Ely area heating up yet?

[Scroungin'Round]

Hi everybody, my first post here. (I've been lurking in the shadows reading for some months)

So I'm heading up to the White Iron chain for a long weekend (this coming) and was hoping to get some reports from some of you who were in that area over memorial day. We'll probably fish White Iron mostly, unless someone here wants to volunteer a hotspot on another lake in the chain! Is the walleye bite on? In the current? How about smallies? Anybody getting them yet? Any tips on stucture/bait/technique for this time of year up there would be appreciated. Hope you all had a nice weekend.

[fishermn]

The walleye bite on Basswood was slow for us and several other groups that were fishing in the pipestone bay area. We did catch enough to eat each day, but overall it was pretty slow. Morning bite (6 - 8 am) seemed to be the best time. The northerns were really biting well though. Our group caught numerous 4-7 lb fish, 6 over ten lbs, and one over 20 lbs.

[dr1818]

scrounger -

fished white iron for opener and im returning the week of the 6th-12th of June. The fish were in the current (at the inlet) on opener, and those with smaller boats could motor in, anchor, and catch larger fish. Those of us with larger and much more expensive boats couldnt, ironically, and had to fish other areas and catch numerous small walleyes with the occasional small keeper. i guess that serves us well. anyways, at the time of opener we found the larger (but still small) walleyes to be in 18-22 feet of water (deeper than i expected @ that time of year). did catch one enourmous northern while jigging for eyes, so that was fun. let me know how you do this week (and where to catch them ) and good luck

[Scroungin'Round]

Thanks guys. Fishermn, I heard about a lot of big northerns coming out of basswood. I guess someone registered a 25-12 from there. Sounds like the fearsome beasts were cruising with intent in the waters all around the Ely area! - Dr1818 got one on White Iron. Hope we run into a few, that's fun. Dr1818...I'll let you know how we do, but I may not be able to post until 6/6, and I guess you'll be gone up there by then. The last time I was at the inlet I counted fourteen boats. I hope I don't have to stick around that. Silver rapids gets packed too. I might just jump a canoe & go up the north kawishiwi for a day. We'll see what the weather does. Thanks again!