Brainerd Fishing Report: September 27, 2022

Brainerd, MN— Fall, feed-mode fishing has arrived in the Brainerd Lakes Area! Walleyes continue roaming bottom sides of steep/deep weedlines (18-26ft), in scattered weeds (under 12ft) or edges of mid-lake humps (22-30ft). Catch them using a slip bobber/leech, jig/minnow combo; and rigging some larger (4-7″) minnows. Windy or overcast days push walleyes shallow near weeds or hard bottom areas (rocky/gravel); cast jig/swimbaits to sand flats, scattered weeds or rocks. After dark, longline troll shallow-running crankbaits (such as a Smithwick Rattlin’ Floating Rogue) in 5-12ft, slow down the troll under 2mph. Find panfish on weed flats/weedlines in 6-15ft or over basin areas near bays in large schools. Catch multiple species trolling (.8-1.8mph) weedlines and big weed flats with spinner rigs tipped with a nightcrawler, minnow or soft-plastic imitation. Casting and jigging a 1/16oz or 1/32oz jig tipped with the tail half of a Mister Twister Sassy Stingum will catch Crappies and Rainbow Trout in inland lakes. Catch Northern Pike trolling spinnerbaits (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 (some bigger fish are moving shallower throughout the day now), 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; use Ned Rigs, jig/minnows and drop-shot minnows, nightcrawlers, or imitations. Fall fishing has arrived! Have fun, stay safe and Happy Hawg Hunting!