Dustin Monson of Hawg Hunterz Guide Service gives us his latest fishing report on the Brainerd Lakes Area for June 6th, 2024
Brainerd Lakes Area Fishing Report: 6-6-2024
The Brainerd Lakes Area Fishing has been heating up as we head into the start of summer. A variety of species have been fishing well and the conditions have been great. This report will make your next trip out a success no matter what species your chasing!
Walleyes:
Look for walleyes in ten to twenty-four feet of water on large sand or gravel flats. Utilize your maps to help locate this structure and the fish. On smaller, weedier lakes look for weed flats in ten to twenty feet of water. On larger lakes focus on the first break and wind-blown structure. We continue seeing schools of walleyes near developing weeds, with fish really using those new weed lines.
Tactics:
Catch walleyes by casting a jig and minnow combo (1/8oz or 1/4oz). Anglers are also having good success pitching a Rapala Jigging Rap.
Bobbers: Slip bobbers paired with a leech continue to be another great way to trigger bites.
Casting or trolling: Casting jekrbaits like the Smithwick Rogue Perfect 10 near weeds or over flats is another way to get bit. After dark try longline trolling Smithwick Lures Floating Rattlin Rogues on clear bodies of water for walleyes in four to ten feet of water.
Panfish
Crappies and Bluegills continue roaming shallow weed flats, channels, bays and areas near pencil reeds in 6-15ft. Find schools of fish on electronics before anchoring on a spot. Fish are either holding tight to weeds or roaming the edges depending on the lake or day. Some instances seeing good number sitting on tops of thicker weeds.
Tactics:
Target panfish with three main approaches jigs and plastics, jigs paired with worms, or hair jigs. We opt for using Lindy Fatboy Tungsten Jigs and Mister Twister Sassy Stingum plastics or Lindy Hair Jigs to catch our fish on most outings. Move the bobber slightly to elicit bites! If they are present, but finicky, try using a small tungsten jig tipped with wax worms.
Northern Pike
Northern Pike have been on weed lines and weed flats in ten to seventeen of water. They have been supper aggressive and bass anglers are getting bit off frequently. We’ve been catching a ton of northern pike on the jig and minnow combo with the occasional walleye mixed in. Also ripping the Smithwick Rogue Perfect 10 lure or slow rolling a spinnerbait over/through weeds is another way to catch some northern pike.
Brainerd Lakes Area Catfish Spots:
Target Channel Catfish from shore, boat or fishing piers. Some common locations for targeting channel catfish in the Brainerd Lakes Area on the Mississippi River include: below the Brainerd Dam/Potlatch, Kiwanis Park, French Rapids, Green Point or Sylvan Dam (Crow Wing River).
Catfish Gear and tips:
Use a medium or medium-heavy spinning rod with a medium-large spinning reel (size 30 or 40) spooled with 30-50lb braided line. Then run a 20-pound mono leader with a weight (1-ounce) about 1-2ft above the hook, and some common baits include worms, cutbait, sucker minnows or chicken liver on about a 1/0 octopus hook.
Cast to areas where slack water meets current, eddys or in current where it slows down/breaks. 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 ½-ounce is a good start. Practice safe handling as they have sharp spines on their pectoral fins and dorsal fin; I hold them by the tail and under the belly.
Brainerd Lakes Area Inland trout
Don’t forget about the stocked mine pits!, they offer both family fun fishing and a challenge for novice anglers to find larger rainbow trout or lake trout. We pitch Lindy Little Nippers to elicit bites or jigging a spoon tipped with a piece of soft plastic or wax worm for deeper roaming fish. We found trout from the top of the water column down to about 40ft of water, with the most common depth 2-15ft. Trolling a smaller crankbait 2.5-3mph is a great way to catch fish and cover water.
