Walleye Dan Fishing Report: Brainerd Lakes Minnesota : May 23, 2017

I enjoy reading Walleye Dan's article in the Brainerd Dispatch and also his fishing reports. Here is his latest report from http://www.walleyedan.com/whatsbiting/:

May 23, 2017
Good morning! I hope the sun is shining where you are at, it’s been awhile since we have seen it here in the Brainerd Lakes Area. But, it sounds like it is supposed to sow itself tomorrow and I’m hoping that happens. I have been on the water a fair amount and have also spent some time in the woods chasing turkeys at the 11th hour. Fishing is good and should get even better in the next two weeks. I have spent the majority my time on Gull Lake and we have put some nice fish in the boat. The big ones have made a comeback and we are just hoping that the young bucks are somewhere to be had. Yesterday I was out with 4 men and we worked it pretty hard. For those that don’t have patience, this would not have been a trip for you. We caught 6 fish, all over 20 inches. Including a 24, 25 3/4, 26 and 27.5, nice walleyes anywhere, but really nice to see coming out of Gull. We caught them in 15-25 feet. The new Larson FX 2020T is decked to the hilt with my Hummingbird electronics and MinnKota trolling motors, this boat is SOLID and a truly awesome guiding machine! The summer is looking to be a busy one, so if you are interested in coming up to the Brainerd/Mille Lacs area, please give us a call at 218-839-5598 and book your trip or trips. Whether it is smallmouth or walleye on Mille Lacs or any species here in the Brainerd area, we will have a guide that can put you on them! Whether or not they bite, that’s going to be up to your talent level! But we will offer you up advice, and try to give you the best opportunity to catch some! Bottom line, for you, it’s better than working so book today.

p.s. Registration and sponsorship opportunities are open for the 5th annual Walleyedan Fishing To End Hunger walleye tournament on Gull Lake. Have a great day, Dan

Brainerd Minnesota Lakes Area Fishing Report: May 26, 2017

BRAINERD/NISSWA AREA 

Shiner minnows continue to trigger walleyes in 16 to 20 feet on North Long Lake, Round Lake, and Whitefish Lake. Northern pike are hitting sucker minnows in 8 to 12 feet on Gull Lake, Cullen Lake, and North Long. Look for panfish and bass in 3 to 6 feet at North Long, Gull, Round, Cullen, and Lake Edwards.

S & W Bait & Guide Service/Nisswa Guide League  (218) 829-7010

Louisiana Crappie Fishing: **Easter Weekend Crappies** / Some Slabs / Fun With The Family / Crappie...

I would like to head down to Louisiana and fish with these two next winter. They sure

know how to find the crappies. I have been watching their videos for awhile, and wish

I could catch crappies like they do in their videos. Enjoy.

Brainerd Lakes Area Fishing Report May 19, 2017

I have been catching some nice sunfish this past week, but things slowed down with the weather being so cold last weekend. The rain has made everything green up really nice, and I am going to be doing more fishing on Gull and some smaller lakes in the Nisswa area this week, so I will keep all of you updated.

Here is fishing report from http://www.outdoornews.com/minnesota/fishing-reports/

BRAINERD/NISSWA AREA 

Crappies are hitting in 3 to 6 feet on Gull Lake, Upper Gull Lake, North Long Lake, Nisswa Lake, Cullen Lake, Roy Lake, and Round Lake. Walleyes are biting best early and late each day in 10 to 12 feet, mainly on crawlers and minnows, on Round Lake or in the channels on Gull. Northern pike are taking sucker minnows in 8 to 15 feet at North Long, Pelican Lake, and Whitefish Lake.

S & W Bait & Guide Service/Nisswa Guide League  (218) 829-7010

Vintage Hunting and Fishing Images

Brainerd, Minnesota: Live Music For the Week of May 18-24, 2017

From the Brainerd Dispatch:

For the week of May 18-24; bands perform 9 p.m. to close with no cover unless otherwise noted.

BRAINERD

Eagles Club

124 Front St.

Artisan, 7-11 p.m. Friday; $5 for all dances for non-Eagle members.

