**NOTICE** this will be our last ice fishing report. We have been informed that the ice is starting to separate from the edges of area lakes and natural springs are opening up under the ice. There have been reports of several side by sides falling through the ice on area lakes. Please use caution while out on late ice. Right now walking out on the ice is the best recommendation.

Guest: Tom Neustrom, owner of MN Fishing Connections shares this week’s Grand Rapids, MN area Ice Fishing Report.

OOPS. What happened to winter? Ice fishing has taken a hit this last week with the weather and it appears at best there may only be a week or two fishable ice on some of the lakes in the Grand Rapids area. The landings are getting sketchy on several lakes and precautions should be taken soon to get on and off the ice. Shelters should be removed now rather than later as to insure their removal before additional damage is done. Any travel on ice should be done on side by sides, 4 wheelers,  snow machines, or foot travel. It appears in the 30 day forecast we will not have weather to form or secure ice that will be safe to travel on.

If there is an opportunity to fish in certain areas, the weather can play a big difference in locating pan fish right now. Over the years we have noticed that small bugs will occupy several depths just under the ice as the melting can create warm water caverns that attract these critters. This will normally happen during the daylight hours and afternoon. At times sunfish and crappies can be caught just below the ice 3-5 feet beneath and the action can be fast. It doesn’t happen everyday, but at late ice it’s something to keep in mind. Your electronics can be a helpful asset to locations of these suspended fish. The Humminbird Helix Ice 7 has allowed anglers to mark fish just under the ice with incredible accuracy. Lite line and small baits will be you best choices when it comes to catching these late season pan fish. One of the dynamite ice baits late in the season is a VMC Tungsten Bull Fry or Tungsten Fly Jig baited with a wax worm. Panfish gobble them up and it will put bluegills, crappies, and jumbo perch on the ice for you in the above mentioned conditions.

WE had a great ice fishing season this past winter and activity was strong throughout the cold water period. With the lack of normal snow, ice conditions were good and anglers were out in force. Make sure you get your 2021 Fishing License and check the rules book for new changes.

This week’s Grand Rapids Ice Fishing Report is brought to you by Tom Neustrom, professional fishing industry representative and open water fishing guide owner of MN Fishing Connections. Photo: Arlene Goltz caught this nice walleye on a Grand Rapids, MN area lake while fishing with Jeff Johnson, co-owner of Northern Drift Outfitters. Looking for a memorable experience check out our Ice Fishing page for guide suggestions.

As we get into the last few weeks of walleye season, there are a few small adjustments that can help to put a few fish on the ice. This last 10 days have been the coldest weather of the entire winter and the metabolism of all fish species slows down. Only species of trout remain relatively active and unaffected by cold water temperatures.

Over time with the frozen water period extending itself, times of day and bait size

can make a big difference when angling for walleyes. Deep water breaks associated with points and edges are key spots to ambush migrating fish. Early and late in the day can most often be the key times of the day to try for walleyes. Smaller baits such as 1/16^th to 1/8 ounce spoons tipped with a minnow head can make a difference. With the smaller spoons you may have to switch the treble hook from a size 8 to a size 4 for better hook ups. Vary your jigging movement to less aggressive and most often just slightly twitching your rod tip can trigger additional bites.

Pay close attention to your electronics and many times the bottom reading will appear to be a lump and that could be just the walleye that in some cases is coming into investigate. In the second hole a dead stick with a medium to smaller fat head or shiner minnow can be a difference maker. Above the plain hook attach a small glow bead and shorten the length between the split shot and the hook to lessen the movement of the minnow. It can make a difference when a slow moving walleye comes shopping and doesn’t want to chase a quicker moving bait.

Some of the lakes in the Grand Rapids area that are good season ending choices are Wabana, Trout, Pokegama, Moose, Swan, and Big Cutfoot. Any of these lakes have good populations of walleyes and can provide a good opportunity for success.

Header photo caption: Guests found success while fishing with Jeff Johnson, Northern Drift Outfitters on a Grand Rapids, MN area lake. If you are looking for a memorable ice fishing trip, give Jeff a call: 218-259-8893.

This week’s Grand Rapids Ice Fishing Report brought to you by Tom Neustrom, owner of professional guide service: MN Fishing Connections.

The extreme cold weather of late makes ice fishing rather difficult unless you’re in a nice warm shelter of some type, but make no mistake there are many hearty souls that have been out trying their luck. Fish, especially walleyes, are hard to catch in these conditions. One thing to remember that even with the drastic cold temperatures, consistent weather, no matter can trigger a bite at peak times of the day or night. Fish, as all animal life, need to nourish their bodies, and will look to find food, even it’s  smaller in size. Their metabolism slows down and small fragments of food is still food. Smaller baits this time of year will be far more productive then larger ones that we have used earlier in the year. Again there are shorter windows, but they have to eat. Many times the dead bait rods with a live minnow will get the bite. Shorten your distance between the hook and the split shot as to decrease the movement and action of the minnow. This can limit the minnow’s movement and make it a lot more appealing to walleyes that are not as active. Some of the lakes to try late season walleyes are Pokegama, Moose, Trout, Big Split Hand, and Big Cutfoot.

