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!