Welcome to the official fishing report for the Brainerd Lakes Area.  This fishing report is updated daily by the Nisswa area professional fishing guides.  They are the premier guides in the Brainerd area.  The Nisswa Area Professional Fishing Guides are on the water every day.  Here in the Brainerd Area we have numerous different lakes to choose from.  The Nisswa Area Professional Guides fish all of the lakes surrounding Brainerd and Nisswa.  The guides favorite waters are Gull Lake and the Whitefish Chain just north of Nisswa.  The Nisswa Area Professional Guides Headquarter out of Dave's Sportland Bait and Tackle in Nisswa Minnesota.

Call Now to Book a Trip for 2005, 218-963-2401

Fishing Report Archive 2004

12-23-04

The ice fishing season is under way and we are rocking.  With all the cold weather we are experiencing the lakes are really making ice in a hurry.  The ice conditions vary from 10 inches on some of the bigger lakes like Gull, to 14-16 inches on Round and North Long.  Now that we can get out there the fishing reports are starting to come in and anglers are catching fish!  Walleyes have been biting pretty good on Pelican, Round and North Long.  The average size has been smaller but there have been some nice ones mixed in.  Fathead minnows have been producing the best results.  Jigging spoons or set lines with a plain hook and split shot have worked well.  Most anglers have been fishing the first breaks off the shoreline.  As we move into next week many will move out to some of the mid-lake structure, "Home of the Wall-Hangers".  The temperatures should take a turn for the better by the weekend, so be sure to get out on the lakes and enjoy the best ice fishing of the season.  Our shop is fully stocked for the season with the most ice fishing equipment in the area.  Merry Christmas everyone and don't forget we have all your last minute Christmas items.  We will be open all weekend.

12-15-04

We finally have a sheet of ice all the way across Gull Lake.  Plus most of our small lakes are getting better.  After a few more cold nights we should be in great shape.  We should be in full swing by next week.  Just in time for Christmas.

12-11-04

Warm weather has greeted us so far this winter.  So our ice fishing and making has been limited.  Some smaller lakes and bays have some ice.  Our larger lakes are still wide open.  Please use extreme caution if you plan on venturing out, or give us a call and we can fill you in on the latest.  The last couple of days weren't the best, we ended up receiving about 4 inches of heavy wet snow.  Which will make it even worse for our ice conditions.  Hopefully we'll get a change for the better in the near future.

Anglers that have hit some of the smaller lakes have found biting crappies so they are out there.  We just need safe ice. 

If you are looking for some new gear or some neat Christmas gifts, our shop is now fully stocked with everything you could possibly want for ice fishing in the Brainerd Lakes area.  Portable fish houses, Augers, Vexilar Depth Finders, you name it we have it.  Stop in and check out the amazing deals.

11-23-04

The warm fall continues, which isn't a good sign for eager ice anglers.  We need some cold calm nights to start a solid layer to walk on.  I'm guessing that we should have some walk able ice on our smaller lakes by the first week of December.  The bigger lakes might take until the 2nd or 3rd week.  This year has had goofy weather all season, so this isn't a shock.  The good news is the open water anglers still have some time to work their magic. 

The deer hunting season is now closed for gun hunters and overall it was a booming success.  The harvest reports I've heard say it will rank in the top 5 ever for the state.  Personally I didn't shoot the best with my bow and should have had my Buck by now.  With the Ice fishing season closing in here in the Nisswa area I may run out of time.  I hope I'll get out again a couple of times after we get some snow.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone and keep checking back for the latest Ice Updates!

11-03-04

Well election night came and went pretty much as expected.  Bush took it by the narrowest of margins.  Congratulations to the president!  As for fishing, the reports have been few and far between.  Most anglers have hunting instead of fishing.  The anglers that have hit the lakes are seeing good results.  Walleyes are being caught deep.  All the way down to 70-80 feet.  To hit those depths use a heavy sinker or heavy jig.  If that isn't your game don't fret we are still catching fish at normal depths too.  You can find pods of fish scattered from the weed edge out.  It just takes a little searching.  Top lakes include Gull, North Long, and Pelican.

If hunting is your game it should be a great deer season starting Saturday.  The deer are really starting to get active.  We've seen lots of rubs and scrapes this week.  When the bucks are chasing does it sure makes it easier for the hunter.  Everyone be safe this week and good luck in the woods or on the water!

The ice fishing tackle will be on the shelves soon, so check back often for ice updates and ice fishing gear sales!  You won't find better prices anywhere in Minnesota!

10-17-04

It really feels like winter, time to put on the storm windows and clean the yard.  I'll have to get at that when the walleyes quit biting.  The Nisswa area has a great jig and minnow bite going right now.  We've been hammering nice eyes between 14-22 inches.  Fireball jigs tipped with Rainbow chubs are the ticket.  Most fish we are catching are from 22-32 feet deep.  The best reports are coming from Gull, Round, and North Long.  Points and inside turns are holding fish.  If the wind is blowing into the structure even better.  All of our lakes have turned over so walleyes will be caught everywhere now.  October is the time for trophies so bring the Mr. Heater and the handwarmer heat packs. 

We have some nice Rainbows and Redtails in stock!

If you want to fish with one of our professional guides give us a call.  We are on a hot bite right now!

Call the walleye hotline:  218-963-2401

10-05-04

The fall walleye bite is in full swing and they are biting. Most area lakes are going strong. Gull and North Long Lakes have been the top destinations this week. Other good choices have been Pelican or the Whitefish Chain. Gull is still producing numbers of smaller walleyes 10-13 inchers. While the other lakes have given anglers good action on bigger fish up to 26 inches. With the cooling water temperatures we are nearing the turnover period. Most walleyes lately have been active in 24-39 feet.

After turnover you can expect great fishing in all depths on the lakes. Look for
that change within the next couple of weeks. Minnows or nightcrawlers are producing the best results. It is a great time to get out on the water, the trees are hitting their peak colors and it is absolutely beautiful. Good Luck catching those hungry walleyes!
 

09-21-04

Feels more like Summer than Fall but that hasn’t slowed the walleye bite here in the Brainerd area. The top lakes this week have been Gull, Whitefish and Pelican. Small fish have dominated the catches on Gull, but we’ve had some trips with very nice fish up to 25 inches on the Whitefish Chain. Pelican has also provided quality fish in the 17-18 inch class. Creek Chubs or Redtails are turning most of the fish. On Gull the fish have been scattered at a variety of depths from 13-38 feet. Walleyes and Pike are very active on Whitefish from 25-36 feet and the same depths on Pelican. With strong south winds we have had for the last few days, I recommend fishing structure with southern exposure. Baitfish and walleyes should be stacked up on classic spots. Just work your Lindy Rigs and chubs slowly along the drop off and you will get bites.

With Buck Fever setting in, many archers were in the woods chasing the “Thirty Pointer”. Hot temps and high winds kept the deer movement to a minimum, but a great weekend nonetheless. With lots of leaves on the trees and a tremendous walleye bite happening, we’ll continue to hit the lakes. Good Luck this week!

Guide's Tip of the Week-  Time to get out the jig box.  Fall is a great time to try jigging.  The weeds are dropping down from lack of sunlight, so there will be less hang ups.  We were jigging in the spring and now again in the fall.  My favorite Jig is a Northland Fireball tipped with a small Redtail Chub or Rainbow.  Jigging in the fall is one of the quickest ways to fill your limit.
 

09-08-04

Another rainy Labor Day weekend has come and gone, fall is finally here. With the kids now back in school the lakes area is fairly quiet. There is no better time to play hooky from work and go fishing. The walleye fishing is on fire. The lake of choice this week was Gull. Other good lakes to try have been North Long and Round.

We have been catching great numbers of fish; one of our guides had a 60 fish
day recently. Lots of action! Most walleyes have been small, but the last couple of days anglers have found some real dandies. Walleyes have been scattered at many depths, but for consistent action I've found fish feeding along the weedlines from 12-18 feet or out deeper from 29-38 feet.

The top tactic has been working slowly with a Lindy Rig and a Redtail or Creek Chub. Hooking the minnow through the tail is an old guide secret that really drives walleyes nuts. It will help you put more fish in the boat!

The bass fishing has been great all summer and this week was no different. Jigs and minnows have been fooling nice bass in the 2-3 pound range.

