Brainerd Fishing Report: December 27, 2022

(Safety First: The MN DNR has many great resources online to help determine ice safety, immersion survival, etc. https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/safety/ice/index.html)

-Catch crappies and bluegills in bays under 12ft of water, and basins/holes of 22-30ft (finding fish suspended in the bottom third of the water column). Jig crappies with 1/16oz or 1/32oz jig tipped with a Mister Twister Sassy Stingum or wax worms, 1/16oz spoon or glide-bait style lure, such as a Crystal Reaper or Jigging Rap. Aggressive jigging will bring schools in, although it’s a good idea to drill several holes and jig 10-15 minutes in each hole before moving to the next hole or spot. Jig higher in the water column, a good rule of thumb is splitting the depth in half and jigging at that location in the water column as well as jigging within 2-3ft from the bottom. Pluck fish from the top of schools to avoiding scattering the school. Bluegills continue hitting tungsten jigs tipped with the tail end of a Mister Twister Sassy Stingum or wax worm on weed flats or soft bottom areas in those similar locations. Northern pike are hitting sucker minnows and spoons tipped with a minnow head. Try suspending a sucker minnow or shiner under a tip up/IFishPro in 10-18ft. Walleyes are active at low light periods and hitting minnows/livebait presentations or spoons tipped with a minnow head jigged near bottom in 24-28ft of water. (Fishing Videos: https://youtube.com/@Hawg_Hunterz )

-On Mille Lacs, many main lake areas are accessible by ATV or Snowmobile, though first shoreline break offers many opportunities for quality fish! Target walleyes and northern pike in 6-18ft, or 22-27ft. Target them with sucker minnows or shiners on set lines or Deadsticks, or jigging a spoon tipped the head of a fathead (Lindy Quiver Spoon in metallic colors 1/8oz).

We’re excited about all the opportunities this ice fishing season! Always practice safety first on all early ice bodies of water!