The Brainerd Lakes Area keeps producing good bites for multiple species, such as bass, walleyes, northern pike and panfish.
Brainerd, MN—Target walleyes in 7-15 ft or in 25-29 ft of water on large sand or gravel flats, weed flats and first break, wind-blown structure (rocks, weedlines, etc). We continue seeing schools of walleyes near weedlines, and at times suspended just off the structure. Catch walleyes by pitching a slip bobber/leech to fish/schools, re-casting every 2 minutes. On sand or gravel flats, pitch a jigging rap (Rapala)/Moonshine Shiver Minnow or Vexan Crystal Reaper. Also very effective has been casting and jerking a Smithwick Rogue Perfect 10 near weeds or over flats or cast a Bandit Deep Suspending lure used as a jerkbait over deeper fish. Try longline trolling Smithwick Lures Floating Rattlin Rogues after sunset into dark on clear bodies of water for walleyes in 7-12 ft of water; best if you’re not seeing a bunch of floating weeds on the surface.
Panfish (crappies/sunfish) are roaming shallow and deep weed flats, channels, bays and areas near pencil reeds in 6-15 ft; or suspended over deeper weeds in 20-25 ft. Find schools of fish on electronics before anchoring on a spot. Fish are either holding tight to weeds or roaming the edges/tops. Target panfish with three main approaches: (1) jig/plastic under a bobber, (2) jig/minnow or (3) bobber/hair jig presentations. We opt for using Lindy Fatboy Tungsten Jigs and Mister Twister Sassy Stingum plastics or Lindy Hair Jigs to catch our fish on most outings. Move the bobber slightly to elicit bites! If they are present, but finicky, try using a small tungsten jig tipped with wax worms. If it’s sunny out, either fish shaded sides of weeds or inside weed beds/ pockets.
Northern Pike have been on weedlines and weedflats in 12-22 ft of water. We’ve been catching northern pike on the jig/miinnow combo, ripping the Smithwick Rogue Perfect 10 lure or reeling a spinnerbait over/through weeds.
Inland trout offers both family fun fishing and a challenge for novice anglers to find larger rainbow trout or lake trout. Pitch a small tungsten jig with a worm or the tail of a Mister Twister Sassy Stingum on fish higher in the water column (also try a Mepps XD Dressed). For deeper fish, jig a spoon tipped with a piece of soft plastic or wax worm, sometimes they’ll hit when reeling in. We find trout from the top of the water column down to about 40 ft of water, with the most common depth 2-15 ft. Trolling a smaller crankbait 2.5-3 mph is a great way to catch fish and cover water.
If you’re wondering where and how to fish the Brainerd Lakes Area or Mille Lacs Lake, tune in to Visit Brainerd for weekly fishing reports by Hawg Hunterz Guide Service LLC. Check Hawg Hunterz Guide Service LLC out on YouTube too. As always, have fun, stay safe and Happy Hawg Hunting!!
