Warm Weather & Lots of Bites!
Beautiful weather and a hot bite in the Brainerd Lakes Area of Minnesota! We’re targeting multiple species, and here’s how we’re catching them:

Crappies & Sunfish

  • Locations: Deep bays on edges of weedlines or in holes, channels/docks, green cabbage/weed beds adjacent to holes or suspended in deep water near bays
  • Depth: 2-12ft
  • Tactics: 1/16oz Lindy Lil Nipper jig under a Thill crappie float-keeping the jig above the depth of the fish (Same tactics for sunfish, but downsize and tip with a wax worm). 1/16oz Lindy B-MAX jig paired with a Mister Twister Sassy Stingum, cast and slow retrieve around schools/weedlines or shallow timber.

Large Mouth Bass

  • Locations: Back bays, warming water/channels, shallow weed flats
  • Depth: 1-12ft
  • Tactics: Hair Jigs, light chatterbait/trailer plastic, small suspending jerkbait, weightless or small 1/8oz split shot wacky rig
    -Cast with slow retrieve, lift/fall, keep everything slow and light

Walleye

  • Locations: Sand flats, developing weeds and rock transitions
  • Depth: 8-22ft
  • Tactics: Target walleyes by casting a 1/8oz Lindy Live Bait jig and shiner minnow (fathead minnows work too) and making bottom contact, short hops and slow lifts will be the go-to. Pitching and longline trolling the Smithwick Perfect 10 or Booyah Flashpoint is effective worked slowly. Also pitching a 1/4oz jig with a Mister Twister Sassy Swimmer can produce bites as well.

Rainbow Trout (Requires Bonus Trout Stamp with Fishing License)

  • Locations: Roaming basin, above submerged trees, swimming along shoreline
  • Depth: 4-40ft, mostly in top 15ft of water column/shoreline shallower
  • Tactics: Cast a 1/16oz Lindy B-MAX Lil Nipper and slowly retrieve, single hook with a worm/split shot weight and small bobber. 1/4oz jig/swim bait work great for lake trout.

If you’re wondering where and how to fish, tune in to Visit Brainerd Baxter 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.