March 27, 2025 "MN-FISH Grand Rapids Anglers Summit"

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 was 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 MN DNR Fisheries folks. Sure, there were a few DNR folks present, Brad Parsons, MN DNR Fisheries Chief, Marc Bacigalupi, Brainerd area fisheries supervisor and chairman of the DNR Technology Workgroup, and Tom Sutherland, Grand Rapids area Conservation Officer. There were others, but none served in prominent roles in the proceedings.

Second, there was an enormous amount of time devoted to questions, comments and opinions from the crowd. Every presentation was followed by lengthy exchanges between the presenters and the audience. The ground rules were clearly laid out by MN-FISH Executive Director, Mark Holsten, “If you have an opinion, we want to hear it”.

This loosely controlled approach to conducting a meeting is a major departure, and welcome to me, from the tightly controlled, heavily “facilitated” type meetings held by other organizations like the MN DNR. I think it’s fair to say that folks in attendance had every opportunity to express their opinions and concerns. Also fair to say, I think, is that MN-FISH officials showed a genuine interest in knowing what folks had to say.

The primary topics included reducing Minnesota’s Walleye possession limit, Northern Pike management, walleye stocking, re-building Minnesota fish hatcheries, live bait supplies, and the big one, “Forward Facing Sonar”.

Proving the importance of the FFS topic, the scheduled presentation by Jeremy Smith about the relationship between anglers’ use of “Forward Facing Sonar” and Muskies caught while using the technology attracted someone special to this meeting.

“I just wanted to come over and see Jeremy’s presentation”, said Al Lindner. Lindner, likely the most highly regarded authority on fishing in Minnesota rarely appears at events like this one. In fact, for me, it’s the first time I can recall seeing in the crowd at any that I’ve attended. In our conversation, Lindner, along with MN-FISH President Ron Schara agreed, FFS is probably the most important development of our time.

Details about the FFS discussion, along with an examination of everything discussed at the summit, will be the subject of every report in the coming days. But first, I want to see how these topics dovetail with discussions at tomorrow’s Minnesota DNR Fisheries Summit meeting in Brainerd at Central Lakes College in Brainerd. All of the same topics, including the FFS discussion and more, will be taken into consideration again.

The Fishing Technology Workgroup will host a panel discussion to end the meeting. The panel includes both DNR staff (including Enforcement) and stakeholders from the technology workgroup. As it happens, I am one of the members who serve on the technology workgroup and will be included in that panel discussion.

Before I wrap up for the morning, a reader asked me to mention the single failing, in his opinion, of the MN-FISH organization’s scheduling of yesterday’s angler’s summit. The sentiment, echoed by some in attendance is that the meeting would have served a wider cross-section of anglers if it were held on a weekend, or during the evening hours. It is true, there was one under-represented group, and they were young anglers, mostly under the age of 25.

I don’t know whether anglers in that age group would have been there on a Saturday or not, so it’s an open question. I’ll get firsthand feedback about that constructive criticism during the Brainerd tomorrow.

I’m looking forward to the DNR Summit tomorrow and expect another lively discussion. I expect that this year, April will be “coming in like a lion”, at least in terms of the fishing news. Stay tuned, and stay in touch! — Jeff Sundin, The Early Bird Fishing Guide Office Cell Call or Text 218-245-9858 or Email on Facebook on X

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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 20 to 30 feet of water. Wax worms tipped on small tungsten jigs continue to be very popular, but crappie minnows under a bobber and soft plastics on jigs have been accounting for their fair share of crappies too.

Lake trout - Forecasted snow storm kept many lake trout anglers away last weekend. The few reports we got were of good trout fishing. Humps and mud flats seemed to be the areas anglers found active lakers. Blade baits continue to shine as well as minnows under a tip up. Key depths continue to be 25 to 40 feet of water.

Stream Trout - Splake and rainbow trout continue to be popular targets for stream trout anglers. Splake are being found very tight to shore now in 5 feet of water and less. Small jigging spoons tipped with waxies or dead minnow have been very effective here. Rainbows have been a very different story. Anglers continue to find active rainbows out over 30 to 70 feet of water, but 5 to 10 feet under the ice. Small jigs tipped with waxies worms have been very effective here." — Arrowhead Outdoors, 218-365-5358

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March 26, 2025 "Fishing Issues In The News: 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 reminders.

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 meet fellow anglers, share your thoughts, hear from DNR fisheries leaders and learn about issues that will shape Minnesota fishing in the future. Topics include:

• DNR’s proposal to change the state’s walleye limit from six to four…and the potential year-round bass season. DNR fisheries chief, Brad Parsons, will explain the DNR’s rational on both ideas.
• Forward Facing Sonar—full steam ahead?
• Muskie and northern pike management? Is it working?
• Walleye stocking—More or less?

In addition, attendees will be able to voice their concerns, ask questions and get answers. Click On This Link TO REGISTER For MN-FISH Angler Summit. DO IT TODAY!! Ron Schara, President"

Next in line is the Minnesota DNR Fisheries Summit to be held on March 29 at Central Lakes College in Brainerd, Minnesota. Although this meeting is not "open to the public", your voice can be represented by those of us who serve as volunteers on the fisheries workgroups. In a message to workgroup members on Tuesday, the meeting facilitator wrote.  

“We are still looking for more questions for our fishing technology panel discussion. I know there’s a lot of interest in this topic, so I wanted to make sure people were aware of the opportunity. Please submit your questions to this survey by Thursday, March 27.

Fishing technology panel discussion: We will end the meeting with a panel discussion on fishing technology that includes both DNR staff (including Enforcement) and stakeholders from our technology workgroup. We would like to gather questions in advance so that we can make the most of that time and cover the issues that seem of interest to the most people.”

Okay, so here are folks from the 2 largest fishing events of the year asking for your opinions. All you have to do is let them know. If you can't be at the MN-FISH meeting, but want to submit a question, just drop me a line and I'll bring it along to the summit. I'll have updates about both gatherings within a few days, so be sure to check back. — Jeff Sundin, The Early Bird Fishing Guide Office Cell Call or Text 218-245-9858 or Email on Facebook on X

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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

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Lake of the Woods, LOW Tourism March 26, 2025

"There is still some good ice fishing taking place in a few areas along the south shore of Lake of the Woods. Transportation is limited, many resorts and outfitters have pulled their fishing shelters and are called it a season to make preparations for the open water season. Travel by ATVs will be your best bet, in limited cases, snowmobiles may be acceptible. Make sure to call ahead and check social media pages for most current revisions.

There are still some anglers targeting walleyes and finding good action during the morning or evening bite. Most folks fishing along the south shore focus their efforts on the period just prior to sunset. Some very quality fish are being caught. Some good walleye fishing along Pine Island as they make their way into the Rainy River and various spots along the south shore for those who spawn in the lake.

It was another great week of pike fishing for most. Fish are starting to transition closer to spawning areas as the days get longer. A number of big fish tipping that 40 inch mark coming topside. Suckers, frozen alewife and smelt set about a foot under the ice or just off of the bottom have proven effective. Most pike anglers are fishing in depths, 9 to 15 feet of water.

The Rain River is still frozen from Nelson Park at Birchdale, MN (30 miles east of Baudette), which is the first full sized boat ramp that opens up, but there is open water appearing and progress has been made. Things are happening, stay tuned as with the warmer weather, the river should open quickly.

A good reminder, as of March 1st, walleyes and saugers are catch and release only on Four Mile Bay and the Rainy River.

Make plans now for the portion of the sturgeon season you'd like to fish. Once the open water appears, the fish are super active. Here are the seasons.

• Catch and Release Season: May 8th – May 15th and October 1 – April 23rd.
• Harvest Season: April 24th – May 7th and July 1 – September 30.
• Closed Season: May 16th – June 30th.

Up at the Northwest Angle, there is still a bit of ice fishing still happening. That said, most resorts have pulled off their fish houses and called it a year. Call ahead if you plan on getting on that last ice fishing trip as some areas with current are opening up and ice guides will keep you safe.

Fishing remains very good up at the Angle. The evening bite for walleyes has been super solid. The pike are active and big, ready to spawn. Still big numbers of jumbo perch throughout the area. Very good fishing reports for late ice. Safety first, please work through a resort or outfitter if you plan on getting out.

