2025 has a great ring to it, and we hope all of you anglers have the best of fishing success this year.
We ended the 2024 campaign on a high note with many successful days on the water. However, many bites are changing fast. As we stand, we are back to full steam ahead after that hiccup of a warm spell and rain. The aforementioned weather did put some ice production backward, but things are back to moving in the right direction.
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Let's dive into this 2025 fishing update: Lake Superior finally had a few brave anglers tickling the thin ice near Ashland. The bite was not great with cloudy water and not much safe room to roam. With last week's rain and above-freezing temperatures, many anglers got sidelined. This first week of January should help the cause. With any luck, we will begin our first routine trips this week, so stay tuned for what we find out.
St. Louis River also had a bit of standing water last weekend as the rain poured down. It certainly made for a few “sketchy” spots, but for the most part, the integrity of the river ice stayed put. The bite has been hit and miss. We have been getting most of the walleyes during the early morning and last light periods. A dead stick with a chub 1 inch off the bottom has been the ticket. However, be cautious of incoming sturgeon — they have been on the chew. If you find yourself dealing with a dino, prepare to be busy for a while. Also, be prepared to spook any approaching fish.
Back-bays have had a few crappies and big sunfish and perch bites with simple small teardrop and meat rigs over the 4-7 foot mud.
Inland has been a slugfest of pressured waters — especially for the big lakes. We are just starting to see hard-sided houses get set. Most waters are not ready for truck travel, but soon enough that will change. The best panfish bites have been a ways from the commotion of machines, either coming or going. Dead sticking a live crappie minnow under a float will turn a few crappies.
If you're after crappies, I recommend fishing the last-light bite windows. It pays to be set up and ready by 3:30 pm. Walleyes have been slowing down, but a few fish are still coming top-side with jigging spoons tipped with a minnow. Don’t forget to utilize your glow-type lures, as that can make a difference. For pike, keep working set-lines on weed edges.
Lastly, let’s all do a good job of being nice and considerate of other anglers. This last week, on several occasions, we watched people whipping donuts with machines around patient anglers. Be courteous to each other and we will see you on the water.
The Trust Project
