareness though, so I’ll pass it along to you. If you have a fishing shelter on the ice, but haven’t checked it for a while, it might be a good idea to head out for an inspection. If there is a problem, there’s still plenty of time to plan an exit strategy. — Jeff Sundin 218-245-9858 or EMAIL

Jeff Sundin February 16, 2022 "The Thrill Is Gone, Grand Rapids Area Report"

"B.B. King said it best, “The Thrill Is Gone” and I don’t recall ever saying this publicly before, but I agree, I’m ready for winter to be over!

Between, the snow, the cold, the wind and the slush, my ice fishing season is seriously suffering a creativity crunch. My favorite way to fish, using snowmobiles and portable shelters has been all but shut down by slushy conditions.

Driving on plowed roads is still an option in some places, but on lakes close to home, fish that live in “easy to reach” locations have been heavily pursued. Right now, the slow daytime fishing action reflects the pressure. If I had the extra cash, I’d buy Sno Bear and that would probably give me better access, but I don’t, so I won’t worry about that option.

Yesterday, I asked my friend Jason Lundquist for permission to share some of his photos. He agreed and sent them over, along with this note. "Seems like every week we just keep moving roads. It’s because we’re getting the same ice conditions that we had there in 2019. I think I spend more time plowing than fishing, safe travels on the lake." I asked Jason for his photos because I didn’t have one of my own. You can read into that; Jason is obviously more committed to catching a fish right now than I am!

Thankfully, we have a trip to Lake of the Woods planned for next week. If nothing else, that will allow me to feel like I’m in the ice fishing game again. With luck, that trip will fill the gap between mid-winter and early spring, leading toward a meltdown and subsequent late ice perch fishing season.

When we get to Lake of the Woods, I’ll be curious to follow up on another interesting field report that I got from another friend, Russ Jaeger. He was on Lake of the Woods recently and reported seeing huge schools of baitfish moving under the ice shelter. “You would think that walleyes would have been chasing all of those minnows, but if they were, only a few of them were biting,” Jaeger said.

Flipping through his phone pictures, Jaeger said “here look at this.” The photo, lower left, shows a pile of the small fish, which were caught by another friend of theirs. They were marking on their graphs too and dropped down some tiny jigs. All those small fish on the ice were caught by hook and line, one at a time.

His buddy called these small fish smelt, Jaeger said, and maybe they could be smelt. But I have a hunch that they might instead be big emerald shiners like the ones we saw on Lake Winnibigoshish a few years ago.

I'll research that question and share more about their identity later. But looking at that image, you can imagine why, with all the baitfish available, walleye fishing might have been a little slow that day.

Reader comments and questions have kept me busy this week. Most of the discussion revolves around the re-kindled effort to ration walleyes by reducing the statewide possession limit from 6 fish, down to 4 fish. You’ll find links to all of that commentary below, but I’ll end this report with a question from Rod Heidemann who wrote,” Hi Jeff, I know the water levels were real low last fall in your area. Can you predict what it will look like this spring with the winter you are having?

A) Rod, You're right, water levels were very low last fall. Now, there's a lot of snow stacked up in the region. Last week I posted a photo of the snow in my front yard, which at the time, was 35 inches deep. At spring breakup, lake levels will almost certainly be vastly improved compared to last summer. And if summer weather patterns develop to be more typical for our region, I could see lake levels actually being higher than average before mid-summer. Of course, that is speculative and just an educated guess on my part, we’ll know soon enough." — Jeff Sundin 218-245-9858 or EMAIL

Reader Comments Februray 16, 2022 "Walleye Rationing An Ongoing Discussion"

On February 14, 2022 "Mike Mackley wrote; "Good morning Jeff, I just wanted to send you a quick note regarding your article today. Not that you need my support, but I couldn’t agree more with your comments regarding the walleye limit. It's very frustrating how the government flips between using science on certain things, and then drops the science when it suits some people's agenda. It's a very slipper sloop, and some crazy times we are living in.

