Brainerd Guide
Fishing Reports

Brainerd, Minnesota
Fishing Report: 12-15-21
Old Man Winter just can't seem to make up his mind this year. Most of the larger lakes in the area like Gull, Pelican, and Whitefish still have open water sections at the present time. The main body of North Long finally skimmed over last week but its ice has turned slushy this past week. With the exception of one brief cold snap, current daytime highs have been in the upper thirties to mid-forties. Not the best temperatures for making ice. No kidding. The majority of the lakes and slews that had been frozen over now have areas of standing water on the ice, creating slushy ice fishing conditions and tougher travel conditions for sleds and ATVs. There have been a few good reports coming in from some of the smaller lakes but current ice conditions have lowered ice fishing interest at the present time. We need some colder weather. The good news is we have been using this extra downtime to get a few things done at the lodge before this year's ice season starts. We still have plenty of trails to cut and trees to trim before maple syrup season. We also have a new apple orchard planned. We are going to start with 100 trees and see where things go from there. If everything goes right we should have apples at the lodge in two to three years. I don't know if we are going to get all the other projects we have planned at the lodge done before this May but we sure are going to try. See you next week.
JOHN

Brainerd, Minnesota
Fishing Report: 12-04-21
This week's warmer weather set back any serious thoughts of ice fishing in the Brainerd Lakes Area for a week or two. Yesterday's high of 50 degrees didn't help current ice conditions. Much of Gull Lake, Pelican, and the Whitefish Chain are wide open at the present time. Many fishermen, including myself, are wondering why we winterized our boats so early. The good news is next week's forecast is calling for several days with lows in the single digits with daytime highs in the teens for the first half of the week. This should help make ice for sure. Ice House News: Ryan is picking up his three new Ice Castle fish houses today. They are hot off the assembly line and they are beautiful. All three units are the Trophy Hunter models with all the bells and whistles inside. They will be a great addition to the ice house rentals this year. It is a relief that they were completed in time for the ice fishing season. Now bring on the ice. Have a great week.
JOHN

Brainerd, Minnesota
Fishing Report: 11-29-21
The Minnesota deer rifle season is officially over. I hope your deer hunting season was as prosperous as ours. We have plenty of venison in the freezer and we plan to make jerky this week. Mother Nature put a thin coating of ice on many of the smaller lakes in the Brainerd Lakes Area. The larger ones are still open but frozen in backwater areas. A few ice anglers have ventured out on the smaller lakes but we are still waiting for safer conditions. News Flash! We have upgraded our ice house rentals. We will have an additional three brand new Ice Castle Trophy Fish Houses available this winter. These are some of the most luxurious ice houses on the market. Some of the popular holiday weekends are already booking up so don't delay. Michelle will try and get you into a fish house. We took our last grouse hunting trip of the season this past week. We still have a few pheasant hunting outings on the book but we can see the end in sight. I can't remember a nicer fall than this year's. Sorry for the lack of posts lately but we have been spending all of our spare time upgrading our new VRBO vacation lodge. Located on 15+ acres in the heart of the Brainerd Lakes Area, it really is an exciting time. We are planning to plant a big apple orchard on the property this spring. The property also has over a thousand maple trees. We hope to start harvesting sap this spring. A big evaporator has already been scheduled to be built this winter. We are looking forward to our guests having the chance to enjoy some great experiences. Keep posted! Exciting things are coming soon. Happy Holidays.
JOHN

Brainerd, Minnesota
Fishing Report: 11-12-21
The second weekend of deer season is officially in the books. It started out warmer than expected with many hunters questioning whether they should be in a deer stand or fishing in a boat. The second weekend was much colder. The crappie action in the deeper water has been good the past few weeks. Key water depths have been 28 to 32 feet. Small plastics on jigs continue to be the best lure choice for these tasty fish. The walleye bite has been fair to excellent depending on the day. Many schools have moved back to the weeds and are relating to 16 to 22 feet of water. The grouse action will have to wait until the Minnesota Deer Season is over before I head back out into the woods. There were a few good isolated pockets of grouse this year but the overall bird count was down this year. The woodcock migration was a disappointment this year. It seemed the majority of the birds just winged through the area. We had a few good hunts but it was nothing like the last few years ago when we had 20 to 25 points on half-day outings in the woods. All of our fishing guides have wrapped it up for the open-water season. Ryan took his fishing last trip the Friday before Deer Opener. Everyone's boat has been winterized and we are just enjoying a few quiet weeks before Ice fishing season begins. Keep posted, we will have first ice information in the weeks to come.
JOHN

Brainerd, Minnesota
Fishing Report: 10-28-21
Where has the fall gone? It will be November before we know it. The water temperatures have dropped in the last 10 days and so have the fish from the weed lines. The majority of the crappie schools are now related to muddy bottom areas near sharp breaks to the main lake basin. Key water depths are 25 to 35 feet. Small jigs tipped with plastics have been extremely effective in these locations. The walleye bite was noticeably slower this last week after last week's big cold front pushed through the area, The majority of the walleye schools are now relating to the deeper water during daylight hours and then transitioning into the shallows after dark. Hearty anglers willing to brave the cold have been catching some eyes trolling in the shallows after dark. The local grouse population is down this year. We had a few good hunts locally early in the season but we have moved farther north to find birds as the season progressed. We still have a good supply of woodcocks in the area but it seems their annual migration is well behind schedule compared to previous years. I am sure this October's unseasonably warm temperatures had plenty to do with it. The good news is the wood ticks have gone dormant again and a new wave of timber doddles should be in the area soon. Thanks, everyone for such a great open water fishing season.
JOHN