Panfish can be relatively very similar. Smaller baits will most often be the choice and until weather stays even more consistent, moving and drilling several more holes maybe the best options for success. As stated in previous columns a couple waxies or 3-4 euro larvae without a lot of jigging action can be your best presentations for cold weather panfish. They to are effected by cooler than normal can have an adverse effect on getting bit. Using your electronics and hole hopping can put a few more fish on the ice. Those soft tip rods, like the St. Croix CI32ML XF is my go to rod for late season panfish and can be utilized as a great dead stick rod for jumbo perch, big crappies, and finicky walleyes. Some late season panfish lakes to give a try are Little Bowstring, Big Bowstring, Dunbar, Pokegama, Cutfoot, Little Sand, and Little Splithand.  Call some of the bait shops in the Grand Rapids area and get some up to the minute information when you are venturing out in the Grand Rapids area.

When someone talks about diverse fisheries, one place that always comes to anglers minds is Grand Rapids. There is so many species and opportunities to choose from and there is another season upon us in the winter that holds additional angler options. Inland trout fishing and sometimes called stream trout season recently opened and can be a hoot when experienced. Grand Rapids is loaded with small walk on trout lakes that offer stocked Rainbows, Browns, and even some have Brook Trout. Our DNR has maintained good populations of trout stocking to provide opportunities for anglers that want to do something different in their winter ice fishing expeditions. There are also opportunities to catch Lake Trout in a few designated lakes in the area and every season there are Lakers in the 10 plus pound category that are put on the ice.

For the smaller trout species some of the lakes to try are Kramer, Moonshine, and Taylor Lake outside of Hill City. Only one line is allowed and a Trout Stamp is required to fish all designated Trout Lakes and its so important to know the best options you will have and how to catch them. Electronics are so important to ice fishing and being able to track the proper depth that these amazing species are traveling. For Rainbows, Browns and Brookies small jigs baited with waxies or euro larvae are key. Live minnows are not allowed on designated trout lakes. Small flashy spoons or #3 Jigging Raps are also good choices for success and lite line such as 4# test mono is crucial to getting bit. The Humminbird Helix 5 or 7 are excellent units for finding and staying on trout in the winter.

Bruising Lake Trout are a different breed. Again they can be in several areas of the water column, but will generally be in deeper depths than their smaller cousins that occupy shallower locations. Depths of 30-90 feet can be locations that Lake Trout will be in the hunt for a meal. Again good locations of Lakers can be tracked with the use of good electronics. Baits can vary, but most Laker anglers like bigger jigs and plastics that resemble bait fish such as smelt, shiners, and tullibees. A great place to stop in Grand Rapids to discuss the best options for Lake Trout tackle and places to chase them are 1000 Lakes Sports and talk to their talented staff on your best options. Some of the best lakes to contact nice Lakers are Sherry’s Arm on Pokegama Lake, Trout Lake (connected to Wabana) and Bluewater Lake.

These are again why people come to Grand Rapids for the diverse fisheries that are offered. We offer the best opportunities in all of Minnesota to catch fish all through the year.

Thank you to those that submitted Ice Fishing photos to us this week:

This week’s Grand Rapids Ice Fishing Report presented by Tom Neustrom, professional fishing guide and professional fishing industry representative.

A winter so far to remember will be the talk in bait shops, stores, at home, and places where people gather safely. Visitors from all over Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and even Michigan are coming to the Grand Rapids area to enjoy what winter has to offer in so many ways. The community has been busy with folks coming in and around during the holidays to enjoy outdoor activities during the unusual weather. Ice fishing, skating, snow shoeing, sliding, and cross country skiing have all been very popular.

Ice fishing is probably the most popular of all winter sports in our area and for good reason. We have some of the most diverse fisheries in Minnesota and there is something for everyone.

Many anglers are concentrating on the panfish with hundreds of lakes to choose from in the Itasca County and Grand Rapids area. Bluegills and crappies are the most sought after and lite line and tackle are the norm for chasing these guys. Many times, tungsten jigs have been the popular lure of choice with a wax worm, euro larvae, or soft plastic imitation. The tungsten jigs are heavier at times in some situations and therefore especially when panfish are suspended, can pass directly through the schools. Keeping another rod pre-rigged and ready to go with a lighter lead jig or spoon, can flutter at just the right speed to trigger a bite. Keeping a close eye on my Humminbird Helix 7 allows me to track the correct speed and fall of the jig and how it influenced a bite. Most often with aggressive fish it doesn’t seem to matter, but there are instances where it will put a few more fish on the ice. A few lakes to try for good panfish opportunities are Bass Lake in Cohasset, Little Moose, Big and Little Bowstring, Pokegama, Little Cutfoot, Dunbar, and Burrows lakes. All have good populations of panfish to catch.

Minnesota is one of the very few states in the country that allow dark house spearing for northern pike during the winter months. The season is from November 15^th to the last Sunday in February and requires a special license to participate. All size restrictions that apply to the open water season also apply to the winter and spearfishing regulations. It has been a long standing sport for many decades and is enjoyed by a very dedicated group of anglers. Artificial decoys and live sucker minnows are usually used to attract pike within range of the angler to spear. Being very stealth and quiet is key to a successful day of spearing. Northern Pike, especially in the winter, are one of the best table fare of all species.

Walleye fishing is still good on several area lakes with early and late in the day the best times to target them. Big Cutfoot, Winnie, Pokegama, Moose, Jessie, and Round have all been giving up a fair share of walleyes and several nice Jumbo Perch .Glow, with orange or chartreuse buckshot spoons with a minnow head, Jigging Raps, and blade baits are all putting fish in the bucket. A dead stick in another hole with a live shiner or chub, adjacent to the one you’re jigging in will many time entice a strike from a walleye that wants a slower mover.

Whatever your choice of winter activity, Grand Rapids and Itasca County have it all for you and your family to enjoy. Special thanks to those that shared their Ice Fishing pictures with us this week: