Minnesota fishing guide Dustin Monson of Hawg Hunterz Guide Service gives his latest Brainerd fishing report on May 23rd, 2024.
Brainerd Fishing Report: 5-23-24
Walleyes, northern pike and great weather in the Brainerd Lakes Area of Minnesota! Overall the fishing has been really good. The some fish have started transitioning into “summer patterns” and have moved out onto some main lake structure.
Walleyes: Brainerd Lakes Area
We are targeting walleyes in fourteen to twenty-four feet of water. Look for walleyes on large sand or gravel flats, current areas and first breaks near spawning areas. We found schools of walleyes near developing weeds.
We caught most of our walleyes by casting a jig and minnow or pitching a slip bobber paired with a leech. Anglers can also catch walleyes on reactionary baits like the Rapala Jigging Rap.
Panfish: Brainerd Fishing Report
Panfish continue roaming shallow weed flats, channels, bays and areas near pencil reeds in three to thirteen feet of water. There is some crappie spawning activity occurring right now. The bluegill spawn should beginning in the next week or two.
We’ve had a lot of success using Lindy Fatboy Tungsten Jigs and Mister Twister Sassy Stingum plastics or Lindy Hair Jigs to catch our fish on most outings. We found crappies and sunfish near wood, docks, and pencil reeds. If they are present, but finicky, try using a small tungsten jig tipped with wax worms. Crappie minnows can be a good option for finicky crappies as well.
Northern Pike: Brainerd Fishing Report
Northern pike and largemouth bass can be caught in shallow bays and emerging weed beds in ten feet of water or less. Spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, swimbaits, and jerkbaits are catching lots of pike and bass.
Catfish: Brainerd Fishing Report
Anglers are still catching channel catfish in the Brainerd Lakes Area from shore and boats.
The best areas to catch channel catfish are below the Brainerd Dam/Potlatch, French Rapids, Green Point, Kiwanis Park, or Sylvan Dam on the Crow Wing River.
Anglers can catch them a few different ways but our best method has been a 1-ounce sliding weight about one or two feet above a 1/0 circle hook. Pair that with either worms/nightcrawlers, cutbait, deadbait, sucker minnows or chicken liver. This method works both from shore and in a boat.
When shore fishing, I will often use a medium-heavy spinning rod with a medium to large sized spinning reel spooled with thirty to fifty pound braided line.
In a boat, you can often jig for them vertically in holes and behind slack-water breaks in current. I’ll usually let the current determine my jig weight but 1/2-ounce is a good starting point.
