Brainerd Fishing Report: October 18, 2022

Phenomenal Fall Fishing in the Brainerd Lakes Area! We’ve been catching walleyes on weed/rock flats (under 12ft) and around mid-lake humps/steep breaks (25-30ft). 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 snap-jigging a jig/soft plastic or glide bait (jigging rap, shiver minnow, crystal reaper). 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. Find panfish on remaining green weed flats/weedlines in 6-15ft or over basin areas near bays in large schools, often over basins 25-45ft, suspended 10-15ft under the surface. 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. Casting and jigging a 1/16oz or 1/32oz jig tipped with a Mister Twister Sassy Stingum or minnow will catch Rainbow Trout in inland lakes. 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 or trolling crankbaits such as the Smithwick Rogue Perfect 10. Smallmouth bass are hanging around the tops of rock reefs in 5-16ft; cast rocks and pockets of sand in rocky locations; use Ned Rigs, jig/minnows and drop-shot minnows, nightcrawlers, or imitations. Fall fishing has arrived, let’s go!