Fun fishing and water recreation in the Brainerd Lakes Area!
Walleyes are in their summer patterns! Find them on mid-lake humps in 18-26ft, and steeper edges in 18-25ft. We are still finding walleyes on sand/muddy/weed transitions in 9-15ft of water at low-light and 18-25ft during the day, especially around developing weeds near hard bottom areas. Our go-to presentation has been a jig/minnow combo, but we caught fish on a variety of presentations. Longline trolling Smithwick Perfect 10 or Rattlin’ Floating Rogues in the dark from 1.7-2mph is a fun way to catch walleyes on clear bodies of water. During the day, catch walleyes Lindy jig/minnow combinations (blue/glow or gold 1/8oz or 1/4oz jigs are the go-to). Also working is pitching a lipless crankbait such as a Booyah One Knocker or jig/soft plastic using rip/pause/lift/slow drop retrieves. Rigging night crawlers and slip float leeches are also effective ways to catch fish this time of year!
Crappies have been roaming areas adjacent to spawning habit, such a steep breaks, holes and flats in 3-15ft of water. Drive around areas near spawning habitat or sunken wood until you see schools, or check shaded areas such as docks/bridges/boat lifts and fish the schools. Two main approaches for early spring crappies are jig/plastic or bobber/minnow presentations. We opted for using Lindy Fatboy Tungsten Jigs and Mister Twister Sassy Stingum plastics to catch our fish! We found a large school, anchor-locked on the school, and either vertically jigged them or pitched at the school. Sunfish are near these same areas and will hit a wax worm tipped on a small lead or tungsten jig; slip or attached floats/bobbers will catch fish.
Catch bass and northern pike in bays and inside weed lines in 5-15ft on jig/minnow, soft plastic or wacky worm variations; drop shot techniques for bass are also effective.
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Good luck, stay safe and Happy Hawg Hunting!
