Time to prepare for spring fishing!

Brained, MN— Fishing is great where we still have ice! Know your ice safety before going out, because shorelines are deteriorating with this warming weather. Check all pressure ridges or big cracks in the ice before crossing! It’s important to keep in mind the ice may not be the same leaving the lake as you entered if the weather is above freezing. Here is some information from the Minnesota DNR on ice safety.

Bluegills/sunfish

  • Locations: Edges of weedy bays, muddy basin under 35ft, weedlines
  • Depth: weed lines, bays or weed flats (6-14ft)
  • Tactics: Small ice jig/wax worm or 5mm Tungsten jig/red spike jigging near weeds 2-3ft 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 or hold still to entice bites. Try a 1/16oz Lindy Frostee Spoon for a 1-2 sunfish/crappie punch

Crappies

  • Locations: Deep bays, green cabbage/weed beds adjacent to holes or deep water near a bay, suspended in the basin
  • Depth: 6-12ft or 15-25ft (suspended depth over basin/hole areas at that same depth)
  • Tactics: 1/16oz Lindy Quiver spoons or Frostee Spoon tipped with wax worms; 7mm Tungsten jig/Mister Twister Sassy Stingum. 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.

Perch

  • Locations: Sandy/mud transition bottom areas, weedlines/ flats adjacent to deeper basins, mudflats in Mille Lacs
  • Depth: 28-33ft
  • Tactics: Jigging a Lindy Quiver or Frostee Spoon (1/16oz tipped with wax worms), or if fish are finicky, use a minnow head on a Tungsten jig (Lindy Tungsten Toad); keep moving until you contact fish and also a great way to catch tullibees/ciscoes

Northern Pike (Mille Lacs)

  • Locations: Large weed flats, weedy bays with a moderate depth/deeper holes, weeds near deep water entering a bay, muddy basin under 25ft
  • Depth: 12-20ft 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 or certified dead bait.

Lake/Rainbow Trout

  • Locations: Steep breaks, dead timber, basin (suspended), deep humps
  • Depth: 5ft under ice to 30ft near timber (rainbows), also find roaming fish in 50-90ft
  • 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.