Plan for the MN Fishing Opener which is Saturday, May 10, 2025! The walleye and sauger season is open through April 14th. Pike fishing never closes, and perch and crappie remain open year-round as well. You can fish for sturgeon through May 15th." — Lake of the Woods Tourism, (800) 382-FISH

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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 negative side so wax worms have been best with crappie minnows and soft plastics also working, but just not as good.

Lake Trout - Anglers continue to report catching good lakers this last week. Many anglers have shifted their focus to deep mud flats to find active lakers. With no snow on the ice anymore, sunlight is able to get through the ice and bugs have started getting active. With bugs there's minnows and with minnows there's lakers. Blade bait continue to produce the best results, but bucktails and tubes are still catching trout. Small to medium size minnows under tip ups have also been producing trout.

Stream Trout - Rainbow trout continue to be found 5 to 15 feet deep under the ice over 20 to 70 feet of water. Small spoons or jigs tipped with wax worms continues to catch trout. Splake and Brook trout are being caught in somewhat shallower water 5 to 20 feet. Dead minnows on a jig, or small spoons tipped with waxes have been very effective on them." — Arrowhead Outdoors, 218-365-5358

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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 at what they believe to be an archaic means of restricting anglers, one that’s not only oppressive but ..." Read Full Story and Learn More >> The No Information Rule: Does the Punishment Fit the Crime?

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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 go back to fishing without it,” he said. His point of view is that ever time he goes fishing, his use of FFS leads to new and exciting discoveries about fish, how they relate to their habitats and how they respond to his fishing presentations. Take it away, and we’ll be sending anglers back into the stone ages, he believes.

So, who’s right? Is forward facing sonar the best thing that ever happened to fishing, or will it be the bane of an angler’s existence?

Personally, I’m still on the fence about FFS. I don’t own it, in fact, I haven’t ever used it, but I’m not against it either. While I feel lucky that I can catch fish without it, I’m impressed with its ability to level the playing field. Folks who might struggle with some concepts about visualizing where fish live can simple use FFS to find them. Learning the presentations to produce strikes becomes easier too because an angler can watch, in real time, how fish respond to their offerings.

On the other hand, I do see some folks putting a lot more pressure on certain schools of fish. I’ve seen firsthand that the ‘seek and destroy” mentality definitely does exist out there, and certain unscrupulous anglers can potentially do a lot of damage to fish populations, especially in the more delicate biosystems.

One thing that I know for sure is that these days, I can’t go anyplace without somebody asking me for my thoughts about facing sonar. I also know that there are a lot of people discussing the future of FFS. Fisheries biologists, DNR Enforcement Staff, concerned citizens, pro anglers and fishing industry officials are all studying the subject and hoping to land on the best possible answers for Minnesota anglers.

Next Thursday, March 27, 2025, the Timberlake Lodge in Grand Rapids MN will host the MN-FISH Anglers’ Summit. On the agenda, you guessed it, “Forward Facing Sonar”. Other topics on the schedule include reducing Minnesota’s Walleye possession limit, Musky and Northern Pike management, and the future of fish stocking in Minnesota.

For you, the anglers’ summit represents an opportunity to make your voice heard. MN DNR Fisheries Chief, Brad Parsons, along with other high-ranking fishing industry officials will be there to hear your concerns. I'm not sure how much space they have left, but as of this morning, MN-FISH is still offering public invitations.

So, click on the link, Make Your Reservation for the MN-FISH Anglers’ Summit and claim your opporturnity to influence the system!

If you can't make it to the Anglers' Summit, get in touch with me, and I'll be sure that your comments are delivered next wseek. — Jeff Sundin, The Early Bird Fishing Guide Office Cell Call or Text 218-245-9858 or Email on Facebook on X

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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 perch. Using electronics is super helpful with some larger walleyes swimming through suspended.

It was a great week of pike fishing for most. Good numbers of fish and some big fish tipping that 40 inch mark coming topside. Suckers, frozen alewife and smelt are working well. Putting baits 1 foot under the ice or right off bottom has been effective. Most pike anglers are fishing in depths, 9 to 15 feet of water.

Rainy River Report: In the areas that are most popular for springtime walleye fishing, the Rainy River is still frozen. From Nelson Park at Birchdale, MN (30 miles east of Baudette) and west toward the big lake, the ice is showing early signs of deteriorating in places. The river is open water about 20 miles east of Birchdale near Loman. So, good things are happening. A reminder, as of March 1, 2025, walleyes and saugers are catch and release only on Four Mile Bay and the Rainy River.

