Ely area lakes info

[tenpoundlunker]

I will be at bear island lake the 3rd week of july, but I was looking for any info on some of the other nearby lakes if fishing is slow there. I will have access to a canoe for some of the smaller lakes in the area. Are there any worth mentioning near bear island lake? I would prefer some of the smaller bodies of water that are productive for either walleys or northerns. Any info would be great. Thanks in advance.

[kevheads]

Good Luck on Bear Island lake.I'll be there on July 30th.I've never fished those area lakes before but was told if Bear Island is slow,try One Pine lake and Johnson lake.

[MuskyBrian]

Haven't been on this lake in some time but up the road closer to Ely we used to do extremely well fishing Mitchell Lake for Northerns, not far from bear island at all......

[BionicMcQ]

Just got back from a week on the White Iron Chain just north of Ely. Had great weather for the entire week but we weren't as experienced in the many different methods of presentation as I thought, and I'm a slow learner. The water is tannin stained but still very clear so they're deep when its sunny or well moonlit like we had for the entire week. We marked 'em between 15' and 30' suspended all week in all the lakes, with the occassional feeders appearing as almost bumps on the bottom. Normally they'll move up and in at dawn and dusk and chase rapalas but the bigger ones weren't while we were there because they didn't need to. Their bellies were already full of mayfly nymphs. They weren't into minnows or leeches no matter how we presented them. Garden, Farm, White Iron, and South Farm lakes are all good for 'eyes. The word was Garden wasn't but the locals are just trying to keep us from knowing that it's turned around. The DNR netting reports suggest Garden has fewer fish. We marked a good amount of fish in all the lakes, including Fall Lake which is just next to but not actually part of the chain. We arrived on 6-18. Zillions of mayflies were metamorphasing from nymphs on the bottom of the lake into flies mating and dying above the surface and scumming the surfaces everywhere as they decayed. According to Todd, the guide that gives free pointers to resort clients on Monday nights; during this period of the year catching 'eyes is all about keeping your boat still, without anchoring, on top of marked fish on the bottom feeding virtually all the time. Individual 'eyes will feed for about 3-4 minutes hourly. They're gorging themselves on mayfly nymphs as they crawl on the bottom. The trick, he says, is to keep a 2-3" piece of crawler single hooked on as small a flourescent leadhead as possible to keep it down, (usually 1/8th - 1/4 oz.) with 4-6# mono that is either red or low-vis, staying virtually motionless (NO jigging, you'll spook 'em) until one of them sucks up your worm. There are a lot of small areas with deep water perfect for canoe fishing throughout the 3400+ acre chain. I wouldn't hesitate to canoe it anywhere. You're never far from a cove or island to get out of the wind if it gets to kicking too much. The smallies were cooperatin very nicely while we were there, and there are quite a few places to look for small groups of nice sized bluegills, crappies, and big perch and northern. There weren't many pleasure boaters to swamp you either. Most folsks are fishing so they respect the canoeists too. South Farm is a restricted motor lake requiring a permit to use a motor up to 25hp. The other lakes in the chain are non-restricted. The far east end of Fall Lake is also permit restricted to 25hp or less. Farm and White Iron probably have the majority of pleasure boaters due to more open spaces. Maybe by August the 'eyes'll be in full swing up there as far as being more aggressive. You should do OK long line trolling rapalas or working the rockpiles depending on your weather. They weren't chasing anything for us. Over 300 manhours and all we managed was a pathetic two keepers a couple northern and some 'gills and perch. The perch along the shorelines were wormy but the ones from out deeper were fine. Did well on the bass though. Northern pike have a slot limit: 24" - 36" must go back and only one over 36" in possesion. So far there's no size limit on the 'eyes yet. Everyone up there said the spring was exceptionally wet and cool so the normal swing of things was 2-3 weeks behind average. Water levels were a little high but ramps were all accesible and in great shape. Have a great time and make memories your kids will love.

[Surface Tension]

BionicMcQ, thanks for the report. Lotsa good info packed into that post.