Brainerd Fishing Report: September 13, 2022

Brainerd, MN— We are catching a lot of fish and several species in the Brainerd Lakes Area: walleyes, bass, panfish and northern pike. We have been catching a bunch of walleyes. Walleyes in the Brainerd Lakes Area continue roaming bottom sides of steep/deep weedlines (18-26ft) or edges of mid-lake humps (22-30ft); drive around until you see fish on sonar and pitch a jig and minnow to them, if they don’t bite within 5 minutes, go to a new spot and either keep moving to new spots or visit those locations with fish at sunset or prime feeding windows. We continue catching a ton of walleyes on a slip bobber/leech or jig/minnow combos. Windy or overcast days will push walleyes shallow near weeds or hard bottom areas (rocky/gravel). After dark, longline trolling shallow-running crankbaits (such as a Smithwick Rattlin’ Floating Rogue) in 5-12ft continues to produce walleyes of various sizes. Find panfish on weed flats/weedlines in 6-15ft or over weedtops in various depths if trolling. A good way to catch multiple species is trolling (.8-1.8mph) weedlines and big weed flats with spinner rigs. Casting and jigging a 1/16oz or 1/32oz jig tipped with the tail half of a Mister Twister Sassy Stingum continues producing Crappies and Rainbow Trout in inland lakes.

 Northern Pike are hitting spinnerbaits trolled 3+mph over weeds near bays and over large weed flats. Largemouth Bass have been active in weed flats and weedlines in 6-15ft or deep weeds in 16+ft; use Mepps Aglia Spinners, drop-shots and top topwater frogs on thick weeds. On Mille Lacs, target walleyes on transition areas where hard bottom and soft bottom meet in 24-30ft, or edges of mud flats with a slip bobber and leech. Slide on top of rock reefs in 8-16ft and edges in 16-22ft for smallmouth bass, search for big rocks and pockets of sand in rocky locations; Mepps Spinners, Topwater Baits, Drop Shots and Ned Rigs have been consistent. Look for Rainbow Trout and Tullibees in mine pit/inland lakes (Crosby-Ironton Area) by trolling deep (20-40ft) during high sun or 10-20ft during overcast. Other options include: slip bobber/crawler, casting a Tungsten jig/soft plastic or jigging rap style lures. Rainbow trout will feed more often and higher in the water column as the water temps cool. Fishing will continue improving as fish transition to fall patterns.

Have fun, stay safe and Happy Hawg Hunting!

Brainerd Fishing Report provided by Dustin Monson – Hawg Hunterz Guide Service