Brainerd, Minnesota
Fishing Report: 10-10-21
The open water fishing is starting to wind down for the season. We still have a few trips left to take but we can definitely see the end in sight. The walleye bite has been fair the last few weeks. The recent heatwave seemed to push some of the walleye and the majority of the crappie schools back to the weeds. The wood ticks are active again too with the warmer weather. We are waiting for another cold snap before heading back out in the woods. Kodi is well on his way to becoming an outstanding pointer. We look forward to seeing how he performs in the big grouse woods up north. Get the yardwork done. It will be deer season before we know it.
JOHN

Brainerd, Minnesota
Fishing Report: 09-20-21
It is getting to be that time of year again. The maples are turning red and the aspen trees yellow. The walleye have fallen off the weed line and are relating to steep breaks with access to deeper water. The best walleye bites have been happening on Pelican, Gull, and the Whitefish Chain. Rigging with chub minnows and jig rapping have been the most successful techniques. Key water depths have been 27 to 32 feet. The larger northern pike have moved up shallow. Trolling large swim-baits over the tops of the cabbage weeds has been effective for catching these big monsters the last few weeks. Congratulations to Jeff Wohl, one of our guides, for taking first place in the Northern Inc. Tournament this past weekend. He and his teammate boated several really nice fish. The smallmouth bass action has been awesome on Mille Lacs this fall. The best locations have been on the rocks. Crawfish-colored jigs have been effective there. The crappie action has been good on many of the smaller lakes in the area. Key locations have been the basin areas near sharp breaks. Small jigs tipped with a minnow have been the best baits. The grouse season opened last weekend but I have yet to have a chance to get out into the woods. That is what happens when your son gets married on the grouse opener. It was a great wedding. Little Kodi is turning into a wonderful pointer. I had him out with my other two girls, Ava and Greta, at Rice Creek a few days ago and he performed extremely well on pheasants. I am hoping to get him out on some grouse tonight. Give us a call if you are looking to get out in a boat. All of our grouse and woodcocks hunts are currently booked for the season. Enjoy the great weather. See you next week.
JOHN

Brainerd, Minnesota
Fishing Report: 09-08-21
The water temperatures have dropped into the mid-60s' on many of the larger lakes in the Brainerd Lakes Area. Most of the walleye schools have dropped into the deeper water as well. There is still a fair to good shallow water weed bite occurring on several lakes but deep water bite has been even better. Key water depths have been 28 to 32 feet. Gull Lake and Pelican were the two top walleye producers. Jigging raps and rigging with chub minnows have been the best tactics. The walleye bite should only continue to improve in the weeks to come. The ciscos should start their spawning runs soon. The largemouth bass have moved shallower. We caught some real giants this past week. Key water depths have been 10 to 14 feet. Jig/worm combos continue to catch the most fish. Good colors have been blue-fleck and Junebug. The larger pike have moved shallower as well. There are a few still holding out in the deeper water but the majority of the big ones are now feeding in 8 to 14 feet of water. Trolling 6 to 8-inch swim-baits of the tops of large cabbage beds is an effective method of catching a true monster at the present time. The crappie schools are starting to drop. A sure sign that fall is here. Kodi continues to improve. I will post more puppy pictures in the weeks to come. He will be 6 months old on September 20th. He has started to honor the other dogs and is firming up his points. He will be a good dog to hunt over this fall if his current progress continues. Have a great week.
JOHN

Brainerd, Minnesota
Fishing Report: 08-29-21
All of the traditional signs that summer is coming to an end are starting to show up daily in the Brainerd Lakes Area. The leaves are changing color, the nights are getting cooler, and the walleye schools have dropped out of the weeds. Key water depths have been from 22 to 32 feet of water. Chub minnows have been the best bait for catching walleye this week. Heavy rains with scattered lighting storms kept most of the boats off the water this week but the walleye bite was good on those days we could fish. We received more rain is last week than the whole summer combined. We are not complaining, much, because we definitely needed it. Many area lakes are 1 to 2 feet lower than they were this spring. The bass action has been good but it has definitely slowed down with the cooler water conditions. Key locations are right where the cabbage weeds meet the sand grass. Jig/minnow combos were the best bait option for these conditions. The larger northern pike have moved back into the weeds. Their migration should continue to move even shallower in the weeks to come. The crappie schools are showing up in greater numbers in fall locations. Things are really shaping up to be a great fall. We currently have all of our grouse hunting outings booked for this season. Little Kodi is really shaping up to be a solid young pointer. Give us a call if you are looking to get into a boat. Michelle will do her best to get you into a boat with one of the guides
JOHN

