Summer in the Brainerd Lakes Area and the fishing is hot, hot!
Look for walleyes on mid-lake humps in 18-26ft and steeper edges near weeds. We are also finding walleyes on sand/muddy/weed transitions in 12-19ft of water at low-light especially around developing weeds near hard bottom areas. Our go-to presentation has been a leech and slip bobber presentation about 2 feet off the bottom and we still 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 on a Lindy jig/minnow combinations as well (blue/glow or gold 1/8oz or 1/4oz jigs are the go-to). Also working is rigging night crawlers and ripping reaction baits (Vexan Crystal Reaper/Moonshine Shiver Minnow).
Crappies have been roaming areas adjacent to spawning habit, such a steep breaks, holes, and flats in 3-15ft of water. Two main approaches for summer crappies are jig/plastic or slow trolling spinner rig presentations. We opt for using Lindy Fatboy Tungsten Jigs and Mister Twister Sassy Stingum plastics to catch our fish and troll using Lil Joe Spinners with a Sassy Stingum or crappie minnow. 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. Weed flats and weed edges (or sunken wood) are the go-to structures.
Catch bass and northern pike in bays and inside weedlines in 5-15ft on jig/minnow soft plastic or wacky worm variations; drop shot techniques for bass are also effective. Trolling a Smithwick Perfect 10 Rogue or using as a jerkbait is also effective.
Target trout on inland designated trout lakes using a Tungsten or 1/32oz jig tipped with a piece of angle worm, wax worm or soft plastic such as the Mister Twister Sassy Stingum. Also very effective has been trolling small crankbaits at 2-2.8mph.
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Good luck, stay safe and Happy Hawg Hunting!
