The average snow depth in the Bemidji area is about 16 inches, with more light snow possible this weekend. The conditions have been excellent for snowmobiling, with many miles of groomed trails and numerous lakes covered with snow available for riding.
Anglers using vehicles to access the lakes for ice fishing are still having problems traveling off the roads because of deep snow.
Most of the larger lakes have numerous roads and trails on the ice, so anglers have some options, even though they may not be able to go off the roads and blaze their own trails.
Lake Winnibigoshish has at least 10 resorts that plow roads on the lake. Most of the resorts also rent fish houses, so there is a considerable amount of fishing pressure on Winnie during the winter.
Fishing on Winnie has been better for walleyes than it has been for jumbo perch this winter. Anglers are catching walleyes on top of the smaller humps and on the corners and turns along the sides of the larger bars.
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Perch in Winnibigoshish have been most active in deep water off the sides of structure. Anglers have usually had to sort through quite a few smaller perch to get some larger perch to keep.
Cass Lake only has a couple of resorts plowing roads on the lake. Perch fishing has been pretty good at times, but the areas get fished down quickly because the schools of perch are usually smaller.
Cass Lake has very clear water, so the walleye bite is usually slower during the day. Anglers have been catching a few walleyes in deeper water in the mornings and evenings and also at night.
Pike's Bay does not have any resorts plowing roads on the lake, but there is a considerable amount of fishing pressure, so there usually are a few trails on the ice.
Pike's Bay can have a good perch bite, but there are a lot of smaller fish. Walleye fishing isn't usually good for numbers, but anglers may catch some really large fish.
Leech Lake is a large lake with quite a few different types of structure. The numerous bays fish like separate lakes, so anglers may find several different patterns. Leech Lake may have the largest perch in the area, but they are usually in isolated areas, so they can be difficult to pattern, especially in their mid-winter patterns.
Walleyes have been biting in Leech Lake in 8-12 feet of water in the shallow bays and in 24-35 feet of water in the deep bays. The water is clear in Leech Lake, so the best walleye action is usually under low light conditions.
Upper Red Lake has been producing walleyes in all parts of the lake, with most anglers fishing between 12-14 feet of water. Upper Red has a decent daytime walleye bite because of the stained water and also a good flurry most mornings and evenings. There can be a night bite in Upper Red because of the shallow water.
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Anglers are also catching some big northern pike in Upper Red and a few large crappies, but the numbers of crappies are way down compared to previous years.
Lake Bemidji gets heavy fishing pressure year 'round, with fish houses covering much of the key structure in the lake. Anglers have been catching a few perch during the day in deeper water, with a flurry of walleye action in the mornings and evenings.
Lake of the Woods has been one of the hottest lakes in the state this winter. Anglers have been catching walleyes in 18-24 feet of water in the mornings and evenings tight to structure and suspended in similar depths over deeper water during the day.
Anglers have also been catching good numbers of sauger and a few jumbo perch in 28-32 feet of water during the day.
Fishing for crappies and sunfish can be slow in the dead of winter. Once warmer temperatures arrive, so the snow starts to melt, fishing for panfish should pick up quickly.
Paul A. Nelson runs the Bemidji Area Lakes Guide Service. He can be e-mailed at panelson@paulbunyan.net .