Make plans now for the portion of the sturgeon season you'd like to fish. Once the open water appears, the fish are super active. Here are the seasons.

• Catch and Release Season: May 8th – May 15th and October 1 – April 23rd.
• Harvest Season: April 24th – May 7th and July 1 – September 30.
• Closed Season: May 16th – June 30th.

Up at the Northwest Angle, fishing remains very good. There is still some ice fishing happening with some, and others have called it a season. Call ahead if you have that itch for one last ice fishing trip. Walleyes, saugers, perch, crappies and pike are in good numbers.

The walleye and sauger season is open through April 14, 2025. Northern pike fishing never closes, and perch and crappie remain open year-round as well. You can fish for sturgeon through May 15, 2025." — Lake of the Woods Tourism, (800) 382-FISH

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Wired2Fish March 19, 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

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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 MN DNR website and checked the 2025 Lake Ice Out Dates. As of 7:00 Am this morning (3-16-25), Lake Washington wasn’t on the list of the lakes checked off on the interactive ice-out map. There weren’t many others on that map either, and certainly nothing further north. My guess is that map will be updated on Monday, and Washington, along with a few more will likely show up then.

Next, I logged into the “Ice-Out Clock” on the Minnesota Sea Grant website. I searched for Lake Washington in Le Suer County and received the message “Ice out is imminent or past (3/14/2025)”. So, my scorecard for the ice-out clock is at 100%, at least for my first search for real time information.

Just now, I looked up Lake Bemidji, in Beltrami County to use as a reference for popular lakes in my home region. The estimate provided by the Sea Grant website estimates an expected ice-out between April 11 and April 13, 2025. For future reference, I’ll jot down the estimated dates for a dozen or so lakes, and later, keep track of how close they come to the real time ice-out dates as they occur.

From what I see today, ice free lakes in north central Minnesota might occur somewhat early, but I don’t think anywhere near as early as they did in 2024. I’ll be tracking the information and share notes with you here. However, if you’re the inquisitive type, you can track the progress of your own list of lakes.

Follow this link to use the MN DNR ICE-OUT MAP. Hover over a map marker to get the lake name and the ice out date. Click on a map marker to get the following information: lake name, ice out date, ice out summary statistics, and a link for obtaining all available historical ice out dates for the lake.

Follow this link to use the Minnesota Sea Grant ICE-OUT CLOCK and scroll down the page to find the map. Click on the image of your lake on the map to get the name of the county. Next search for the lake name in the drop-down list and click on the box “GET ICE-OUT FORECAST”. The most current estimate of ice-dates will be revealed. But remember, the ice-out forecast is updated whenever real-time information from the field is reported. So, it’s a good idea to renew your search periodically to be sure your information is up to date.

Meanwhile, in Grand Rapids, the wind is howling, snow is falling, and temperatures are dropping. Despite the arrival of our ice-shelter removal deadline, it looks more like winter now than it has for a few weeks. The ice-fishing season may be over for folks with large permanent shelters and “wheelhouses” but it is far from over for folks with portables. In fact we have a family fishing trip planned for next weekend, and we’ll be checking ice conditions early this week. — Jeff Sundin, The Early Bird Fishing Guide Office Cell Call or Text 218-245-9858 or Email on Facebook on X

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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

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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 importance of how ice-out dates affect water conditions and how fish might respond to them.

• Water clarity, and impacts to fish habitat such as vegetation growth
• Fishing spawning dates, and changes in fish survival rates
• Plankton production, the primary food source for tiny, newly hatched gamefish
• Stratification of the water column and impacts on Oxygen levels
• Potential for increased spread of aquatic invasive species
• How changing water conditions or temperatures might affect a lakes potential to support certain fish species

Obviously, my short list barely scratches the surface of potential impacts from changing water conditions in Minnesota lakes. My viewpoint happens to focus more on fish, and fishing, than anything else. Your favorite lakes, and your interest in them may vary. During the presentation, Downing promised that there will be a link to the full presentation, and when it becomes available, I’ll provide an update with links to it.