Big Pike are starting to get fairly active as well. Look for Northerns to be feeding on the big weed flats. Jigs and minnows or big spinnerbaits will produce some strikes.

While most people start thinking about ducks and deer don't forget that fall is the best time of the year for big trophy fish. Good Luck this week!

 

09-01-04

I would be willing to nominate Gull Lake as the Walleye capital of Minnesota. Gull has been red hot for walleyes this week! Anglers have had great success using Lindy Rigs and Redtail Chubs on many of our traditional hot spots. Some great spots to hunt for eyes on Gull have been Grassy Point, Cinosam Bar, the Rock Pile, and the White House Bar. Lately the fish have been swimming in a variety of depths. Some fish are still on the weed edges in 14-16 feet, but many have moved a little deeper, out into the 30s. Working real slow with tail hooked redtails will provide lots of action for you. Lots of fish have been small but most anglers are catching enough keeping size to get a meal or two. Other lakes providing some action include Upper Whitefish and Pelican.
The Bass fishing continues to be very good despite the changing weather. This weekend I took some time to watch the weigh-in and chat with some of the pros at the Gander Mountain Pro-Am Bass Tournament on Gull Lake and needless to say I was impressed. Lots of big bass! It was a great show. Congratulations to all the participants. Lately the bass have been hitting a variety of baits. Some days they like a jig and plastic worm others they prefer a spinnerbait. As a backup plan, a Northland weed-weasel and minnow always seems to produce. Most bass have been active in 4-16 feet of water near the weeds. It is pretty hard not to catch a few bass right now.
For consistent pike action I recommend Lake Edwards. Trolling spinnerbaits or bobber fishing with sucker minnows has provided good action. Deep weed edges are holding most Northerns.
We are moving into the fall now so try to get out fishing during the full moon phase. It is a great time for big fish in the Brainerd Lakes Area. Good Luck this week!

08-23-04

We sure have had crazy weather lately, but it sure hasn't slowed the walleyes down any up here in the Brainerd area.  It almost seems that we are seeing a slight transition into our fall patterns.  Which means scattered aggressive walleyes.  We've catching lots of eyes on Lindy Rigs and Redtail Chubs in a variety of depths.  The best set up is a 5 foot snell with a red hook.  We've had the best results on Gull Lake.  Small walleyes are hanging out on the weedlines while we have been catching nice 15-19 inch fish from 19-26 feet.  Anglers have caught them all the way out to 38 feet.  It pays to play the wind.  Fish the winblown sides of structure, thats where the most fish have been hanging out.  It really seems like fall, with changing patterns and cooler weather. 

Our bass fishing has been changing from day to day but is still pretty good.  With the recent cold fronts live bait has been the key to success.  It is hard to beat a jig and minnow when things slow down.  I prefer the small Redtail chubs or lite pike sucker minnows.  Once our weather stabilizes look for the bass to once again start smashing your favorite plastic worms, spinnerbaits, and topwater baits.  Good areas for bass this week have been the deep weed edge.  Try working your baits in 13-17 feet.  I've found, that in frontal conditions such as this, fish will move lower in the water column and will hold tighter to cover.  So for best results fish closer to the weeds and within a few feet of bottom.  Good lakes for bass are numerous in the lakes area but some old stand-bys that always produce are Gull, Hubert and North Long.  Don't be surprised if you find some northerns on the prowl as well.

Guide's Tip of the Week-  Time to get ready for the fall fishing and hunting seasons.  Tune the bow, sight in the rifle, and shoot some clay pigeons.  I like to keep my warm duck hunting bibs in the truck.  That way I'm ready when that northwester starts blowing and the walleyes are biting.  The way it looks that could be sooner than later.

08-09-04

Feels like an early fall with these cooler temperatures. But that hasn’t slowed the fishing down. The walleyes are still providing us with some nice action on Gull. Strangely we’ve been finding walleyes hanging out in their springtime locations. On Gull Lake, look for active fish on Grassy Point, the Hayfield, and Cobbins Bar.