I was thinking it would be great to have "a like" button on your newsletter and/or a comment section, but after reading Dennis Anderson's article and perusing through the comments - I think I understand why you don't do that. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but so much of it is toxic that I can't stomach reading it. Keep up the great work!" Mike

On February 14, 2022 Larry Brown, East Peoria, IL wrote, "Jeff, Thanks once again for sharing your opinion on the talk of reducing the walleye limits, and going to bat for the non-residents that travel to fish in Minnesota waters. Having 12 walleyes to take home (husband-wife license) gives us 4 more fish to savor for the year before coming back the next year. And, I agree with you, if I lived in Minnesota and had access to
walleye fishing, I too would be satisfied with a 4 fish limit. I hope the legislators take into consideration the money that non-residents spend in a week's time for the opportunity to keep 6 walleyes. Thanks again for all you do!"

On February 15, 2022 Mike (last name witheld) gave me permission to share this; "I read your articles religiously every week and I appreciate them and I’m a fan. I see how they say scientifically it won’t affect the fish harvest and I read Anderson’s article about creel harvest on Winnie.

I’m not pointing fingers at guides at all, but I always hear the old saying, 10% of anglers catch 90% of fish. And I would have to say I agree with that saying. In the somewhat metro area that i am from I see it quite a fair bit where guys who run into a good walleye bite who have no issues keeping fish in the 10 inches to 12 inch range. 

The other issue I have seen is the ego of accomplished fisherman who like being able to say they got their limit and just give away fish which is legal and even worse guys that have no issue filling the freezer and having big fish fry’s. It sounds like a nice thing to do, which it is, but they are violating the possession limit. (It is) Much easier to get busted on the lake than for what you have in your freezer. 

I would agree the average fisherman isn’t limiting out every trip but i do know some people that come damn close. I’m not disagreeing with your recent article but are these any issues you have considered?

Not to mention the very confusing slots on differing lakes. I know for a fact most people who only hit the a few weekends a year do not follow these slots. I’m all for just simplifying fish limits and rules. Old panfish limits are to blame for all the stunted fish sizes on previously great panfish lakes. Curious to hear your thoughts.

A) Mike, I do think most of the issues you raise here are valid and I strongly support bending over backwards to educate anglers about being good stewards of Minnesotas natural resources. I think that my February 15, 2022 response to Dan Wilm's comments already adresses most of the points you've raised. But if after reading those comments, you still have un-answered questions, let me know and I'll take a deeper dive.

February 16, 2022; Comments are still coming in and I'll be posting more as I receive permissions. Stay tuned for more lively discussion. Related Article >> Mpls Star and Tribune

Ely Area, Arrowhead Outdoors Fishing Report February 16, 2022

"Lake trout fishing was slow for many anglers this last week. Anglers reportedly saw lots of trout on the graph and cameras, but often the trout wouldn’t chase or bite.

Anglers that caught trout were often using jigging spoons and anglers fished the trout more like a walleye then a lake trout. This means they kept the spoons moving but didn’t reel the spoon away from the trout. Sharper breaks seemed to produce more trout then deep flats, points and sunken islands.

Eelpout have become very active as they are starting to spawn on many of the area lakes. Anglers have been catching them during the day, evening and overnight on heavy glow spoons, pounded on the bottom. Rattle baits have also been very effective on eelpout too, so be sure not to overlook these baits. Areas to focus on are near river mouths, sunken islands, large shallow flats. Depth often varies day to day, so be sure to fish different depths.

Stream Trout - Anglers continue to have good luck catching stream trout this last week. Anglers have been finding Splake and Brook trout shallow, in 10 feet of water or less, close to downed trees or weedbeds. Here, small spoons and tungsten jigs tipped with a wax worm or salmon egg has been very effective.

Rainbow trout have been found very shallow too, but more in the very early mornings and later in the evenings. During the day, rainbow trout are being found out over deeper water, often cursing just under the ice to 20 feet down. Same baits used for Splake and brookies will work for rainbows." — Arrowhead Outdoors, 218-365-5358

Lake of the Woods, LOW Tourism February 16, 2022

"For those who are fishing hard, there have been good numbers of fish caught on the south end of Lake of the Woods. Traditionally, February is a month in which the fish are more spread out and fish aren't as active. There are good fish to be caught but it helps to really work them.

