Minnesota fishing guide Dustin Monson of Hawg Hunterz Guide Service gives his latest Brainerd Lakes Area fishing report on August 27th, 2024.
Brainerd Lakes Area Fishing Report: 8-27-24
Brainerd Lakes Area fishing and family fun continues! Come up for adventure and leave with memories.The fish are biting and right now is a great time to plan a trip to the Brainerd Lakes Area. Most of our lakes have water temperatures in the seventies and fish are in their late summer patterns.
Brainerd Lakes Area Fishing Report: Walleyes
Target walleyes in 20 to 29 feet of water. There are some walleyes shallower in weeds and some along the deeper on base of structure and weedlines. Check for walleyes on large sand or gravel flats, mid-lake humps, and wind-blown structure like rocks piles and weedlines. We’ve been seeing lots of schools of walleyes near weedlines and at times suspended just off the structure. They can be caught a number of different ways. A slip bobber paired with a leech has worked well for those fish along the weedlines. When targeting the walleyes that are holding on sand or gravel flats, pitch a Jigging Rap or jig paired with a plastics. We’ve also caught some fish casting and jerking a Smithwick Rogue Perfect 10 near weeds or over flats. Try longline trolling Smithwick Lures Floating Rattlin Rogues after sunset into dark on clear bodies of water for walleyes in 7 to 12 feet of water. However this can be difficult if there are a lot of floating weeds on the surface.
Brainerd Lakes Area Fishing Report: Panfish
Panfish are roaming shallow and deep weed flats, channels, bays and areas near pencil reeds in 6 to 15 feet of water. Some fish can also be found suspended over deeper weeds in 20 to 25ft. Find schools of fish on electronics before anchoring on a spot. Fish are either holding tight to weeds or roaming the edges and tops. Target panfish with three main approaches. A jig and plastic under a bobber, jig and crappie minnow or with 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. If it’s sunny out, either fish shaded sides of weeds or inside weed beds/ pockets.
Brainerd Lakes Area Fishing Report: Northern Pike
Northern pike have been on weedlines and weedflats in 12 to 18 feet of water. The weedline depth varies by lake so use your electronics to follow the edges. We’ve been catching northern pike on the jig and minnow combo and ripping the Smithwick Rogue Perfect 10 lure over and through the weeds.
Brainerd Lakes Area Fishing Report: Trout
Inland trout offers both family fun fishing and a challenge for novice anglers to find larger rainbow trout or lake trout. Pitch a small tungsten jig with a worm or the tail of a Mister Twister Sassy Stingum on fish higher in the water column. A Mepps XD Dressed is also effective. For deeper fish a spoon tipped with a piece of soft plastic or wax worm. We find trout from the top of the water column down to about 40ft of water, with the most common depth 2-15ft. Trolling a smaller crankbaits at 2.5 to 3mph is a great way to catch fish and cover water.