Agate to perform for Lakes Area Singles Single Spring Dance (age 40 or older), 7:30-11:30 p.m. Saturday; $5 cover

Last Turn Saloon

214 S. Eighth St.

Open Mic, first Wednesday of month (sign-up, 6:30 p.m.)

Bluegrass Jam, 6:30-8:30 p.m. every first, third and fifth Thursday of the month.

Liquor Pigz

718 Laurel St.

Karaoke, 10 p.m. every Wednesday

Jam session/open mic, 9 p.m. every Sunday

O'Madden Pub

11266 Pine Beach Peninsula

Jud Hailey, Friday-Saturday

Roundhouse Brewery

1551 Northern Pacific Road

Dos Guys, 7 p.m. Saturday

Shep's on Sixth

315 S. Sixth St.

DJ, every Friday-Saturday in Elbow Room

The Woods

19624 County Highway 3

Levi Pelzer, 6 p.m. today, May 18

DiamondBack, 8 p.m. Saturday

BREEZY POINT

Commander Bar

30279 Airport Road

Six to Midnight, 9:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday

JJ's Pub

Downstairs of the Commander

Avery and Duncan, 5-9 p.m. Saturday

CROSBY

The Bridge Tavern

26929 Highway 6

Wanted (classic country), 4-8 p.m. Sundays

FORT RIPLEY

St. Mathias Bar and Grill

4640 County Road 121

YNOTT, Saturday

Brainerd Lakes Area Fishing Report, May 17, 2017: Brainerd, Minnesota

BRAINERD/NISSWA AREA 

Crappies are hitting in 3 to 6 feet on Gull Lake, Upper Gull Lake, North Long Lake, Nisswa Lake, Cullen Lake, Roy Lake, and Round Lake. Walleyes are biting best early and late each day in 10 to 12 feet, mainly on crawlers and minnows, on Round Lake or in the channels on Gull. Northern pike are taking sucker minnows in 8 to 15 feet at North Long, Pelican Lake, and Whitefish Lake.

S & W Bait & Guide Service/Nisswa Guide League  (218) 829-7010

We only buy our bait at S & W Bait  and have for many years.  We live close by the bait shop and they are open at 5:30 every morning like clockwork.  They always have fishing tactics for area lakes on a white board above the minnow tanks, and I have bought everything from kids fishing poles to ice fishing chisel/scoops for cheaper than going into Fleet Farm.  My kids like the friendliness of the owners and clerks, and it is the best bait shop in Minnesota due to their consistent customer service, quality products and authenticity.  

Poison Ivy and How to Eradicate it in Minnesota: Brainerd, Minnesota

Poison ivy is starting to show around central Minnesota by mid-May, along with the snowbirds and obnoxious (tourists) drivers from out of state.  It is a give and take kind of season, as the crappie and sunfish are biting in the shallows and the Lyme carrying ticks are thick as thieves.   I have a new remedy for all of the poison ivy growing in the sandy woods around my place, and it isn't calamine or twenty dollar bottles of technu or whatever else kind of obnoxiously priced products available from the oil companies...woops, I meant pharmaceutical companies, but same difference.


The cure is to start spraying early poison ivy plants, which will be emerging when the leaves pop on the trees.  Hit the small, red leaved and easily distinguishable ivy with a combination of 2 4 D and Roundup with a little bit of Dawn dish soap mixed in as a surfactant.

 I started this year in early May and will continue until June and look forward to planting grass seed and having a small area around my lawn and driveway free of poison ivy.  I don't spray my entire woods, but try to reduce exposure in well traveled areas, and consider this practice to be my type of management concerning this pesky vine. Thanks for reading.



Photos are from : http://www.poison-ivy.org/poison-ivy-spring

Fishing Panfish on Whitefish Chain of Lakes: Cross Lake, Minnesota

Tips on catching panfish from the article:


2. The Whitefish Chain has a reputation for producing quality panfish, and secluded back bays are excellent places to find them right after ice-out. “There is an abundance of these little coves throughout the chain,” Roach says, “and because there are so many, a lot of excellent panfishing gets overlooked.”

