August 1, 2022: Brainerd Fishing Report: Brainerd Lakes Area Fish are Hungry

 

Brainerd, MN—With recent temperature increases, fish metabolisms have increased as well! Walleyes continue to frequent weeds on sandy flats (staying or roaming pockets), steep weedlines and on top or edges of mid-lake humps. We have been catching most of our walleyes on a slip bobber/leech or jig/minnow combos. Rigging night crawlers (live or soft-plastic imitations); and use reaction-style lures, such as jigging raps or shiver minnows to trigger more bites around hard bottom/sandy bottom areas. Main depths include 26-30ft for high sun/midday periods (or 6-12ft weeds) and 18-24ft at low-light/windy/overcast periods. After dark, longline trolling shallow-running crankbaits (such as a Smithwick Rattlin’ Floating Rogue) in 5-12ft continues to produce walleyes of various sizes.

Panfish continue to roam the shallows, and a good amount of fish are on weed flats/weedlines. We have been doing well on multiple species by covering/trolling weedlines and big weed flats with spinner rigs and artificial soft plastics or tipping small jigs with soft plastics, leeches, minnows or worms in 6-15ft. Casting and jigging a 1/16oz or 1/32oz jig tipped with the tail half of a Mister Twister Sassy Stingum has been catching crappies and Rainbow Trout in inland lakes.

Largemouth Bass have been active in weed flats and weedlines in 6-15ft or deep weeds in 16+ft; use Ned Rigs, drop-shots and top topwater frogs on thick weeds. On Mille Lacs, target fish on transition areas where hard bottom and soft bottom meet in 22-28ft, or edges of mud flats with a slip bobber and leech for walleyes. Slide on top of rock reefs in 8-16ft and edges in 16-22ft for smallmouth bass.

Rainbow Trout and Tullibees have been active in mine pit/inland lakes (Crosby-Ironton Area), trolling deep (20-40ft) during high sun or 10-15ft during overcast, slip bobber/crawler, casting a Tungsten jig/soft plastic or jigging rap style lures are all producing fish! Have fun, stay safe and Happy Hawg Hunting.

Brainerd Fishing Report provided by Dustin Monson – Hawg Hunterz Guide Service