In the meantime, the free ice out clock tool is available for you to use. Follow this link to the Minnesota Sea Grant’s interactive map >> Minnesota Lakes Ice-Out Clock. Have questions or comments about your favorite Minnesota lakes?

Toward the end of his webinar, Downing advised viewers that the Q&A will be moderated by staff at Itasca Waters. They’ll combine similar questions and provide answers based on categories. I'd encourage you to contact Downing with specific questions or comments using the email link found here, on the Itasca Waters Website.

If your specific queastion isn't adressed, just let me know and I'll help find a connection to help you. — Office Call or Text 218-245-9858 or EMAIL on Facebook on X

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Ely Area, Arrowhead Outdoors Fishing Report March 13, 2025

"Lake Trout - Lake trout fishing reports continue to be positive for many anglers this last week. Anglers' locations have become really scattered throughout the lake. Large mud flats, humps surrounded by deep water and main lake points have all been producing good numbers of lakes and lots of quality lakers too.

Blade baits like spoons and vibratos have been accounting for the majority of lake trout. Depths this week ranged from 20 to 50 feet of water. Many anglers reported marking and catching lakers 5 to 15 feet under the ice.

Crappies - Crappie anglers continue to report mixed results this last week. Many anglers reported that crappies are now being seen high off the bottom, but remain fussy. Live minnows suspended under a bobber proved too hard for many crappies to pass up. Now that the snow has burned off and warm temps are in the forecast, the crappie bite should only get better.

Stream Trout - Rainbow trout continue to be easy to find and easy to catch. Anglers are finding them over deep water, 30 to 70 feet of water, but are catching them 5 to 10 feet under the ice. Small spoons tipped with waxies. Small soft plastics tipped on a small jig have also been very effective." — Arrowhead Outdoors, 218-365-5358

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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

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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 three feet of ice and that makes a big difference in how long the ice fishing season lasts. Fish houses are allowed unattended overnight through March 31, 2025 and reports are that a good number of resorts will be fishing through the month, but ultimately, Mother Nature will determine that.

Regarding the fishing, overall, very good reports for walleyes, saugers and perch. There is a strong population of smaller walleyes and saugers in the lake which bodes well for the future, but in the meantime, anglers are sorting through them to catch their keepers.

The one-two punch of jigging and deadsticking remains the most effective technique. Jigging spoons with rattles tipped with a minnow head or a lipless crankbait on the jigging line is the ticket. On the deadstick, a live minnow a foot off the bottom on a plain red hook or medium sized ice fishing jig is catching a lot of fish. Using electronics is super helpful. Many nice walleyes are swimming through suspended, keep an eye out.

Anglers tip-up fishing for pike have had a great week and it should continue to get even better. Suckers, frozen alewife and smelt are working well. Putting baits 1 foot under the ice or right off bottom seems to be effective this week. Most common depths, 9 to 15 feet of water.

On the Rainy River, there are no signs of open water yet. Every year can be different, but on average, the Rainy River will start opening up around the third week of March. Typically, the first boat ramp suitable for larger boats is Nelson Park in Birchdale. We will keep you posted about ice out, and ramp conditions as they develop. A reminder, as of March 1, 2025, walleye and sauger fishing on the Rainy River is catch and release only, including Four Mile Bay.

Make plans now for the portion of the sturgeon season you'd like to fish. Once the open water appears, the fish are super active. Here are the seasons.

• Catch and Release Season: May 8th – May 15th and October 1 – April 23rd.
• Harvest Season: April 24th – May 7th and July 1 – September 30.
• Closed Season: May 16th – June 30th.

Up at the Northwest Angle... Fishing remains very good up at the Angle and the ice is in good shape as well. As on the south end, resorts monitor ice roads and trails daily and there are still some great ice fishing opportunities available.

Walleyes, saugers, perch, and pike are showing up in good numbers. Those targeting crappies are reporting good numbers of fish. Work through a NW Angle resort for ice fishing opportunities on this part of the lake.

The walleye and sauger season is open through April 14, 2025. Pike fishing never closes, and perch and crappie remain open year-round as well. Whether booking a day house rental, sleeper fish house, or resort stay, there is still plenty of time to plan a late-season ice fishing adventure.
" — Lake of the Woods Tourism, (800) 382-FISH

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March 7, 2025 "Ice Out Date Predictions"

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. — Office Call or Text 218-245-9858 or EMAIL on Facebook on X

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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.