Electronics help. They tell you when fish are present, where in the water column they are, and how they are reacting to your presentation. Some larger walleyes are suspended.

Some other tips, jig one line, have a live minnow on the second line. Try rattles in your lures. Downsize your presentation, if fish are finicky, go small. Try a plain hook with live minnow on your deadstick. Jig your deadstick every few minutes.

Ice is over 30 inches thick in many areas with a few feet of snow, bring an extension for your auger if not renting a fish house.

Most ice fishing is taking place in 26 to 33 feet of water. A mixed bag being caught. Walleyes, saugers, perch, pike, eelpout, tullibees, and an occasional sturgeon or crappie.

Gold, glow colors, pink, yellow and orange were good colors this week.

On the Rainy River. As most fish the lake this time of year, there are some walleyes being caught on the river primarily in the mornings and evenings. As there is current, you need to know where ice is good, etc. Gold, glow colors and orange work well. A jig and minnow close to the bottom has been effective.

The snowmobile trail is groomed and staked from Baudette to Wheeler's Point continuing up to the Angle.

Up at the Northwest Angle, there are some nice walleyes caught up at the Angle this week. Most fishing is taking place in 25 to 32 feet of water. Gold, pink, glow and orange were productive. Keep lines moving to gain interest of fish.

There are various ways to travel to the Angle.

1. Drive through Canada (vaccination and COVID test currently required).
2. Groomed and staked snowmobile trails (stays in MN)
3. LOW Passenger Service (bombardier service across the lake staying in MN)
4. Lake Country Air.(stays in MN)

LOW enjoys extended seasons with fish houses on the lake through March, walleye and sauger season open through April 14th and pike open year round. Lodging and fish house openings are available around the lake." — Lake of the Woods Tourism, (800) 382-FISH

Jeff Sundin February 11, 2022 "It's A Hard .... Snow Gonna Fall"

"Another 2 to 3 inches of snow added to the pile overnight and strong northwest winds blowing it around will keep rental operators busy cleaning up their roads again today. So, at this point, getting out to your favorite ice fishing spot is even more complicated than it already was.

Personally, a nice, extended warm up would be welcome news because even my favorite mode of transportation, snowmobiling, has become inconvenient, if not treacherous. A recent photo of my buddy’s snow machine stuck in heavy, rutted snow and him shoveling his way out, was enough to put my ice fishing plans on hold. Our next excursion, I think, will be on Lake of the Woods where we can rely on plowed roads and rental shelters.

Today, I’ll be working at the Ray’s Marine open house in Grand Rapids. That will give me a chance to compare notes with friends who might offer some hot tips for the weekend. If they do, I’ll be sure to post an update tonight. But if you’re like me, ready for the open water fishing season, you might as well drop in and talk about that instead.

On a personal note, you’ve heard the expression “life changing moment”, right? Me too, in fact, it’s even happened a few times in my life. Grand Kids have spurred the most recent “life-changer”, not in a bad way, it’s all good, just different. These days, having an extra bedroom has become more important than me using that room as an office. So, if you’ve noticed a slow-down in the fishing reports pages, I apologize! But now that I’ve cobbled together a new spot in the basement, Cub Reporter, Staff #003-IHBFBB will be reporting for active duty and you will see an increase in activity.

If you’re planning to ice fish this weekend, be sure to call ahead and get an update about local conditions. Drive safe on your way up and take safety precautions on the ice!" — Jeff Sundin 218-245-9858 or EMAIL

Reader Comments February 10, 2022 "Barotrauma: A Deep Subject"

It's not always easy to know when continued discussion about any subject is warranted vs when it's time to move on. Barotrauma, it turns out, is still "a deep subject" in certain circles and continuing the discussion does seem important.