Moonlight Bay on the north end of Cross Lake is a good place to start, but again don’t hesitate to explore similar areas wherever you find them. Bluegills and crappies can be up in as little as 2 feet of water when it’s sunny and calm; if it’s cooler or overcast they tend to move a bit deeper, or to the breakline just outside the bay itself. “Just don’t decide they’ve moved if you can’t locate them right away,” Roach says. “If the bay has a dark bottom, especially if there’s vegetation or wood that holds heat, they’ll be there. You just have to find them.”

Make a stealthy approach, using the electric motor instead of the outboard, and keep boat noise to a minimum. Then fancast the area with an Impulse® Bloodworm, or a Bling Jig or Mud Bug and waxworm under a float. “Bring it back to the boat on a slow retrieve,” explains Roach. “When you locate a pocket of fish, you can zero in—but approach quietly.”

Info. from Northland Fishing and Tackle:

http://www.northlandtackle.com/whitefish-chain-minnesota-lake-of-the-week


Link to Whitefish information on MN Lakefinder

We only buy our bait at S & W Bait  and have for many years.  We live close by the bait shop and they are open at 5:30 every morning like clockwork.  They always have fishing tactics for area lakes on a white board above the minnow tanks, and I have bought everything from kids fishing poles to ice fishing chisel/scoops for cheaper than going into Fleet Farm.  My kids like the friendliness of the owners and clerks, and it is the best bait shop in Minnesota due to their consistent customer service, quality products and authenticity.  

Public Access Crow Wing County Lakes: Brainerd, Minnesota Fishing

Check out this link to public access points and fish species available in Crow Wing County Lakes :http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/maps/water_access/counties/crowwing.pdf

Brainerd Fishing Report 5-11-17: Brainerd, Minnesota

from: http://www.brainerdguide.com/fishing_report.htm



Brainerd, Minnesota Fishing Report: 5-11-17The weather has heated up and so has the fishing the Brainerd Lakes Area. The crappies have invaded the shallow water areas and are readily biting small minnow, grub type imitations suspended below a bobber. The bite has been so good that live bait hasn't been needed. The best soft plastic bait colors have been root beer, smoke, and white. Search out backwater areas in 4 to 6 feet of water which are near know crappie spawning habitat. It won't be long, if the current temperatures hold, before the crappies will be spawning in the pencil reeds and bulrushes. The sunfish action has also picked up throughout the area. Key locations have been in 2 to 4 feet of water. A small jig tipped with a panfish leech has been a deadly combination. The best panfish bite has been occurring in the backwater areas with muddy bottoms. Locations with newly emerging lily pads have been best. The walleye action was fair this weekend. The best bite occurred in the evening hours. I look for this bite to improve as the water temperatures continue to rise. Keep posted. It's open water fishing time. We will be updating this forum weekly now throughout the summer until late fall. Good Luck this weekend! 

Catching Sunfish on Gull Lake: Brainerd, Minnesota Fishing

Info from:http://www.mnresortcabins.com/sunfish/

The Bluegill (known to many as the sunfish) tends to grow larger than the pumpkinseed, and of course the bluegill is more blue and the pumpkinseed is smaller and more orange colored, both taste wonderful and are great fun to catch when biting. Plan a family fishing vacation or a team building event for your business. We are here to help make your stay a fantastic experience.

*GPS Coordinates included on the right.

)

1. Cinosam Very Good Summer Sunfish. Look for submerged cabbage (weeds) at 12-14′. Use a split shot sinker and a #8 hook, baited with a small leech or a piece of night crawler. Fish without a bobber, just off the bottom.
   GPS Coordinates: 4627.133’N 94 19.200′ W
2. Love Lake Small lake lots of fish! Sunfish are caught by the channel and just before the swampy back end. Fish with a bobber and a piece of night crawler or a small leech.
   GPS Coordinates: 4626.524’N 94 19.204’W
3. Crane Island-Wilson Bay Lots of Sunfish spring and summer. Fish in the weeds and along the weed edge. Use a bobber and a leech or a piece of night crawler.
   GPS Coordinates: 4623.735’N 94 24.147’W
4. The Hayfield Great summer sunfishing. Fish in the cabbage (weeds) 1′ off the bottom. Try putting down a crappie minnow also (some of the larger sunfish will take them)!
   GPS Coordinates: 4628.341’N 94 21.420’W
5. Grassy Point The big sunfish come in shallow early in the spring on this reedbed.
   GPS Coordinates: 4629.229’N 94 20.417’W
6. North Edge of Cinosam Flats Very good summer sunfish. Fish in the cabbage (weeds) using a splitshot and small hook no bobber. Use a small leech for bait.
   GPS Coordinates:

