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Ice Fishing Bonanza on Lake of the Woods: Walleyes, Trout, and More in Icy Conditions
On Lake of the Woods, Minnesota, as of January 24, 2025, ice fishing is in full swing, despite the cold and windy conditions. The south shore of the lake is bustling with activity, with resorts and outfitters reporting solid ice conditions, often upwards of two feet thick. This has allowed ice roads to open for 1-ton vehicles pulling wheelhouses, though it's crucial to check the weight limits with each resort before heading out.
The best fishing action is happening in the 26 to 32 feet depth range, where anglers are catching a mix of walleyes, saugers, jumbo perch, northern pike, and the occasional sturgeon. Walleye fishing, though typical for January, remains slow, with the best times being during the evening hours. Anglers are having success using bright glowing jigs tipped with a minnow, especially on dead sticks overnight. Deep rocks and mud flats are the key areas to target[1][2].
Lake trout fishing has been excellent, particularly in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA), where anglers are finding success in 40 to 60 feet of water near flats, humps, and points. Tubes and flukes fished 20 to 40 feet down have been very effective[1].
For stream trout, specifically brook trout, anglers are focusing on shallow shorelines in 6 feet of water or less. Small jigging spoons and tungsten jigs tipped with wax worms are producing good numbers of trout[1].
Northern pike anglers are targeting big pike using tip-ups with medium to large suckers in weedbeds in 5 to 12 feet of water.
Given the lake's location in Minnesota, there are no tidal influences to consider. However, the weather is cold and windy, so dress accordingly. Sunrise today is around 7:45 AM, and sunset is approximately 4:45 PM.
Hot spots include the south shore of Lake of the Woods, particularly around the resorts and outfitters that have placed fish houses on points, reefs, and over deep mud. The Northwest Angle is also delivering consistent fishing results with a nice mix of walleyes, saugers, jumbo perch, and pike[2].
To maximize your catch, use electronics to locate suspended fish and adjust your presentation accordingly. A combination of jigging presentations in one hole and a "dead stick" presentation in another can be very effective. Small jigging spoons tipped with wax worms or dead minnows are deadly for stream trout and smaller species, while live suckers suspended under the ice can produce lake trout[1].
The best fishing action is happening in the 26 to 32 feet depth range, where anglers are catching a mix of walleyes, saugers, jumbo perch, northern pike, and the occasional sturgeon. Walleye fishing, though typical for January, remains slow, with the best times being during the evening hours. Anglers are having success using bright glowing jigs tipped with a minnow, especially on dead sticks overnight. Deep rocks and mud flats are the key areas to target[1][2].
Lake trout fishing has been excellent, particularly in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA), where anglers are finding success in 40 to 60 feet of water near flats, humps, and points. Tubes and flukes fished 20 to 40 feet down have been very effective[1].
For stream trout, specifically brook trout, anglers are focusing on shallow shorelines in 6 feet of water or less. Small jigging spoons and tungsten jigs tipped with wax worms are producing good numbers of trout[1].
Northern pike anglers are targeting big pike using tip-ups with medium to large suckers in weedbeds in 5 to 12 feet of water.
Given the lake's location in Minnesota, there are no tidal influences to consider. However, the weather is cold and windy, so dress accordingly. Sunrise today is around 7:45 AM, and sunset is approximately 4:45 PM.
Hot spots include the south shore of Lake of the Woods, particularly around the resorts and outfitters that have placed fish houses on points, reefs, and over deep mud. The Northwest Angle is also delivering consistent fishing results with a nice mix of walleyes, saugers, jumbo perch, and pike[2].
To maximize your catch, use electronics to locate suspended fish and adjust your presentation accordingly. A combination of jigging presentations in one hole and a "dead stick" presentation in another can be very effective. Small jigging spoons tipped with wax worms or dead minnows are deadly for stream trout and smaller species, while live suckers suspended under the ice can produce lake trout[1].
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By Quiet. PleaseOn Lake of the Woods, Minnesota, as of January 24, 2025, ice fishing is in full swing, despite the cold and windy conditions. The south shore of the lake is bustling with activity, with resorts and outfitters reporting solid ice conditions, often upwards of two feet thick. This has allowed ice roads to open for 1-ton vehicles pulling wheelhouses, though it's crucial to check the weight limits with each resort before heading out.
The best fishing action is happening in the 26 to 32 feet depth range, where anglers are catching a mix of walleyes, saugers, jumbo perch, northern pike, and the occasional sturgeon. Walleye fishing, though typical for January, remains slow, with the best times being during the evening hours. Anglers are having success using bright glowing jigs tipped with a minnow, especially on dead sticks overnight. Deep rocks and mud flats are the key areas to target[1][2].
Lake trout fishing has been excellent, particularly in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA), where anglers are finding success in 40 to 60 feet of water near flats, humps, and points. Tubes and flukes fished 20 to 40 feet down have been very effective[1].
For stream trout, specifically brook trout, anglers are focusing on shallow shorelines in 6 feet of water or less. Small jigging spoons and tungsten jigs tipped with wax worms are producing good numbers of trout[1].
Northern pike anglers are targeting big pike using tip-ups with medium to large suckers in weedbeds in 5 to 12 feet of water.
Given the lake's location in Minnesota, there are no tidal influences to consider. However, the weather is cold and windy, so dress accordingly. Sunrise today is around 7:45 AM, and sunset is approximately 4:45 PM.
Hot spots include the south shore of Lake of the Woods, particularly around the resorts and outfitters that have placed fish houses on points, reefs, and over deep mud. The Northwest Angle is also delivering consistent fishing results with a nice mix of walleyes, saugers, jumbo perch, and pike[2].
To maximize your catch, use electronics to locate suspended fish and adjust your presentation accordingly. A combination of jigging presentations in one hole and a "dead stick" presentation in another can be very effective. Small jigging spoons tipped with wax worms or dead minnows are deadly for stream trout and smaller species, while live suckers suspended under the ice can produce lake trout[1].
The best fishing action is happening in the 26 to 32 feet depth range, where anglers are catching a mix of walleyes, saugers, jumbo perch, northern pike, and the occasional sturgeon. Walleye fishing, though typical for January, remains slow, with the best times being during the evening hours. Anglers are having success using bright glowing jigs tipped with a minnow, especially on dead sticks overnight. Deep rocks and mud flats are the key areas to target[1][2].
Lake trout fishing has been excellent, particularly in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA), where anglers are finding success in 40 to 60 feet of water near flats, humps, and points. Tubes and flukes fished 20 to 40 feet down have been very effective[1].
For stream trout, specifically brook trout, anglers are focusing on shallow shorelines in 6 feet of water or less. Small jigging spoons and tungsten jigs tipped with wax worms are producing good numbers of trout[1].
Northern pike anglers are targeting big pike using tip-ups with medium to large suckers in weedbeds in 5 to 12 feet of water.
Given the lake's location in Minnesota, there are no tidal influences to consider. However, the weather is cold and windy, so dress accordingly. Sunrise today is around 7:45 AM, and sunset is approximately 4:45 PM.
Hot spots include the south shore of Lake of the Woods, particularly around the resorts and outfitters that have placed fish houses on points, reefs, and over deep mud. The Northwest Angle is also delivering consistent fishing results with a nice mix of walleyes, saugers, jumbo perch, and pike[2].
To maximize your catch, use electronics to locate suspended fish and adjust your presentation accordingly. A combination of jigging presentations in one hole and a "dead stick" presentation in another can be very effective. Small jigging spoons tipped with wax worms or dead minnows are deadly for stream trout and smaller species, while live suckers suspended under the ice can produce lake trout[1].