The fish are feeding up on the weed edges and their favorite food is a Redtail chub on a Lindy Rig. The majority of the fish are smaller but we had some fish in the 25” class this week. There has been no stopping the Bass bite. We are still hammering them on most of our lakes. It has been tough to beat a Northland Weed-Weasel tipped with a minnow. The weed flats and edges are holding a ton of fish now. Key depths have been 8-14 feet. Northerns are getting active and are hitting anything with a minnow attached. Lake Edwards and Gull have been hot for Northerns. Just like everything else we are catching them on the weed edges 14-16 feet. Look for crappies and bluegills to be hitting small jigs and worms or leeches in 10-14 feet outside the cabbage weeds. With the cooler weather the fish seem to be getting started early on feeding up for winter. So don’t miss out on the great action. Good Luck!

Guide's Tip of the Week-  Change your fishing line often!  Sun and heat can really weaken your line and make it brittle over the season.  Many guys change before opener and forget about it until next year.  Not a good idea, I change about once a month.  That may be overkill but I recommend that everyone change at least once during the middle of the season.  You will thank me when you hook the big one this fall!

08-01-04

For Nisswa's official fishing report look no further!  The weather has been beautiful and it's hard to complain about the fishing.  It's been great!

Bass

Bass are biting that's for sure.  It almost seems that it doesn't even matter what you are using, they are biting on anything.  Anglers are doing well on minnows or leeches for live bait.  Some good artificial baits lately are Mushroom Jigheads and Berkley Power Worms or the new Senko Worms.  You can find bass on any of our lakes.  They are hanging out in depths from 6-16 feet.  Sometimes they're right up in the weeds other times they are out on the deep edge.

Walleyes

We've seen a turn for the better on walleye fishing.  At least for today.  Doug had a trip out on Gull today and they really hammered some nice eyes.  The trick was a short snelled(30 inches) Lindy Rig and Redtail chub.  They ended up with about a dozen nice 16-17 inchers.  Along with about 20 bass and some nice pike, what a day.  Lets hope that this trend will continue for a while.

Northern Pike

The Pike fishing is decent.  Try working Lindy rigs or spinners tipped with a redtail or medium sucker minnow right along the deep weedline.  Gull has been a good choice as has North Long Lake.

Panfish

Panfishing is still good.  They seem to be hanging out in about 12-15 feet and are just devouring leeches.  For crappies I still recommend a Puddle Jumper or small Thumper Jig trolled slowly on the weed edges in the evening.  Have a great week and Good Luck!

07-20-04

Welcome to the Nisswa area's most up to date fishing report!  The fishing reports lately have been hot just like the weather.

Bass

Our bass fishing continues to be phenomenal.  The best lakes have been Gull, Hubert, Cullen, and Whitefish.  The bass are inhaling many different presentations lately.  Our favorite lures have been Mushroom Head Jigs and Berkley Power Worms.  But we've also had success using Leeches or Minnows on a weed-less jig.  Most bass are feeding in 6-12 feet in and around the cabbage flats.  Really simple just cast and retrieve the lure slowly.  Lots of anglers have reported catching 20-30 bass in a couple of hours.  Lots of fun!

Walleyes

Walleye fishing remains slow.  Some activity has been reported in the lowlight periods of the day.  Best baits have been Redtails or Leeches worked slowly right up in the weeds or on the edges in 13-17 feet.  Lakes worth checking are Gull, or the Whitefish chain.

Northern Pike

The pike fishing started out slow this year is starting to pick up with this hot, muggy weather.  Anglers are doing the best trolling white spinnerbaits over the tops of the weeds in 8-14 feet.  I always like to tip the lure with a medium sucker minnow or a pork trailer.  Lakes producing lately are Edwards or the south end of Gull Lake.

Panfish

Crappies and Sunnies are showing up on a daily basis.  8-12 feet is where you can find them right now.  I recommend small leeches or wax worms on a small hair jig for the sunfish.  While for the crappies its tough to beat a small jig and plastic tail.  Troll real slow in the evenings for crappies.  Have a great week and Good Luck!

Guide's Tip of the Week-  Fishing at night can be very productive, especially for walleyes on busy lakes like we have here in the lakes area.  I like to troll with Rapalas after dark just outside the weeds.  It is a good way to avoid the crowds and put some monster eyes in the boat.  Just something to think about!

07-13-04

The crazy weather has now stabilized and so has the fishing.  We are now seeing signs of our typical summer pattern.  While the walleye fishing is slow right now, everything else is swinging into high gear.