Brainerd, Minnesota
Fishing Report: 08-15-21
The walleye bite has been fair to good depending on the day. The windier days have been outproducing the calm days by a significate amount. Key water depths have been in 16 to 22 feet of water. Pelican and the Whitefish Chain have been the two best producers. Rigging with chub minnows has been the best technique for the deeper walleye while bobber combos tipped with leeches have been the best strategy for the shallower eyes. The bass action continues to be good. The best locations have been deep water points where sand grass is present. Jig/ worm combos continue to catch the most fish. Good colors have been blue fleck, motor oil, and crawfish. The larger sunfish have invaded the sunken islands on many lakes in the area. Keep locations have been in 14 to 16 feet of water where good cabbage is present nearby. Slip bobber combos tipped with smaller leeches have been the best bait. The larger pike are still relating to the thermocline in 25 to 30 feet of water. We had multiple clients catch their personal best pike (36 to 40 inches) this past week. Kodi Update: I am thoroughly impressed by this little pup. He has an extremely good nose and is learning to use it. He started out his first few training lessons with his nose low to the ground but has since progressed to running with his head up high. He still needs a little work on his retrieves to hand but that will come in the weeks to come. We had multiple clients catch their personal best northern in the past week. Thanks for all the calls, This summer has been the busiest one I can remember.
JOHN

Brainerd, Minnesota
Fishing Report: 08-03-21
You know when you are too busy when you write a fishing report and then forget to upload it. Sorry for the delay but the last few weeks have been nothing short of a blur. Keep the phones ringing and we will try our best to get you into a boat. The walleye fishing continues to be fair. The last few weeks of weather have been unusual for this time of year. There has been very little wind and the skies have been clear on most days. We have spent most of our time catching bass and pike the last few weeks. The action has been nothing short of fantastic. The crappie continue to bite on the edges of the cabbage weeds and Kodi continues to impress me as his training progresses. That is all I have for now. See you next week.
JOHN

Brainerd, Minnesota
Fishing Report: 07-24-21
The summer is flying by. It seems that it was just the Fourth of July and now it is almost August. The walleye bite has been fair. The windier days have been producing the most action. Pelican, North Long, and the Whitefish Chain have been the best choices for those looking to put a couple of eyes in the boat. The majority of the fish are just outside the weed edge in 14 to 18 feet of water. Leeches and nightcrawlers have been the best baits. The bass action has been fantastic both in numbers and size. The majority of the bass are related to the second weed line where the cabbage weeds meet the sandgrass. Pig and jig and jig/worm combos have been producing the most fish. Crawfish, blue fleck, and motor oil have been the best colors. The big northern pike have fallen out of the weeds and are related to the deep water basin. The crappie action has been surprisingly good this past week. Thick cabbage beds near sharp breaks have been the best locations. Little Kodi is well on his way to becoming a good GSP. We worked with him on live Chukars this week and he performed beautifully. I am excited to see how he progresses in the weeks to come. Give Michelle a call if you want to get into a boat, but don't wait too long. The summer is almost over. See you next week.
JOHN

Brainerd, Minnesota
Fishing Report: 07-16-21
The water temperatures have finally passed that magical 75 degree mark again and the fish have responded in a BIG way. The bite has been nothing short of incredible in the Brainerd Lakes Area. I had the best fishing charter of of my life this past week. Nicole, AKA Ms. Lucky from North Carolina, manage to boat a 42 inch northern pike, 27.5 inch walleye, and a 21 inch large mouth bass in a single morning while catching 40+ fish to boot. I told her she should consider taking up golf because she will never experience another morning of fishing like that one again. It was truly one of those mornings I will remember for years to come. Pelican, Gull, and North Long lakes continue to give up walleyes just outside the weed line in 14 to 18 feet of water. Night crawlers were by far the best bait for catching a mess of eyes this week. Deep water points are holding a bunch of bass and northern pike right now. Key locations are where the cabbage weeds meet the sand grass. The big blue gills have moved out to the sunken islands and are relating to 12 to 14 feet of water. Thanks for all the calls. We only have a few slots still open for the next two weeks. Michelle has kept the seven of us booked pretty solid this month. Give her a call if you are thinking about going fishing. She will ty her best to get you into the boat. Puppy update: Kodi is progressing well. We worked him on his first live chukars the other evening and he preformed beautifully. He should be ready for the grouse woods by this fall. See you next week.
JOHN

Brainerd, Minnesota
Fishing Report: 07-07-21
What a crazy busy week this has been. I hope everyone enjoyed their Fourth of July holiday. The fishing has been nothing short of exceptional these last few weeks. Pelican, Gull, and North Long have been the best producers. The walleye have been just outside the weeds in 14 to 18 feet depending on the lake. Leeches and nightcrawlers have been the best baits. The bass fishing has been great. Most of the bass have slid out of the weeds and are located on the edge where the sandgrass meets the cabbage. Jig/worm combos are still producing the most fish. Crawfish with a brown head was the best combination this week.. The larger northern pike have been showing up in greater numbers as the water temperatures continue to rise. Young Kodi is well on his way to becoming an excellent little pointer. I have had many, many GSP's over the years but I really think this little guy is going to grow into something special.Sorry for the short post but it's been a busy, busy week. Thanks for all the calls. We will see you next week.
JOHN