The recent update (Beating Barotrauma Using Deep Water Walleye Release Technique? February 3, 2022) about a video showing how the MN DNR used a special release tool for returning fish caught in deep water generated more than a few comments.

One reader offered an opinion about the effectiveness of the specific tool highlighted in that MN DNR video. I don’t have permission to share his views, but the upshot was that in his opinion, there are alternative tools on the market that work better. This may or may not be true, I don’t know. But before I take a side about which tool is better than another, I think it’s important to first deliver more news about whether catching fish in deep water is reasonable.

T.R James, a frequent contributor, originally emailed with a question about the original article and I replied to it with the article (Deep Water Fishing Release Where and When? February 4, 2022). My reply to that question led to even more commentary and since then, we’ve been emailing back and forth. In the interest of both adding to and refining my original thoughts, James agreed to let me share his commentary; I’ve paraphrased some of it to help make the chronology flow.

"T.R. James wrote; "A little more thought about barotrauma in general. I admire your attempts to educate folks on topics, other than catching fish. It is a very hard and unrewarding exercise much of the time to be an educator, I know this from my own experience.

While watching a bit of Youtube last night, I encountered the video linked below. To me, it appeared that every fish caught and released was a goner, and never should have been put back down the whole. In the end of the video, they make a big deal about "not" releasing fish because of barotrauma, after having just done exactly that. The bottom line is, most people really don't give a darn about the fish, only the fishing. That's what makes being a conservationist so hard. Anyway, watch the video, if you ever have the time."

My email follow up; ""Thank you sir, I will. When it comes to putting the information out there, remembering that it only takes a few followers to make the effort rewarding. About 10 years back, I saw Bob Mehsikomer at the Northwest Sportshow and mentioned a pattern for catching large pike in deep water on a Grand Rapids area lake. Mehsikomer's exact words were; "Don't Do It!" Then he explained to me about barotrauma. That's what started me looking into it in the first pladce. I wouldn't be surprised if somebody, after reading one of my follow ups did the same thing. All in all, it's worth the time investment to see a little progress."

James; "Thanks for the reply and the second post about barotrauma. I learned to "walk the dog" with a giant jackpot from Bob's old television show, that date's me as an old geezer and former fish hawk. Sorry, I should have been much more specific in my earlier messages regarding this topic. What I was surprised at, and wanted to know more about regarding tournaments, was specifically, do you have any information about how many fish these contestants are sorting through to get a qualifier, i.e what is the ratio of fish released to fish kept. Deep or shallow, the same ratio may apply, but given that many, if not most of the deep water fish will croak, old Bob's mantra applies; "Don't Do It!".

Also, having read a lot of studies, anecdotes and stories, youtube videos, and DNR fish info from several states in the past few days, my take-a-way is that there is little evidence that a majority of fish caught from water deeper than 25 feet survive, when using any of these devises that are designed to minimize the kill rate.

So, I guess what I am really asking, is if you could be a little more direct in your approach to information and education regarding the fish. Maybe tell folks plainly not to catch and release from deep water at the start of the article, rather than highlight questionable, feel good methods of release? I know it's hard and has risks, especially when your business is to catch fish, but people listen to you. The Lindners are on board now, and are clear in their latest pubs. If you are fishing in 25 feet or more, don't sort, don't do CPR, just kill your limit and quit, or most importantly don't fish deep water at all, when there are other alternatives.

As we all know, electronics and social media make it easy for lots of people to get on the fish. And the "let em go, let em grow" mentality can be just a waste of fish if people don't know what they are actually doing. As old Bob said "Don't do it!"

A) Okay, in case I haven't been clear enough before, I'll say it more directly. Fishing in deep water for most freshwater fish species is a bad idea and I try hard not to do it. When I am forced to fish in water depths over 25 feet, I legally harvest the fish that I "need" and then move away from the area. I totally agree with anybody who suggests not sorting, not CPRing and not allowing peer pressure to dictate feelings of inhibition about bringing some "little fish" into the cleaning shack.

