Has anyone been on ely or st marys lake yet? Or any of the area lakes? I will be heading up in a week or so and ely lake has always been good for a few early ice 'eyes! Any info would be great!

I don't know about Ely but St Mary's has plenty of ice--6-8" but I haven't seen anyone fishing yet. Usually fishing on St. Mary's doesn't get good until spring.

Great! all i needed to know. thanks! im really surprised johnny hasnt been out there. I think hes usually first!

Deep Lk has had a good crappie bite going on in the normal spots.

I was on Ely Lake tonight and there was 5 inches of ice were I was.

cool! thanks. 5 is good for me, but im surprised that it isnt thicker. there is nearly 8 on some lakes just outside the metro. i cant wait to get out! So did you have any luck on ely? i always fish my own little spot just about 25 feet off of a friends dock. i always catch perch and walleyes there. but i finally tried the popular spot just off the landing last year and got into some crappies. thanks again!!

[quote=FishOn!]! So did you have any luck on ely? quote]


No luck... Only saw 2 on the Vexilar in 3 hours of fishing. I couldn't find them, I started off the landing and made my way out. If you have a good spot thats where I would go.

I was up over the weekend (brrrrr!!) and fished a small lake on our property and it had 9 inches of nice clear ice. My wife caught 4 bass and I managed to catch 12 all on Saturday afternoon. All went back down the hole. Drove by Ely Lake on Sunday morning and there was only 2 vehicles at the boat landing.

2thepoint--were you fishing at night or during the day? A friend of mine said that he was doing good at night to the right of the landing and also out past differing point--all at night.

I was there before dark and stayed for a couple hours after it got dark. I was to the left of the landing a couple hundred yards. I heard about going to the right but there was already a house or two there and I didnt want to crowd them.

Try past those houses and search around the hole. It is been tough though

Are you talking about the 70' hole hole to the right of the landing past the islands??

hey lakerunner...you mentioned deep lake. i went out last weekend on ely lake with my wife's uncle, and we drove past deep. i asked him if we should try there, and he said no. he said the guys who fish it are pretty territorial. i said who cares? we wont bug them? and its a public lake right? is it true the guys that fish it regularly would get worked up over a new face? crazy too, my wife's family have always lived in eveleth and it sure seems like everyone knows everyone!

I've never had an issue on Deep. However, there are only 2 small holes in which they catch fish so it will be tight. In fact everyone has always been more than welcoming.

ok. well thanks for the info. maybe sometime ill check it out in my small portable.