It has been too quiet – Brainerd Area Update

I’ll break the ice. Brainerd area lakes are giving up a few fish. There doesn’t seem to be a bait shop in MN that has Red Tails, not that they would have produced more, but they’re definitely a confidence bait. We found fish deep, near deep weed edge. They bit a few jig but seemed to prefer a medium length snell with light weight. I talked to a guy Saturday night at pull tabs and he echoed the same thing on a different lake. We tossed back several fish under 12 inches and kept a few 16’s for the pan. Not gang busters, but worth the effort. It was cold and windy Saturday but they were still eating. Will be back on the water next weekend, hopefully with a bucket of Red Tails, if the creeks go down, otherwise, they still bit the rainbows and river mix.

Good luck for those still fishing. To the guy in the big Crestliner with a Fin Tech logo, lighten up a bit.

Thanks for the update. It looks like I’ll be making a trip up to Leech mid-week to do some fishing so your report is appreciated. Agreed on the redtails… at times it feels like finding retails is harder than catching walleye!

I spent the weekend on Gull lake and caught smaller fish, the fish over 15″ seemed to be avoiding our boat. We were looking for fish on the graph, then fishing them. These fish were really moving quickly, often times they would be gone by the time we back over them to fish. I wish I would have brought our leadcore rods with as we could have covered more ground while keeping our lures in the water. It was another learning weekend on Gull lake for me.

i would have liked to crank on north long, we didn’t have the equipment either. our water temp was 55 and the weeds were still green down to 20 feet.

I made it out for an hour right before dark on Saturday. We rigged crawlers on the Weedlines and found Walleyes. The guy I fished with did well Thursday with crawlers as well. When we came off the water Saturday another boat told us they did really well trolling with leadcore during the day. I’m hoping I can get out one day this week.

tk7 wrote:

Good luck for those still fishing. To the guy in the big Crestliner with a Fin Tech logo, lighten up a bit.

We were going to do a cast and blast…however the blasting went a little late in the afternoon and never wet a line both days.

I have seen that boat before….that boat I think it belonged to a former pro whom sold it.

Has anyone caught wind of Red Tails being available for this weekend? Fife talked about crawlers, but it seems as the water has cooled so would the effectiveness of crawlers. Anyone gonna fish crawlers this weekend?

Got this weekend free but may or may not head up to our place near Nisswa. Will definitely be up there next week to give it the possible last shot before ice.

Mainly Gull for me as we’re on the channel by Zorbaz/Bar Harbor. If anyone twists my arm I could be convinced to drive up tonight. Would have an open seat or be willing to hop in someone else’s boat with some gas money this weekend. Next weekend we have guests and I’ll be taking them out.

Mine’s a 14′ Alumacraft with livewell, and decking. Comfortable for 2, bit of a sqeeze for 3.

I have been working in the Brainerd area and have been fishing a couple hours each night. Jigging raps are still producing. Last night we had several fish with the biggest around 25 inches. The past few nights I have been getting them anywhere from 19 to 24 feet but last night they all came right at 19 feet along the Weedlines.

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