Brainerd, Minnesota
Fishing Report: 07-01-21
Warmer water conditions and stable weather patterns improved the walleye fishing this past week in the Brainerd Lakes Area. Gull, North Long, and Pelican were the top producing lakes. Key locations have been wind blown structures. The best water depths have been just outside the weed edge in 14 to 20 feet of water depending on the lake. Leeches continue to be the best bait option but crawlers will come into play in the weeks to come. The bass fishing has been nothing short of fantastic. We had numerous parties that boated 50 plus fish on four hour fishing charters. The smaller lakes are still outpreforming the larger ones but rising water temperatures will kick the larger lakes into high gear real soon. Jig/worm combos and Ned Rigs have been the best options for the bass. Good colors have been crawfish, motor oil, and black. The larger sunfish are located near sunken islands. A small jig tipped with a leech will catch a bunch of big Gills right now. The larger northern pike have started to drop out of the weeds. This action should only continue to improve as the water temperatures rise. Happy Fourth of July everyone! Enjoy the weekend and all of the festivities. It is still pretty dry in the Lakes Area so be careful with the fireworks this year. Life is Good! See you next week.
JOHN

Brainerd, Minnesota
Fishing Report: 06-23-21
A major cold front swept through the Brainerd Lakes Area earlier this week and slowed the walleye fishing on most of the lakes in the area. The surface water temperatures on Gull Lake dropped from 75 degrees to 63 degrees in a matter of a few days. Gull, Pelican, and North Long still produced some fish this week but nothing like the previous weeks prior. The good news is the extended forecast is calling for warmer temperatures for much of next week. The water temperatures have already started to creep back up/ The bass fishing was also affected by this front but not to the extent of the walleye bite. The big northern pike are starting to drop out of the weeds and have begun relating to deep water points on major main lake structures. The larger bluegills have also moved off the break line and have moved out to the edges of sunken islands which top out in 10 to 12 feet of water. The Fourth of July will be here before we know it. The summer is flying by. We still have a limited amount of openings in July but the book is filling up fast. Give Michelle a call if you have any questions. See you next week.
JOHN

Brainerd, Minnesota
Fishing Report: 06-17-21
Steady winds and warmer water temperatures created excellent walleye fishing conditions this past week in the Brainerd Lakes Area. Gull, Pelican, and North Long lakes all produced good numbers of fish. Wind blown structures were key locations. The majority of the fish were caught on the weed edge. Water depths varied from 12 to 18 feet depending on the lake. Leeches were the best bait option. The largemouth bass have kicked things into another gear now that the water temperatures are creeping into the mid-seventies on the smaller lakes. The larger lakes are still in the high sixties to low seventies. Jig/worm combo continues to produce the moss bass. The smallmouth bass fishing on Mille Lacs has been nothing short of fantastic. The rocks have been prime locations. Key depths have been nine to thirteen feet depending on the day. Old Mr. Pike has become more active too. This action should only improve as the water temperatures continue to rise. Young Kodi is well on his way to becoming a good shorthair pointer. That is all for now. See you next week..
JOHN

Brainerd, Minnesota
Fishing Report: 06-08-21
Calm winds, clear skies, and high temperatures in the upper '90s made for less than favorable walleye fishing conditions this past week. The walleye bite was good on the two days when winds blew hard from the south. It was downright tough on the others. Mille Lacs, Gull, Pelican, and North Long Lake were the best producers this week. All but Mille Lacs had tougher bites on the calmer days. Horizontal presentations continue to put the most eyes into the boat. Leeches have been the best bait this week. The Brainerd lakes are heating up. Water temperatures were between 65 and 72 degrees on the bigger lakes. The temps were even higher on the smaller lakes. I found 79 degrees on one lake this afternoon. The bass and northern fishing have been excellent this last week. We had multiple groups who boated 40 to 60 fish on half day trips..The bass are dropping deeper. The frontside weed edge is now better than the backside. I expect the fish to push deeper as the sun's angle becomes higher in the sky. Jig/worm combos are still the best option for Mr.Bucket- mouth. The best color has been crawfish. The sunfish have finished spawning and are now biting in 6 to 10 feet of water. Give Michelle a call if you are interested in catching some fish, but don't wait too long. We are filling up fast. It has been one crazy, crazy summer. Thanks for all the calls. See you next week.
JOHN

Brainerd, Minnesota
Fishing Report: 06-01-21
The walleye bite continues to improve as the fish drop deeper on the weed edge. Gull Lake, North Long, Pelican, and Edwards all had good daytime bites this week. The best bites took place on windy days. Key locations were found in 12 to 20 feet depending on the lake. The night bite on these lakes has also been good but developing weeds are making it harder and harder to troll over the weed beds. Longline presentations continue to be the most effective methods for catching walleyes. Clear-water conditions make overhead, or vertical, presentations nearly impossible at the current time. The spot-tail shiner spawn is coming to an end. They are definitely becoming harder to keep alive in the tanks. They are still effective baits right now but leeches will start to outproduce them in the weeks to come. Bass are very aggressive in the shallows right now. Key locations are just outside the pencil reeds on the backside of major weed beds. Plastic worms threaded on light jigs coupled with stout hooks are the best lure option right now. Good colors have been blue, black, and crawfish. The northern action has been good. Key locations are located on the outside edge of major cabbage weed beds. The crappies have moved out to the first break and have been biting during low light and overcast conditions. The new pup is progressing well. He should be up to the task by this fall. The rest of the shorthairs have accepted him into the pack and life is good. Give Michelle a call if you are looking to get into a boat. See you next week.
JOHN

