January 19th Fishing Report

January 19, 2026

Winnie and attached bodies of water are producing! Great time of year to get out and get after it. Ice travel with vehicles is great pretty much everywhere. Winnie does have some pressure ridges, so check with local resorts and get a road map. Photos courtesy Captain Jeff Johnson with Northern Drift Outfitters and Guided Ice Fishing MN.

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January 26th Fishing Report

Bluegills and crappies are reliable during extreme cold fronts like we are experiencing in the northland. Mccavity bay on Cutfoot Sioux always produces great bluegill fishing. The days of the giant schools of crappies has changed a bit but they are still many left. Anglers can focus on the great bluegill action and have the surprising crappies that add to the taking. Mallard and Ravens point on Winnie are producing good perch numbers. Keep in mind big jumbos do move. Ice trolling and staying mobile on Winnie is the ticket for the bigger perch. The weather is looking better over the course of the next week and perch are back on the ticket. Photo courtesy of Lake Winnie fishing guide Captain Jeff Johnson of Northern Drift Outfitters Guide Service.

January 16th Fishing Report

Perch are firing on Big Winnie. Finding the biomass of fish is important to having a full day of success not just hot time window bites.12-18ft depressions/ holes off the shoreline were the best. It’s pretty clear on the vexilar if you are around them as the vexilar continues to reload all day long. Tungsten’s, small jigging spoons, and plain hook rigs worked the best. Tipping the plain hook rig with a bigger minnow did help reduce the amount of play from the smaller perch. Photo and report courtesy of Captain Jeff Johnson of Northern Drift Outfitters.

January 12th Fishing Report

Perch are firing in Tamarack Bay on Winnie. Finding areas less trampled in the 18-24 ft region produced the best. Plenty of year classes present. Navigation is easy right now and being mobile fishing out of the vehicle can produce some great results. Report courtesy Captain Jeff Johnson of Northern Drift Outfitters.

January 9th Fishing Report

Walleyes and perch continue to bite across Big Winnie. Anglers finding the most success are setting up on smaller humps scattered throughout the lake, many of which receive less fishing pressure. One common characteristic of the most productive humps is that they are surrounded by deeper mud bottoms in the 30–35 foot range. A good number of walleyes and perch are being caught in this deeper water, even during daylight hours. Please be sure to check with area resorts for current road conditions and the locations of pressure ridges before traveling. Crappies and other panfish have been producing well on Cutfoot and several smaller lakes surrounding Big Winnie. Overall, it has been a great winter for mobility and access to the many fishing opportunities Lake Winnie has to offer. Our team of guides will be on Big Winnie this weekend and will share more up-to-date information soon regarding travel conditions and current bite patterns. —Captain Jeff Johnson Northern Drift Outfitters

October 16th Fishing Report

Walleyes on Winnie continue to bite. The cold weather has triggered a feeding frenzy. The time is now if your a jig fishermen.

October 6th Fishing Report

Walleyes and crappies continue to bite in the northland regardless of unseasonably warm weather for this time of year. Walleyes continue to remain shallow on the big lake mostly 11 ft and under. If you are noticing too much bait but marking lots of fish move on. Jigging has started to take precedence over trolling techniques. Tight lines and enjoy this beautiful fall weather. Photo courtesy of Lake Winnie fishing guide, Captain Jeff Johnson of Northern Drift Outfitters.