Searching the archive of past articles and reports should yield numerous examples of that sentiment, repeated in various ways. And to the extent that me saying it influences public opinion, I am totally on board. The problem is at this point, finding “settled science” that supports opinion is hard to come by. My earliest reporting about barotrauma relied on studies that were related to the topic, but not directly involving research on freshwater species like crappie, sunfish, pike, or walleye.

As evidenced by the Brainerd area fisheries staff production about the deep-water release, even biologists are not all on the same page, at least not yet.

As it happens, Jeff Reed, co-chair of the MN DNR Panfish Workgroup reached out yesterday and offered a new study about barotrauma. Crappie and sunfish caught during the ice fishing season is the study subject and the 10-page report, Althoff offers the most insight of anything I’ve seen so far. I’m still digesting it myself, so for now, I’ll refrain from comment, but I bet it will trigger another learning spurt. So, watch for more updates.

In the meantime, I’ll repeat what I said before. If there’s a way to catch a fish in shallow water, then I think that’s the best way to go. If the only way to get a meal is by fishing in deep water, then I think it’s best to get the meal, then leave the area and find something else to do.

That said, we know that not everybody will follow my lead and some folks, for reasons of their own, are going to keep on fishing in deep water. If learning something about releasing those deep-caught-fish can save some of the ones that would have otherwise perished, then we should at least be open to the discussion. — Office Cell Call or Text 218-245-9858 or EMAIL

Lake of the Woods, LOW Tourism February 9, 2022

"Another great week of ice fishing on the south end of Lake of the Woods. In many areas where ice fishing is taking place, ice is over 24 inches thick with 18 to 24 inches of snow. Ice conditions vary across the lake, resorts and outfitters will advise on weight limits for their ice roads and trails.

Walleyes and saugers are spread out this time of year and anglers are seeing various sizes. The lake has a big population of small walleyes and saugers coming through which is great for the future. It means some sorting of fish to find keepers. Most are catching fish for a fish fry. Some, if lucky and, or good, catching a slot fish or two or even a trophy walleye over 28 inches.

Most ice fishing is taking place in 26 to 33 feet of water. In addition to walleyes and saugers, jumbo perch, eelpout, tullibees and an occasional crappie or sturgeon are being caught.

Working a jigging line in one hole combined with a deadstick in the second hole which is usually a live minnow on a plain hook or small walleye jig just off of the bottom is an effective combo. Noise and rattles in the stained water has been effective.

If you are seeing fish on your electronics and they are not biting, downsize your presentation. Gold, pink, green and orange good colors this week.

On the Rainy River, Walleye fishing continues best in the mornings and evenings. Gold, glow or gold combined with glow colors working well. A jig and minnow close to the bottom has been effective. Some nice walleyes living in the river.

The snowmobile trail is groomed and staked from Baudette to Wheeler's Point and then continuing up to the Northwest Angle. At the "Angle" anglers are finding good walleye fishing this week. Resorts are continually moving fish houses keeping them in productive areas. Walleyes with some saugers, jumbo perch, eelpout and pike mixed in. Most fishing taking place in 24 to 30 feet of water. Gold, pink and various glow colors continue to be productive.

There are various ways to travel to the Angle.

1. 1. Drive through Canada (vaccination and COVID test required).
2. 2. Groomed and staked snowmobile trails (stays in MN)
3. 3. LOW Passenger Service (bombardier service across the lake staying in MN)
4. 4. Lake Country Air.(stays in MN)

LOW enjoys extended seasons with fish houses on the lake through March, walleye and sauger season open through April 14th and pike open year round. Lodging and fish house openings are available around the lake." — Lake of the Woods Tourism, (800) 382-FISH

Ely Area, Arrowhead Outdoors Fishing Report February 9, 2022

"Lake trout fishing was slow to very slow for the majority of lake trout anglers this last week. Anglers struggled to even mark fish, let alone get fish to chase. Anglers able to catch fish reported that bites were very light and trout had to be worked more like a walleye in order to get them to bite. Small, but heavy spoons were the most effective baits last week.