Brainerd, Minnesota
Fishing Report: 05-24-21
The daytime walleye bite remains fair to good in the Brainerd Lakes Area. Our local lakes are clearer, and lower, this spring due to lack of rain. The best walleye catches have been occurring on windy days. Good wave action helps hide the boat in these conditions. Longline presentations with jig/minnow, or jig/plastic, combos, and slip bobber fishing have been the best ways to put walleyes in the boat this week. The best live bait options have been shiners and leeches. The walleye bite on flatter, calmer, days has been more difficult. Thankfully the crappie action is still going strong. Many groups have switched over to crappies on calmer days. The northern pike action is good. We are seeing more sunfish in the shallows as water temperatures continue to rise. The shallows are alive with crappie, sunfish, and bass. New catch-n-release regulations allow anglers to target bass but all fish must be returned to the water. The official bass season does not start until Memorial Day Weekend. News Flash! The new puppy is officially home. He is an attractive little guy with an awesome bloodline and tons of potential. We are looking forward to seeing how he progressing in the months to come. It will be fun having three shorthair pointers in the woods again this fall. See you next week
JOHN

Brainerd, Minnesota
Fishing Report: 05-18-21
The walleyes on Mille Lacs Lake were deeper than expected on the Minnesota Walleye Opener. Key water depths were 18 to 20 feet during the day. The evening bite was shallower, 11 to 14 feet. The jig & shiner combos were effective baits. Gull, North Long, and Pelican Lake all had good night bites on opening weekend. The day bite was slower, however. Long-line trolling floating-minnow baits was an effective technique. The best lure colors were blue/silver, black/gold, and fire-tiger. Key locations were large, shallow, sand flats that extended well out from shore. Calm winds and ultra-clear water conditions made catching daytime walleyes a little more difficult but those anglers who managed to get their baits far away from the boat still caught fish. The northern pike bite was good. Key locations were good stands of cabbage weeds in 10 to 12 feet of water. Longlining with a small sucker minnow was a good technique for catching these toothy gators. The crappie action is still going strong. More and more of the males are starting to darken, meaning the crappie spawn is just around the corner. Give us a call if you are interested in enjoying some fishing fun. We will see you next week.
JOHN

Brainerd, Minnesota
Fishing Report: 05-12-21
The official start of the 2021 Minnesota walleye season begins this Saturday, May 15th, at 12:01 AM. Good news, it looks like finding bait is NOT going to be a problem this year. I visited several local bait shops this past weekend and most had a good supply of live bait on hand. Shiners, leeches, suckers; it was all there. S&W bait had the best minnow selection. Sherri has a ton of spot-tail shiners, AKA walleye candy. in the tanks. I am expecting the walleyes to be ultra-shallow this year. Early season walleye locations are fairly predictable. Find the shiner schools and the walleyes are usually close by. Key locations will be windblown areas near large shallow-water flats that gradually drop from 3 to 10 feet over a distance of one hundred+ yards and then drop quickly into basin areas. The best daytime water depths are typically 10-12 feet. Nighttime depths are usually much shallower. The clear water conditions in the area will make overhead presentations nearly impossible this spring. Long-line trolling, casting, and bobber rigs will be the most successful techniques this spring. The northern pike will be in depths slightly deeper than the walleyes. Key locations will be similar but cabbage weeds need to be present. The crappie action continues to be strong in the Brainerd Lakes. Keep posted. We will have more detailed reports in the weeks to come.
JOHN

Brainerd, Minnesota
Fishing Report: 05-06-21
The crappies continue to invade the shallows as water temperatures rise in the Brainerd Lakes Area. Large backwater bays have become key locations. The best ones have dark muddy bottoms. The largemouth bass are mixed in amongst the crappie, making for some interesting catches while fishing. Nothing pulls harder than a 4-pound bass on a light crappie rod. The best presentations this week include a bobber. The best bait continues to be dependent on water temperature. The warmer the water, the more active the fish. Small minnow-shaped plastics in pearl, rootbeer, and pink colors when threaded onto a light jig have accounted for most of the fish but it is still tough to beat a live crappie minnow when the water temperatures drop. The shiner minnows are just starting to show up in the shallows. Hopefully, the warmer temperatures will continue to push more of them there. Early season walleye location is usually dependant on the shiner minnow spawning run as well as the availability of spot-tail shiners in the local bait shops. Last year's colder temperatures delayed the shiner spawn and created a huge bait shortage on the Minnesota walleye opener.
JOHN