We only buy our bait at S & W Bait  and have for many years.  We live close by the bait shop and they are open at 5:30 every morning like clockwork.  They always have fishing tactics for area lakes on a white board above the minnow tanks, and I have bought everything from kids fishing poles to ice fishing chisel/scoops for cheaper than going into Fleet Farm.  My kids like the friendliness of the owners and clerks, and it is the best bait shop in Minnesota due to their consistent customer service, quality products and authenticity.  

Making Traps and Catching Crayfish or Crawfish in Minnesota

MN Sea Grant on Crayfish in Minnesota:
http://www.seagrant.umn.edu/fisheries/craving_for_crayfish

Make your own crayfish traps: http://www.teediddlydee.com/make-your-own-diy-crawfish-trap/



Video on 5$ Crayfish Trap

Crappie Fishing on Gull Lake: Brainerd, Minnesota Fishing

Crappie Fishing – Bring the family crappie fishing, it’s a great time to get the family together! Enjoy our Brainerd Minnesota Fishing Resort!

How to Catch Crappie on Gull Lake. 

info from: http://www.mnresortcabins.com/crappie/

Crappie fishing must be an all time favorite for family fishing. Every kid should get to try their hand at crappie fishing at the end of a dock on a sunny afternoon at least once while their young. If you want to make it really interesting rent one of our boats and spend a day or two on the water. Crappies are fun to catch because their fairly easy as long as you know where to go. If one of the spots on the map is not producing, try another. Crappies are not only fun to catch, they are fantastic to eat as well because of their incredible flavor. Crappies bite early in the season so planning a fishing vacation in May and June is a great time to take advantage of our lower rates!

*GPS Coordinates included on the right.

Crappie regulations on Gull Lake
Season: Continuous
Limit: 10 (no size restrictions)

1. Love Lake Crappies spawn in here from May into mid June. Use a jig & minnow suspended near the channel, or use a bobber and hook with a minnow in or near the swampier back end.
   GPS Coordinates: 4626.315’N 94 19.103’W
2. End of the Bowtie Bar near Love Lake Good summer crappie, they will be deep, use a small jig and a crappie minnow.
   GPS Coordinates: 4626.571’N 94 20.226’W
3. Wilson Bay Excellent May-June Crappies fish the dropoff into the reedbed with a jig and a minnow or a beetlespin w/ a Mister Twister.
   GPS Coordinates: 4624.410’N 94 24.026’W
4. Wilson Bay Crane Island. Excellent early summer Crappie fishing try along the break with a minnow.
   GPS Coordinates: 4623.906’N 94 24.293’W
5. Gull Lake Narrows Excellent May & Early June Crappie fishing. Take a jig and a minnow and you will be pulling out fish like a dentist pulls teeth.
   GPS Coordinates: 4630.640’N 94 20.725’W

Brainerd Lakes Area Fishing Report : May 1, 2017

Brainerd Fishing Report
Crappie fishing in the Brainerd Lakes Area has been hit or miss, with the weather, but when you find them it can be bast and furious. Fish are still being found on weed flats in 6-8 feet of water. Much like any kind of fishing, playing the wind is the key. This past weekend we found active crappies feeding along a weed edge that had some emergent weed growth. Between bugs and minnows the fish were actively feeding. A 1/32oz jig with a tube under a slip bobber was the ticket. Constantly changing the depths at which you have the bobber set as well as the colors of the tubes. Pink/white, pearl, black, and purple were all good colors. An important thing is to make sure your bobber is always sitting vertical and you aren’t using too big of one and you are changing your retrieve as crappies will respond differently throughout the day.