Bass fishing is still very good.  Anglers are finding active bass in a variety of locations.  You can catch them from up shallow near the boat docks all the way out to the deep weed edges.  I snuck out last night and found them on the weed flats about 10-12 feet deep.  Lures, lures, lures, I'm not sure if there is an all out best lure for bass.  Some of our favorites are Gopher Mushroom jigheads and Berkley Power Worms, Spinnerbaits, or topwaters like a Scum Frog.  Last night I was using a new lure called a Senko Worm.  I was very impressed.  The average size of the fish were nice. 

Get out your Spinnerbaits, Spoons and Mepps Spinners.  The Pike action is really heating up.  Weedlines are where you can find them on most of our lakes.  Some good lakes to try are Wilson Bay on Gull, Round, or North Long.  Just tie on your favorite pike lure and start trolling.

Crappies and sunfish are also biting well.  For crappies try fishing in the evening.  They are hanging out just outside the weeds in 6-14 feet.  Just troll or drift real slow using small tube jigs or Puddle Jumpers.  Some hot lakes right now are Hubert, Upper Mission, or Upper Gull.  The Bluegill bite is on!  Big bluegills are smashing wax worms or small leeches on many area lakes.  Look for gills in 6-9 feet.

07-03-04

Summer time is here and that means bass and pike are on a terror.  The bass bite has been phenomenal on Gull, Hubert, North Long, well I guess most of our lakes have been good.  Pretty simple technique too.  Just tie on a Gopher Mushroom head jig and a plastic worm or a spinnerbait.  Bass are very active on the weed flats and weed edges.  Try casting your baits into 4-12 feet.  We've been catching and releasing bass up to about 4 lbs.  Pike fishing is also picking up.  Trolling with white spinnerbaits or bobber fishing with lite northern sucker minnows have produced nice catches lately.  Northerns have been hanging out in the same areas as the bass.  The walleye fishing has been less than spectacular.  The best results have come from Whitefish, North Long, and Lake Edwards.  Work the weedlines for active walleyes with Lindy Rigs and Leeches.  Many bass anglers have been catching walleyes in the weeds.  Pitching weedless jigs and minnows might be a good option.  Look for panfish to be swimming along the weed edges.  Cullen and Hubert have been good for some scrappy bluegills and crappies.

Thanks to everyone for all the support this summer.  We've been busier than ever.  We'll continue to provide you the best bait, hot tips, fishing guides, and quality service in the Nisswa area.

06-22-04

The fishing lately has been nothing less than fantastic.  We've been experiencing some tremendous multi-species angling.  Walleyes have been aggressively feeding on Gull and Pelican Lake.  On Gull active walleyes seem to be everywhere.  We've had the best results using Lindy Rigs and a Redtail or Creek Chub or Leech.  Some anglers are doing well using Northland Fireball Jigs tipped with a minnow.  The best depths have been from 16 - 33 feet.  The north end of Gull is holding better numbers of walleyes while the south end has the bigger fish.  For Pike action I recommend casting or trolling white spinnerbaits tipped with a small sucker minnow.  Another good option is a white jig tipped with a minnow.  Work either option along the edge or over the tops of the weeds in 6- 14 feet.  For some fantastic action try fishing for Largemouth Bass.  Bass fishing is red hot right now.  It is not uncommon to go out and catch 20, 30, 40 bass in one day right now.  Some of the top baits right now are Leeches or Gopher Mushroom Heads tipped with a 4 inch Berkley Power Worm.  Casting up into 4-12 feet should produce some bites.  Crappies and bluegills have started moving away from the shallows and are biting well in 4-10 feet near the cabbage weeds.  For panfish try either a white Puddle Jumper or a small leech under a small casting bobber.  With stable conditions this bite should continue for a while.  Good Luck this week!