Brainerd, Minnesota
Fishing Report: 04-30-21
The panfish action is heating up in the Brainerd Lakes Area. This week's sunny skies and 60-degree highs have lured the crappies back into the shallows. Key locations have been backwater, swampy, areas with dark bottoms. Secondary locations are any inside corners of large weed flats with quick access to deeper water. The best water depths have been under 6 feet. The best bait choice depends on the water temperature the fish are located in. The crappies in 50+ degree water will readily take plastics but the ones found in cooler waters seem to prefer a minnow instead. Small jigs suspended below a small casting bobber have been the best technique. Our local lakes are clearer than I have ever seen them. This is due largely to the zebra mussels. I have noticed a distinct advantage to using a fluorocarbon leader in these gin-clear waters. Crappies can be notoriously line-shy when they want to be. The 10-day weather forecast is calling highs in the '60s and '70s for much of next week. This should push even more panfish into the shallows. Get the yard work done or put it off for a week, or two. Now is the time to get back to living and enjoy a little R&R in the great outdoors. Give Michelle a call and she will help get you on the book. See you next week.
JOHN

Brainerd, Minnesota
Fishing Report: 04-20-21
Old Man Winter just doesn't seem to want to leave the Brainerd Lakes Area. We had several days of 50+ degree weather last weekend, only to see the ugly white stuff return on Monday. The crappies were back in the shallows before the snow. Key spots were backwater areas and, or, the first drop-off just outside of these locations. The crappies we found in the shallow, warmer, water were happy to take plastics. Good lure colors were rootbeer, cotton candy, and pearl. The crappies in the deeper, cooler, water wanted the same jig colors, only tipped with a minnow. The weather forecast is looking good for the next few days. This should only bring even more fish into the shallows. The sunfish should start showing up in the shallows soon. Key locations will be very similar to where the crappies are now. The suckers are just about done running. There are still quite a few carp in the streams. The walleyes are all but done spawning too. Thanks for all the calls. The chart is filling up fast. We only have a limited number of dates from mid-July through August still available. Give Michelle a call and she will help get you on the book. It looks like we are in for another crazy, busy, extremely fun summer. See you next week, or sooner!
JOHN

Brainerd, Minnesota
Fishing Report: 04-13-21
Welcome to Minnesota. The land of 50-degree weather and sunshine one day and 3 inches of snow the next. The crappies were biting well in the shallows last week before Tuesday's unwanted return of Old Man Winter. Key locations were shallow muddy backwater areas with cattails present. These swampy areas heat up quickly in the spring, have loads of insect life, and attract schools of hungry crappies. These spots cool down quickly when the weather changes. Crappies will move out o these locations when temperatures drop. The good news is they usually don't travel too far. Crappies typically will move to the first available break line or hole and wait there for warmer temperatures to return. There are many new crappie regulations in the Brainerd Lakes this year. Several lakes have lower limits than others. Please check the regs if you are unsure. This is also a good time to practice Selective Harvest when keeping fish for the table. Please consider releasing the larger 11 to 15-inch female fish and keeping the smaller 9 to 10-inch males instead. Nothing beats a spring fish fry. We had fish tacos last night. Selective harvest will help future generations enjoy this Minnesota tradition as well. Think warm thoughts and we will see you next week.
JOHN

Brainerd, Minnesota
Ice Fishing Report: 04-08-21
Life is good in the Brainerd Lakes. The weather has been nothing short of amazing. Most area lakes are now ice-free with the exception of Gull, Pelican, and the Whitefish Chain. The weatherman is calling for steady rain for the next three days, and it is currently raining outside, so I expect all area lakes will be completely ice-free by this weekend. The smaller ponds are alive with a steady chorus of frogs and birds. It is nice to hear the sounds of life again after all those quiet months of winter. And if all that wasn't good enough, The Walleye Alliance stocked Gull Lake with 5000+ walleye fingerlings this week. Like I said, Life is Good. The shallows are starting to warm up quickly. I am planning to drop the boat into the water this Sunday. The crappie bite should be kicking into high gear quickly. Keep posted. We will be posting a new fishing report soon.
JOHN

Brainerd, Minnesota
Ice Fishing Report: 04-02-21
I almost thought next week's weather forecast was an April Fool's joke when I saw it. The weatherman is predicting daytime highs in the high 60's to lower 70's for much of next week. The ice is disappearing quickly in the Brainerd Lakes Area. I think we will start seeing open water on many of the smaller lakes sometime later next week. The loons are back and so are the robins. Spring is definitely ahead of schedule this year. There hasn't been much ice fishing in the area this last week. Fishing pressure drops way off when you have to use waders to get out to the good ice. We had the dogs out for one last chukar hunt before the fishing season begins. Take care. We will see you next week.
JOHN

