August 15, 2022: Brainerd Fishing Report: Brainerd Lakes Area is Hot on Multi-species Action
Brainerd, MN—Walleyes continue to frequent weeds on sandy flats (moving on edges or roaming pockets), bottom sides of steep weedlines or edges of mid-lake humps. We are catching a ton of walleyes on a slip bobber/leech or jig/minnow combos. We’ve gotten fish rigging night crawlers (live or soft-plastic imitations); and using reaction-style lures (such as jigging raps or shiver minnows) to trigger more bites around hard bottom/sandy bottom areas. Look for walleyes in depths about 26-30ft for high sun/midday periods (or 12-16ft 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.
Find panfish on weed flats/weedlines in 6-15ft. A good way to catch multiple species is trolling (.8-1.8mph) weedlines and big weed flats with spinner rigs in that same depth range. Casting and jigging a 1/16oz or 1/32oz jig tipped with the tail half of a Mister Twister Sassy Stingum continues producing Crappies and Rainbow Trout in inland lakes.
Northern Pike are hitting spinnerbaits trolled over weeds near bays and over large weed flats. 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 24-30ft, 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, search for big rocks and pockets of sand in rocky locations.
Rainbow Trout and Tullibees have been active in mine pit/inland lakes (Crosby-Ironton Area), trolling deep (20-40ft) during high sun or 10-20ft 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