06-13-04

Bassin Time!  Our lakes are in full bloom just like our trees, flowers and lawns.  With our weedlines starting to grow thick the bass fishing has been phenomenal for numbers of fish and some big bruisers.  That has been the top story lately.  Our walleye fishing this week was marginal.  We've been fishing Gull and have been able to scratch out a few.  Later in the week it was showing signs of improvement.  We've had success using a Lindy rig tipped with either a minnow or a leech.  Either one as long as they are lively.  Walleyes have been using a couple of depth zones this week.  I found nice groups of fish in 26-30 feet and also on the weedlines in 14-18 feet.  The Pike fishing has been good on many of the smaller lakes in the area.  I recommend Upper Gull, Roy, Cullen, or Round lake for some toothy action.  As I said earlier the bass fishing has been awesome on all of our lakes.  Look for the bass to be up in the reeds or in the new cabbage weeds.  Try casting small white spinnerbaits or Gopher mushroom jigheads and 4 inch plastic worms.  Our crappies are in transition to the weed flats as they are coming off the spawn.  Look for crappies to be hanging out in 4-10 feet near the weeds.  Early mornings or evenings may be the best times for crappies now.  Big Bluegills are really cruising the shallows right now and are feeding heavily on small leeches or wax worms.  Good Luck this week!  I'll keep you up to date as we will be getting ready for the Camp Confidence Classic on Gull Lake.  The weigh in will be Saturday afternoon at Craguns resort.  Stop by and check it out, it's a great event.

06-05-04

We finally are getting some summer weather, 70s and sunshine, I love it!  The new cabbage weeds are really starting to sprout up the last few days.  Which has given us some phenomenal multi-species action.  Bass, Northern, Walleyes, you name it we're catching them right now.  For walleyes, the top lakes this week were Gull or Pelican.  Try fishing 22-30 feet with Lindy Rigs and Shiners or Leeches.  If you are after the big northerns look no further.  They seem to be on a terror right now in most our lakes.  Walleye anglers are catching snakes everywhere.  Our bass season is off to a great start.  We have been catching them in the shallows on small spinnerbaits, plastic worms, or leeches.  Just like the pike, most our lakes have produced some nice bucketmouths.  The Bluegill fishing has kicked into high gear.  Look for gills in the shallow reeds, they have been inhaling wax worms or small leeches.  Small hair jigs have worked best for me.  Our only downside right now is the crappie action.  In most lakes they are spawning or are just finishing up.  We've caught a few but it has been sporadic.  Nice weather, hungry fish.  Can't beat that!

05-31-04

Unstable weather to say the least!  We are catching some walleyes but it hasn't been consistant.  I've talked to anglers this week that caught walleyes from 10 feet all the way out to 50 feet.  Crazy!!!  Still my recommendation is to work the weed-lines.  That's where I've done the best.  Lindy rigs and live bait such as a shiner or a jumbo leech has been the meal ticket.  Try fishing windswept shorelines.  Gull has still been the best lake in the area.  Just keep moving from spot to spot until you find a group of hungry fish.  Bass and Pike fishing has been terrific!  Spinnerbaits or a jig and minnow have worked great in 4-10 feet.  Most of our area lakes are producing plenty of action.  The crappie action has slowed a little with this inclimate weather look for better results with some sunny days.

05-24-04
 

It's walleye time!  It hasn't been phenomenal but it has been better than last week.  The water temps are still hovering in the low 50s but the bite is starting to heat up.  Gull lake has been the best lately with anglers doing OK on both the north and south ends of the lake.  On the south end try Government Point or the north side of Squaw Point.  On the north end check out The Hayfield, Grassy Point, or Dutchman's Bluff.  Work slowly along the weed-lines in 13-16 feet.  We've been catching some very nice fish using minnows or leeches.  Some fish have been caught shallower and deeper but the most consistent action has been near the new weed-lines.  Other lakes I'd recommend are North Long or Pelican.  Use the same presentations as on Gull.  The Pike fishing is still awesome with many nice fish biting on Upper Gull or Wilson Bay.  Our crappie fishing has been pretty good with most fish feeding up for the spawn which has been delayed by cooler than average temperatures.  Puddle Jumpers or crappie minnows are catching crappies on Lake Margaret or Lake Hubert.  Check for crappies from up shallow out to 10 feet of water.  If we ever get a sunny day start looking for big bluegills in the shallows.  Last time I was out chasing crappies I could see nice bluegills everywhere.  I know you bass anglers are getting excited for opener this coming weekend so good luck.  Most anglers are saying the Bass have been practically jumping in the boat, so it should be easy pickings.  Small spinnerbaits should work well for those active largemouths.  Good Luck this week and lets hope for some warmer weather!