Brainerd, Minnesota
Ice Fishing Report: 03-23-21
The lake ice is starting to pull away from the shorelines on many of the smaller lakes and ponds in the Brainerd Lakes Area. The ice remaining is getting darker by the day. The 10-day weather forecast is calling for daytime highs in the forties, with some days reaching the low fifties, for much of next week. All we need now is some rain and the remaining lake ice will disappear quickly. I don't wait to "jinks" it but we might have some boats on the water by the first week of April this year if these conditions hold. There have been some scattered panfish reports but most anglers have given up ice fishing for the season. Life to too short to take chances on sketchy ice. We are headed down to Rice Creek this weekend to get the dogs on some Chukars before the open water season begins. Give us a call if you are bored, done with all of your yard work, and want to enjoy some excellent wing-shooting fun. There is just so much to do right now. We are rigging boats, putting lines on reels, and getting everything ready for another fishing season. We better hurry. The ringing phones this last month indicates we are in for another busy season. Take care. We will see you next week.
JOHN

Brainerd, Minnesota
Ice Fishing Report: 03-15-21
Activity on the ice has slowed in Brainerd Lakes Area. The permanent ice houses are gone for the year. The walleye and northern pike seasons are closed until May 15th. The remaining options are fewer. The last remaining ice anglers are either targeting eelpout or panfish. Most of the eelpout action has been occurring in 29 to 36 feet. Key locations are steep break lines that transition quickly from main-lake basin areas to large underwater flats. One ounce "pout candy" jigs tipped with a few minnows have been providing most of the activity. Standard glow and glow-red have been the best color choices. There have been some real monsters caught this last week. Take a few pictures and quickly return these beautiful giants back to the water. Eelpouts are ferocious fighters but not much for table fare. The crappies have been moving shallow. Key times have been mornings and evenings. Locating healthy green cabbage has been one of the keys to success. The crappie action should only get better in the week to come. The ice conditions are deteriorating rapidly in the Brainerd Lakes Area. We might even see open water by the first of April if current conditions hold. Sorry if we didn't return your calls very quickly last week. Michelle and I ventured to Florida for some needed relaxation in the sun. The batteries are now recharged. Bring on the sun!
JOHN

Brainerd, Minnesota
Ice Fishing Report: 03-01-21
The Minnesota northern pike and walleye seasons are officially over for the year. Local anglers will have to wait until May 15, 2021, the walleye opener, before they can pursue these two fish species again. We saw a fury of northern pike activity this past week. Most of the action was on tip-ups. A healthy 4-5 inch sucker minnow suspended 8 feet below the ice was just the ticket for fun. Key structures were inside corners and outside points located on healthy weed beds. The best water depths were 10 to 14 feet. The walleye action remained slower this past week. Clients saw multiple walleye-lookers on their electronics but there weren't that many walleye-takers. This is a common pattern with late season walleyes. The good news is the crappie action is starting to pick back up and it should only get better in the weeks to come. I love this time of year. The sun has been setting later, and later, each day. You can almost feel Old Man Winter losing his grp on the season. It won't be long before we are back in the fishing boats again. It's time to start getting back to living again. The calls are coming in daily. Give Michelle a call. She will get you on the book.
JOHN

Brainerd, Minnesota
Ice Fishing Report: 02-18-21
Last week's brutally cold temperatures sure put a damper on ice fishing in the Brainerd Lakes Area. We experienced several nights with lows down to minus 30-35 degrees F only to see daytime highs reach minus 15-20 degrees. These types of conditions were neither fit for man nor beast. The limited walleye action we experienced occurred mostly after dark in 30 to 32 feet of water. Set lines outperformed all other techniques during these conditions.The good news is a warmer weather pattern seems to have returned to the Lakes Area. Hopefully, we will see this pattern continue in the weeks to come. Our 2020/21 ce house season is quickly coming to a close. All overnight ice houses north of highway 200must be off the lakes by March 1st. All Ice houses located south of this line must be removed by March 15th. Thanks everyone for spending time with us this winter. It was truly a season for the record books. We look forward to serving you in the upcoming open water season. Give Michelle a call if you have any questions. She will get you on the book. Thanks again.
JOHN

Brainerd, Minnesota
Ice Fishing Report: 02-10-21
The walleye fishing was a bit slower this week due to the extremely cold temperatures. Nothing slows a walleye bite down quicker than a cold front. The good news is the weatherman is calling for warmer temperatures to return by the middle of next week. Key water depths for walleye this last week were 30 to 32 feet. Set lines continue to outproduce active jigging techniques. The best bait choice is still an active shiner minnow hooked lightly behind the dorsal fin. The crappie fishing was slower this past week as well. Key locations were just outside the weeds in 15 to 18 feet. Small tear-drop jigs tipped with waxies outproduced crappie minnows on similar jig combinations. The northern pike fishing was fair. It seems these toothy critters were the least affected by the frigid temperatures. I just hope this is the last of the cold weather for the winter. It has been several days since I have had an opportunity to take my dogs for a good run. They would rather lay by the fireplace when it is -20 degrees outside. Some might say they are smarter than me. Take care, stay healthy. and we will see you next week.
JOHN

