We’re still ice fishing with plenty of ice in the Brainerd Lakes Area of Minnesota!

Brained, MN— Many lakes in the area have over 20 inches of ice, but you always need to know your ice safety before going out, because some areas have open water near channels. Check all pressure ridges or big cracks in the ice before crossing! Here is some information from the Minnesota DNR on ice safety.

Bluegills/sunfish

  • Locations: Large weed flats, weedy bays with a moderate depth/deeper holes, muddy basin under 35ft
  • Depth: 18-25ft target depths
  • Tactics: small ice jig/wax worm or 5mm Tungsten jig/red spike jigging near or in weeds 2ft from bottom. Drill multiple holes in and around weeds to find fish, jig for 10-15 minutes in each hole before moving to the next location. Jig slowly and sometimes not at all to entice bites.

Crappies

  • Locations: deep bays, green cabbage/weed beds adjacent to holes or deep water near a bay, suspended in the basin
  • Depth: 12-19ft or 15-25ft (suspended depth), similar locations as many bluegills this time of year.
  • Tactics: 1/16oz Lindy Quiver spoons or Frostee Spoon tipped with wax worms; 7mm Tungsten jig/Mister Twister Sassy Stingum. Jig above schools or mid-range in the water column in clear bodies of water to draw fish in. The schools tend to move around, so if you decide to stay in an area, continue jigging at various depths. Deadsticking is a good option for finicky fish.

Walleyes

  • Locations: sandy bottom areas, bays with sporadic weeds/hard bottom, weedlines/ flats adjacent to deeper basins, mudflats in Mille Lacs
  • Depth: 22-30ft (shallower during sunrise or sunset periods)
  • Tactics: Jigging a Lindy Quiver Spoon (1/8oz tipped with a fathead minnow head), or deadstick/set line with a single hook and fathead or shiner minnow.

Northern Pike

  • Locations: Large weed flats, weedy bays with a moderate depth/deeper holes, weeds near deep water entering a bay, muddy basin under 25ft
  • Depth: 6-15ft target depths
  • Tactics:Northern Pike are aggressive this time of year and we often use ¼oz jigging spoons (Lindy Quiver or 1/2oz War Eagle), lipless crankbaits, or set line with a sucker minnow.

Lake/Rainbow Trout

  • Locations: steep breaks, dead timber, basin (suspended), deep humps
  • Depth: 5ft under ice to 30ft near timber (rainbows), but focus on 50-90ft for lakers.
  • Tactics: jigging tungsten jigs tipped with wax worms or small spoons with wax worms (rainbows); jigging 4” tube w/ 1oz jig or #5-7 size Moonshine Shiver Minnow/ jigging rap

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.