Brainerd Fishing Report: November 1, 2022

We continue having a beautiful fall season here in the Brainerd Lakes Area! Fish have been biting, weather has been great, and did I mention the weather is great!? We’ve been focusing on walleyes on weed/rock flats (under 16ft). Catch them using a jig/minnow combo, rigging 4-7″ minnows, such as “redtails” or creek chubs (sucker minnows can work too), or using a reaction style bait such as casting/pitching a Mister Twister Sassy Swimmer on a 1/4oz jig! After dark, longline troll shallow-running crankbaits (such as a Smithwick Rattlin’ Floating Rogue) in 5-12ft, slow down the troll 1.0-1.6mph; if targeting fish in 10-13ft, slow-troll a Smithwick Perfect 10 Rogue with pauses. Find panfish over basin areas near bays or prominent weedlines that drop into deep water. The panfish are in large schools, often over basins 25-45ft and often suspended 10-15ft under the surface or near bottom. We’ve been catching most of our big crappies with a 1/16oz or 1/8oz jig and minnow either jigging or under a slip bobber/float. Catch Northern Pike trolling crankbaits along weedlines and over basin areas with a large forage base of tullibees if you want to specifically target big fish! On Mille Lacs, target walleyes around hard bottom areas, such as gravel, sand and rocks (many schools of fish are showing up under 15ft on rock bars/reefs); target them rigging minnows, jigging minnows, casting swimbaits or trolling crankbaits such as the Smithwick Rogue Perfect 10. Smallmouth bass are hanging around the tops of rock reefs in 5-16ft or remaining green weeds near rocks; cast rocks and pockets of sand in rocky locations; use Ned Rigs, jig/minnows and drop-shot minnows, nightcrawlers, or imitations. Fall fishing is in full swing, but it won’t last long. Get out there and enjoy the weather! Also, good luck to the hunters out there for the 2022 Minnesota Deer Opener!