Minnesota guide Dustin Monson of Hawg Hunterz Guide Service gives his latest Buzz Bite Report for the Brainerd Lakes Area ice report on November 28th, 2022.
Brainerd Lakes Area Ice Report 11-28-2022
Ice fishing is just around the corner for the Brainerd Lakes Area! I’ve been on the lookout for small, shallow lakes with 4+” of ‘safer ice’ to walk on and fish (ice is never 100% safe).
Currently, the amount of lakes with ‘safer ice’ are limited in the area, but there are a few lakes that have reached that mark.
(Safety First: The MN DNR has many great resources online to help determine ice safety, immersion survival, etc.) Some of the tactics I utilize are:
Checking every step with a ‘spud bar’ with an understanding of ice thickness/quality, checking thickness every few steps/noticing ice coloration/ changes in appearance for potential hazardous conditions
Wear a Flotation Assisted Ice Fishing Suit to help with buoyancy if immersion would occur.
Wear “ice picks” with immediate access, in case you encounter immersion, to allow you to crawl back onto the ice and out of the water.
Buddy system (don’t go alone), bring a rope, Flotation Cushion, and wear “boot cleats” to help with grip on glare or slippery ice.
Here are some more early ice safety tips you need to utilize when heading onto the ice this time of year: Ice Safety Tips/Tactics
As the temperature continues to drop, many anglers anticipate stepping on ice in the area! The small, shallow lake I was able to fish, I found yellow perch and northern pike deeper than 10ft, and black crappies and bluegills under 10ft near weeds.
Catch crappies with 1/16oz or 1/32oz jig tipped with plastics or live bait. You can also catch some nice fish on a 1/16oz spoon or glide-bait style lure, such as a Crystal Reaper or Jigging Rap.
Bluegills have been hitting tungsten jigs tipped with the tail end of a Mister Twister Sassy Stingum or wax worms.
Many lakes had open water in the past week, and will take a while to have fishable ice, but many smaller lakes will continue to freeze/thicken to provide ice fishing opportunities in the next week!
That’s the latest Brainerd Lakes area ice report. Please use extreme caution when venturing out.
Have fun, stay safe and Happy Hawg Hunting!
-Dustin Monson
Contact Information:
Hawg Hunterz Guide Service: Brainerd Lakes Area and Mille Lacs Lake
Email Dustin at mrhawghunter@hotmail.com or call/text at 320-293-2442 if you have any questions or to schedule a guided fishing trip.
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