Where are the fish biting?

 

Mike Quaife of Holiday said his only report is that Kemo Lake is producing decent-sized splake, and a 2-pound brookie was caught. Slush was not bad on Kemo.

Otherwise, it was slow all over, said Quaife.

Craig Schulte of Super America said he’s heard reports that the fishing is slow all around, too, with the exception of Loon Lake, where a store clerk caught a 10-pound lake trout with a limit of smaller ones. Slow fishing is the report this week.

Due to the cold weather, not too many fishermen were going out and reports of slush on most lakes kept activity down, Schulte said. But with warmer weather coming this weekend, he expects things to pick up.

Jon at Buck’s says: “It seems that fewer fishermen went out this past week and that’s too bad as I’ve been hearing about some very good rainbow and splake action. The walleye bite is pretty slim but if you want some action Sag and Seagull might be your best choice. As for trout, a couple of lakes you might want to try include good ol’ Leo Lake where the rainbows are biting in 10 to 15 feet of water. The fish are suspended just under the ice. The splake in Leo are in about 15 to 22 feet of water, suspended.

Above: Fishing’s good on the Gunflint Trail! This group of Windigo Lodge crew members caught nine rainbows and one brook trout in about three hours of fishing on Birch Lake with Vince Ekroot of Little Vince’s Guide Service. (L-R) Matt Hendrickson (behind), Xana Raquel Ortolan, Randy Ekroot, and Gabriela Gricol.

“Shoe Lake was giving up some brookies as well as splake in 8 to 15 feet using salted minnows and waxies. Greenwood Lake is reporting some lakers pretty deep in the 35- to 45-foot depths using jigging rapalas tipped with a minnow head. I also heard of some success around 18 to 26 feet off the bottom with minnows and spoons.

“Mink Lake is also reporting good rainbow action in 8 to 15 feet using waxies and ice jigs. If Mink isn’t your cup of tea (or bottle of suds) hop on over to Kimball as it’s giving them up in 12 to 18 feet of water.”

Left: Gabriela Gricol with a beautiful rainbow caught on Birch Lake.