August 22, 2022: Brainerd Fishing Report: Eater-sized walleyes and more!
Brainerd, MN—Walleyes in the Brainerd Lakes Area have been roaming bottom sides of steep/deep weedlines or edges of mid-lake humps; drive around until you see fish on sonar. We continue catching a ton of walleyes on a slip bobber/leech or jig/minnow combos. We’ve had some results pulling night crawlers (live or soft-plastic imitations) on spinner rigs; and using reaction-style lures (such as Vexan Crystal Reaper) to trigger more bites around hard bottom/sandy bottom areas. Look for walleyes in depths about 24-30 feet for high sun/midday periods and 18-24 feet at low-light/windy/overcast periods. After dark, longline trolling shallow-running crankbaits (such as a Smithwick Rattlin’ Floating Rogue) in 5-12 feet continues to produce walleyes of various sizes.
Find panfish on weed flats/weedlines in 6-15 feet. 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 3+mph over weeds near bays and over large weed flats. Largemouth Bass have been active in weed flats and weedlines in 6-15 feet or deep weeds in 16+ feet; use Mepps Aglia Spinners, drop-shots and top topwater frogs on thick weeds.
On Mille Lacs, target walleyes on transition areas where hard bottom and soft bottom meet in 24-30 feet, or edges of mud flats with a slip bobber and leech. Slide on top of rock reefs in 8-16 feet and edges in 16-22 feet for smallmouth bass, search for big rocks and pockets of sand in rocky locations; Mepps Spinners, Topwater Baits, Drop Shots and Ned Rigs have been consistent. Rainbow Trout and Tullibees have been active in mine pit/inland lakes (Crosby-Ironton Area), trolling deep (20-40 feet) during high sun or 10-20 feet 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
