Ice conditions look favorable as BWCAW trout opener nears

The ice fishing season for trout on inland lakes located entirely within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness opens Thursday, Jan. 1.

As the new year and fishing season near, inland ice conditions across Cook County and the northeast are shaping up well for anglers preparing to get out on the ice.

Ice reports for several lakes that serve as BWCAW access points range from 8 to 14 inches as of Dec. 22.

On Poplar Lake, near mid-trail of the Gunflint, there is 12 inches of ice as of Dec. 21, according to the Rockwood Lodge and Outfitters ice report.

Farther up the Gunflint Trail, Tuscarora Lodge & Canoe Outfitters reported 13 inches of ice on Round Lake on Dec. 22. And on Gunflint Lake, Gunflint Lodge reported on the same day that ice thickness ranged from 8 to 12 inches.

Farther west, Sawbill Canoe Outfitters reported on Dec. 5 that there was 10 inches of ice on Sawbill Lake.

Although several inland lakes across Cook County have between 8 and 14 inches of ice as of Dec. 22, conditions can vary from lake to lake.

“People need to be prepared for if they fall through the ice,” said Hudson Ledeen, a conservation officer in the Hovland area with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

Ledeen said anglers and anyone who is recreating on lakes should carry ice picks, check ice thickness with a spud bar or auger, and be prepared for self-rescue.

“We don’t have a lot of cell service, especially in the Boundary Waters. So if something happens, the best thing people can do is be prepared for self-rescue,” Ledeen said.

The BWCAW trout opener regularly draws anglers from the northeast and across the state, as many seek to catch splake, brook, brown, rainbow, or lake trout. Lakes on the eastern side of the BWCAW that anglers gravitate to on opener include Daniels, Ram, Duncan, and Topper, among many others.

Ice Fishing for Rainbow Trout | Photo by Kalli Hawkins

Anglers may encounter single-digit temperatures on the Jan. 1 BWCAW trout opener across the Arrowhead region, according to extended weather forecasts. Temperatures are expected to reach a high of 2 degrees, with early morning temperatures at 7 degrees below zero.

Two weeks after the BWCAW trout opener, on Saturday, Jan. 17, the season will open for lakes outside or partly outside the BWCAW. Examples of lakes include Clearwater, Seagull, Birch, Kimball, and more.

The possession limit for lake trout remains unchanged at two. The possession limit for the remaining trout species is five, with not more than three over 16 inches.

View the DNR 2025-26 fishing regulations here.

WTIP’s Kalli Hawkins spoke with DNR Conservation Officer Hudson Ledeen about the upcoming BWCAW trout opener, ice safety reminders, and more. The audio from the interview is below.

Kalli Hawkins December 25, 2025