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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

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Lake of the Woods, LOW Tourism March 5, 2025

"Ice fishing remains strong 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 monitoring conditions where they travel and fish.

Anglers are sorting through smaller fish but are consistently catching limits of walleyes and saugers, along with jumbo perch, eelpout, pike, tullibees, and even a few crappies. The one-two punch of jigging and deadsticking remains the most effective technique. Jigging spoons with rattles, lipless crankbaits, and jigging rap-style lures are producing well, while deadsticks with a live minnow a foot off the bottom are catching less aggressive fish.

March is prime time for trophy northern pike, with tip-up fishing proving to be highly productive. It was a great week for big pike and should only get better through March and into April.

The Rainy River has been decent for fishing over most of the winter, and continues to do so. Walleye fishing has been best in the mornings and evenings using jigs and minnows. Sturgeon fishing has been solid, with some large fish being caught. Anglers should check with resorts before heading out, as ice conditions on the river can change quickly due to current and runoff during the day.

Up at the Northwest Angle, fishing remains very good. Resorts continue to move fish houses to keep guests on active schools of walleyes, saugers, perch, and pike. Big crappies are still being caught just over the border in Canada, and those interested should check with resorts for the latest conditions and guide services.

Lake of the Woods being border water with Canada has an extended ice fishing season, with fish houses allowed on the ice through March 31st. In addition, the walleye and sauger season is open through April 14th. Pike fishing never closes, and perch and crappie remain open year-round as well. Whether booking a day house rental, sleeper fish house, or resort stay, there is still plenty of time to plan a late-season ice fishing adventure." — Lake of the Woods Tourism, (800) 382-FISH

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Wired2Fish March 5, 2025 "Beau Browning’s Minnow Tactics for Deep Prespawn Bass"

"Beau Browning shows us how to target deep prespawn bass using a minnow and forward-facing sonar on highland reservoirs. The key for Browning is locating the highest bass density in the standing timber of deep-water ditches, then dialing his minnow presentation until the fish commit.

FINDING BASS IN STANDING TIMBER AND DITCHES: Browning explains that fishing around standing timber requires a slow, methodical approach. By following major creek arms and tracking the deepest parts of the ditch, Browning locates fish at various depths, from 30 to 60 feet. Timber creates the perfect ambush point for bass, and when multiple fish gather in one area, competition increases, making them ..." View Video to Learn More >> Beau Browning’s Minnow Tactics for Deep Prespawn Bass

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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

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Maps and Charts 101 | "NEW FishRapper Angling Education Section"

Interpreting the information contained on paper maps and interactive electronic charts was a topic brought up in a recent reader question. In a nutshell, the reader asked where he could find basic information about definitions that outdoor writers, television hosts and other "pro-anglers" use in their reports. Answering those questions led to a week-long project aimed at helping define common terms like breaklines, bars, points and weedlines.

Those individual Q&A replies are now consolidated ito a new FishRapper web page called "Mapping and Charting 101". With the launch of that page, a completely new section of the website "Angling Education" was born. The new section will expand as we add more fishing articles, videos and fishing reports aimed at answering the basic "How-To-Questions" that anglers, new to the sport will find helpful.

As always, your questions and comments are invited, so don't be shy! — Jeff Sundin, The Early Bird Fishing Guide Office Cell Call or Text 218-245-9858 or Email on Facebook on X

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You Are Invited To Become A Duly Deputized Fishrapper Cub Reporter Too!

If you've been waiting for a gold engraved invitation to participate in the daily reports, then stop waiting and consider this your own personal invitation.

Helping your fellow fishermen and women stay abreast of fishing conditions in your area is good for everybody and it's easier than you think! You don't have to write a book, you don't have to share your secret fishing spots and you don't even have to mention your lake. But even a few words about general trends, seasonal patterns and local weather conditions can really help.

Be like me, become a duly deputized "Cub Reporter", it's good for fishing! Contact Us or if you prefer to be "social", Fishing Reports Minnesota, the Facebook counterpart to this page is open to the public, so you can post your own fishing update or just share a photo of a nice catch.

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