Spring is here, put the ice fishing gear away!

Brained, MN— We have open water due to shorelines deteriorating with this warming weather. Remember the water is very cold, so stay cautious when fishing from a boat or shore. The best personal floatation device is one that’s worn. Here is some information from the Minnesota DNR on ice safety.

Bluegills/sunfish

  • Locations: Edges of weedy bays, weedlines
  • Depth: weed lines, bays or weed flats (6-14ft)
  • Tactics: 1/32oz Frostee Spoon or 5mm Tungsten jig/red spike jigging near weeds 2-3ft from bottom. Drill multiple holes in and around weeds to find fish, jig for 10-15 minutes in each hole before moving to the next location. Jig slowly or hold still to entice bites. Try a 1/16oz Lindy Frostee Spoon for a 1-2 sunfish/crappie punch.

Crappies

  • Locations: Deep bays on edges of weedlines or in holes, green cabbage/weed beds adjacent to holes or deep water near a bay, or suspended in the basin nearby
  • Depth: 6-12ft or 15-25ft (suspended depth over basin/hole areas at that same depth)
  • Tactics: 1/16oz Lindy Quiver spoons or Frostee Spoon tipped with wax worms; 7mm Tungsten jig/Mister Twister Sassy Stingum. Jig above schools or mid-range in the water column in clear bodies of water to draw fish in. The schools tend to move around, so if you decide to stay in an area, continue jigging at various depths.

Channel Catfish

  • Locations: Mississippi River (below the Brainerd Dam/Potlatch, Kiwanis Park, French Rapids, Green Point or Sylvan Dam (Crow Wing River)
  • Depth: Holes 15-30ft
  • Tactics: Shore fishing: medium-heavy spinning rod with a medium-large spinning reel (size 30) spooled with 30-50 lb. braided line. There are several rigs (20 lb. mono) and ways to catch catfish with a weight (1 oz.) about 1–2ft above the hook, and some common baits include worms/nightcrawlers, cut bait/dead bait, sucker minnows or chicken liver on about a 1/0 octopus hook. Cast to areas where slack water meets current, eddies or in current where it slows down/breaks. In a boat, you can often jig for them vertically in holes and behind slack-water breaks in current. I’ll usually let the current determine my jig weight but half ounce is a good start. Practice safe handling as they have sharp spines on their pectoral fins and dorsal fin; I hold them by the tail and under the belly.

If you’re wondering where and how to fish, tune in to Visit Brainerd for weekly fishing reports by Hawg Hunterz Guide Service LLC! As always, have fun, stay safe and Happy Hawg Hunting!! Learn more about Hawg Hunterz Guide Service HERE.

Plan your fishing trip to Brainerd today. Find excellent in-town hotels and visit one or more of the 400+ lakes in Crow Wing County and the Brainerd Lakes Area for an incredible multi-species fishing experience.