Stream trout anglers reported good fishing this last week. Anglers targeting Splake, found them in shallow water, 10 feet or less. Small spoons and small jigs tipped with wax worms was the most effective baits this last week. Anglers targeting rainbows found rainbows in deeper then normal water. 15-20 feet of water was the best depth to find active rainbows. Here again, small jigs tipped with wax worms or salmon eggs were the best baits.

Panfish - With warmer temps anglers continue to poke around looking for panfish, but reports continue to come back as poor. Anglers are finding some crappies very loosely schooled over deep water, but largely very negative. Anglers managed to catch a few crappies worth taking home with small crappie minnows or soft plastics.

Eelpout reports continue to improve as we get closer and closer to their spawn. Anglers are finding active Eelpout around sunken islands, river mouths and large flats near deep water. Anglers have been doing best with heavy glow spoons, loaded with pieces of minnows and pounded on the bottom. After dark has been best but there has been a few reports of eelpout caught during the day now." — Arrowhead Outdoors, 218-365-5358

News Release February 9, 2022: Mille Lacs Fisheries Advisory Committee Meeting Tuesday, February 15, 2022

"The Mille Lacs Fisheries Advisory Committee will meet from 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 15. The meeting is hybrid — via online videoconference as well as in-person in Brainerd. The agenda will cover fall netting results, upcoming open water regulations and an update on the Mille Lacs management plan. The DNR will also be welcoming new members onto the committee.

Members of the public may observe MLFAC meetings, but these meetings serve primarily as a way for the committee to hold group discussions. Fifteen minutes are reserved for public comments and questions. For the upcoming meeting, members of the public who wish to observe the meeting or speak during the public comment period should contact millelacs.fisheries@state.mn.us by noon Monday, Feb. 14, to receive the online meeting link. In-person attendance is available to MLFAC members and DNR staff only, to minimize COVID risk. Meeting minutes will be posted after the meeting on the MLFAC page.

Individuals with a disability who need a reasonable accommodation to participate in this event, please contact the Mille Lacs Lake area fisheries office by email at millelacs.fisheries@state.mn.us or by phone at 218-429-3031 or using your preferred Telecommunications Relay Provider.

The committee has been active since October 2015. Its purpose is to advise the DNR on the State of Minnesota’s fisheries management program for Mille Lacs Lake.

For more information about DNR’s management of Mille Lacs Lake and how to get involved, visit the Mille Lacs Lake management page. To sign up to receive these email updates, click on “Newsletter” on the left menu and enter your email in the blue box on the page."

News Release February 8, 2022 "DNR seeks comments on Duluth area fisheries management plans"

"The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources invites anglers and others interested in fisheries management in the Duluth area to comment on fisheries management plans for several waterbodies through March 15, 2022. Comments and suggestions from the public are important for planning and evaluating the success of activities laid out in management plans.

Fisheries information and management activities are being updated for the following lakes and streams in Carlton County. Carlton County waters: Hanging Horn Lake – updated plan focusing on management of naturally reproduced walleye and cisco and discontinuing unsuccessful trout stocking. Little Net River – initial management plan including proposal to ..." Read >> DNR seeks comments on Duluth area fisheries management plans

Wired2Fish "Rare Golden Crappie Caught Ice Fishing" February 8, 2022

"While goldfish are plentiful as pets, the golden pigment is ultra-rare in game fish. Very few golden crappie have ever been caught. Usually not even one a year, but this January already produced a golden crappie in Minnesota to kick off 2021.

Rick Konakowitz was ice fishing on Clear Lake in southern Minnesota when he hooked the fish. He originally thought it was a bluegill or perch until he got it out of the water. Turns out is was the extremely rare Golden Crappie.

Golden Crappie also known as Xanthic Crappie are nothing more than fish with an overload of pigment. Similar to albino deer, Golden Crappie are hardly ever caught and there really are no environmental factors that cause it. It’s simply a genetic anomaly." Learn More about Konakowitz’s catch >> Rare golden crappie caught on Minnesota Lake.