Brainerd, Minnesota
Ice Fishing Report: 02-02-21
The walleye fishing improved this week due to a warmer, more stable, weather pattern. The two best depth ranges were 25 to 27 feet and 30 to 32 feet. The fish were active in the shallower depth range at sunrise and sunset. The deeper water depths were better during the middle of the day. The best bites occurred on overcast days. Set lines are still out-producing active jigging techniques. A shiner minnow remains the best bait for catching walleye. The crappie bite remains good on most area lakes. Key water depths were 15 to 18 feet. Small glow-jigs in pink/white or chartreuse/white have been the most effective color combinations. Somedays a small crappie minnow outproduces waxworms. On other days it is the opposite. Try one of each and let the fish decide. The bluegills have been active in 15 feet just outside on the weed edge. Small tear-drop jigs tipped with waxies have been the best bait. A spring bobber and a depth-finder are almost a must at this time. The pike have been active in 15 feet as well. A few tip-ups located along the break line is an effective method of catching some nice pike right now. It is hard to believe January is already over. Stay healthy
JOHN

Brainerd, Minnesota
Ice Fishing Report: 01-24-21
Colder temperatures have improved the ice conditions in the Brainerd Lakes Area. Most of the larger lakes now have 12 to 14 inches of ice. The walleye fishing has been spotty. The best times are early morning and right at sunset. The best depths have been 22 to 28 feet. Set lines tipped with a healthy shiner have been catching most of the fish. The sunfish action remains good in the morning. The best locations have been inside corners and holes located on healthy cabbage beds. A spring-bobber is almost a must-have tool right now. Big bluegills are notoriously light biters this time of year. Small tungsten jigs tipped with a few waxies have been the best option for catching these tasty fish. The crappie bite has remained good on the smaller, less pressured, lakes. Holes in weed beds are still prime locations. The crappies on some popular lakes have switched to a nocturnal bite. These bites have become sporadic and unpredictable. The northern pike action remains strong. Give us a call if you are thinking about getting out on the ice. We will see you next week.
JOHN

Brainerd, Minnesota
Ice Fishing Report: 01-17-21
Warmer temperatures have caused slushy conditions on most of the lakes in the area. The walleye fishing was slower this week. This typically occurs when the vehicle traffic increases on the lakes. Key locations are now mid-lake structures that have not been fished yet this winter. A healthy shiner minnow on a set line has been out producing active jigging techniques. The sunfish action continues to be good in the mornings with another feeding period occurring in the late afternoon. Small tear-drops tipped with euro larva have been the best bait options. The crappie action has been good shallow. The best locations are sandy patches inside of the weeds. These holes might require some time, and a bunch of holes, to find but the rewards are worth the effort when you find them. The tip-up action has been good on many lakes. There have been some really nice northern pike caught over the last few days. The best locations have been the outside edges of major cabbage beds. A 4 to 6-inch sucker minnow has been the best bait option. It was nice to see the restaurants and bars opening up this week. Hopefully, things will continue to improve. Stay healthy and we will see you next week.
JOHN

Brainerd, Minnesota
Ice Fishing Report: 01-10-21
The walleye fishing has improved in the Brainerd Lakes Area. Key locations are located on the first break of shoreline structures. Gull, Round, and North Long Lake provided the most action. Key water depths were 14 to 20 feet. Set lines were equally effective as jigging tactics. A 2 to 3-inch shiner minnow has been the best bait option for catching walleyes on set lines. The bite window has been short, usually lasting about an hour. The exact time varies but it usually occurs somewhere from one hour before sunset until one hour after sundown.The crappie action remains strong but the bite has shifted to nocturnal hours. There still are fish being caught at sundown but the best action seems to be occurring later at night. The sunfish action has remained strong this week with the best action occurring between 10 am to 3 pm. Small tear-drops tipped with euro larva or waxworms seems to be the best bait option. The backwater areas are still a bit sketchy. Main lake ice is far more dependable at the moment. Thanks for all the calls. We still have a few weekend openings but they are filling up fast. Stay safe!
JOHN

Brainerd, Minnesota
Ice Fishing Report: 01-07-21
Brainerd ice condition update. Warmer temperatures have altered the ice conditions of backwater areas on several lakes. These areas include slews, swamps, and neck-down locations. Several ATV's have fallen through the ice in these areas over the last few days. Thankfully, no one was injured. All incidents occured where current was present. Ice anglers should use caution until colder temperatures return. Main lake ice conditions have been unaffected.
JOHN

Brainerd, Minnesota
Ice Fishing Report: 01-04-21
Happy New Year's everyone! I hope 2021 will be a better year than the one before. The ice conditions are good on most of the smaller lakes. Most have 9 to 12 inches. We saw a big increase in small vehicle traffic this past week. It never seems to fail. Everyone waits for those first few guinea pigs and then the vehicle traffic explodes. Crappie fishing continues to be good. Key locations are basin areas with silt covered bottoms. Crappie minnows and waxworms have been equally effective. The exact depths depend on the lake. The sunfish action continues to be good. The best locations have been inside good weeds. Remember to bring a few tip-ups along when fishing panfish in these shallow areas. We have seen several nice pike trip the tip-up flag this past week. The walleye action has been fair to good depending on the day. Key locations are in 16 to 20 feet of water. The best times have been in that magic hour which occurs about sundown. Set lines have been equally effective as jigging. We still have some weekend openings for the ice houses but these have been filling up fast. Give us a call and Michelle will be happy to line you up with a house. Stay healthy! We will see you next week
JOHN