Spring fishing in the Brainerd Lakes Area has been on fire and has been getting better with the warming water!

Brained, MN— Great weather and great fishing, it’s a great time to visit Brainerd! Remember the water is very cold, so stay cautious when fishing from a boat or shore. The best personal flotation device is one that’s worn. Also watch for remaining sheets of ice if you’re in a boat.

Bluegills/sunfish

  • Locations: Edges of weedy bays, weedlines
  • Depth: Weed lines, bays or weed flats (2-10ft)
  • Tactics: 1/32oz Frostee Spoon or 5mm Tungsten jig/red spike jigging near weeds 1ft from bottom or just above weeds. Try a 1/16oz Lindy Frostee Spoon for a 1-2 sunfish/crappie punch under a slip float

Crappies

  • Locations: Bays on inside or outside 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: 2-10ft 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 under a Thill slip float. The schools tend to roam, so fan casting is a good idea. Look for warmest water and work from there.

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: 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.