Lake of the Woods, Border View Lodge February 8, 2022

"More great fishing this past week. Many Anglers send pictures of their catches which are awesome to see and share! Great memories are made when you are surrounded by friends and family.

Using electronics is still a great benefit. There are suspended fish coming along at different times of the day. Keeping these fish to actively chase your bait creates great anticipation and excitement to find out what is on the other end.

With so many options for lures it is almost impossible to say what has been working best. Stick with typical colors for Lake of the Woods, Gold, Glow colors, things with noise. When you are at the store trying to decide, use those guidelines and you basically cannot go wrong. At the end of the day multiple Anglers could prove a different hot lure of the day. The UV colors work well. Also, it is important to have a sonar style electronics.

The weather forecast is showing above zero temps after tonight for the rest of the week. We hope that will not bring more snow." — 1-800-776-3474 Border View Lodge

Lake of the Woods, LOW Tourism February 2, 2022

"The pursuit of both walleye and sauger is going strong on the south end of Lake of the Woods. As resorts and outfitters looking for concentrations of fish spread out, there are new fishing areas emerging periodically.

The anglers doing the best are using electronics and deliberately working every fish that comes into view. Most ice fishing is taking place in 27 to 33 feet of water.

The one-two punch of a jigging line combined with a live minnow on a deadstick is an effective combo. Noise and rattles in the stained water can be effective. When fishing gets tough, downsize your presentation. If fish are not reacting, change your offering or presentation. Gold, pink, green and wonder bread have been strong colors this week.

On the deadstick, try colored hooks or various deadstick lures with a live minnow 6 inches off the bottom. Jig your deadstick frequently to catch more fish.

On the Rainy River, walleye fishing continues best in the mornings and evenings. Gold, glow or gold combined with glow colors working well. A jig and minnow close to the bottom has been effective. Some nice walleyes being caught.

The snowmobile trail is groomed, staked and in good shape from Baudette to Wheeler's Point continuing up to the Angle.

It has been another productive week of walleye fishing up at the Northwest Angle. Resorts are adjusting fish houses keeping them in productive areas. Walleyes with some saugers, jumbo perch, eelpout and pike mixed in. Most fishing taking place in 25 to 30 feet of water. Gold, pink and various glow colors continue to be productive.

There are various ways to travel to the Angle. Drive through Canada (vaccination and COVID test required) • Groomed and staked snowmobile trails (stays in MN) • LOW Passenger Service (bombardier service across the lake staying in MN) • Lake Country Air (stays in MN)" — Lake of the Woods Tourism, (800) 382-FISH

Lake of the Woods, Border View Lodge January 31, 2022

"February starts this week, it’s amazing how time flies. We are 12 miles or more past Pine Island and still on the move. We continue to spread out around 30’s feet deep in the mud.

There has been some great action this week. We have been at a greater than 2-foot mark of ice and using extensions on the augers. There is a heavy blanket of snow protecting the ice. This blanket helps protect the ice from expanding or contracting too much, especially in areas with water under the ice. Shallow areas, or areas closer to shore which are frozen all the way to the bottom are more susceptible to busting up and moving around as the ice expands or contracts. The areas frozen to the ground do move and bust up regularly, but can at times be dealt with easily. We have not been using any of our bridges since December.

There has been a lot of small marks on the sonars from 5-10 feet off the bottom. Mostly these are Tullibee. Along with the Tullibee come the larger Walleye and Northern when they are feeding. It is generally easy to get these larger fish to bite if you are lucky enough to have them come across you. The trick is getting them through the hole, or hoping, if it is a Northern it doesn’t cut your line.

With so many options for lures it is almost impossible to say what has been working best. Stick with typical colors for Lake of the Woods, Gold, Glow colors, things with noise. When you are at the store trying to decide, use those guidelines and you basically cannot go wrong. At the end of the day multiple Anglers could prove a different hot lure of the day. The UV colors work well. Also, it is important to have a sonar style electronics.

This week is predicted to start mild and maybe have a little snow, then turns back to the below zero temps." — 1-800-776-3474 Border View Lodge