Ice fishing the Brainerd Lakes Area was slower in the past week, though the fishing will pick up with stabilizing cold weather patterns this week. Despite the bite, we still managed to find and catch fish. We’ve noticed about 12-18 inches of ice in the area, and varying levels of snow due to wind/drifting; drifting as deep as 2-3 feet so have plans to get out of a stuck situation. Also, there has been increasing levels of slush on most lakes so travel is increasingly difficult, but still fishable. Foot travel, plowed roads, ATVs with tracks or chains and snowmobiles recommended. Please ensure you’re checking ice conditions frequently (follow the MN DNR Ice Guidelines).
(Safety First: The MN DNR has many great resources online to help determine ice safety, immersion survival, etc. https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/safety/ice/index.html)
-Catch crappies and bluegills in basins/holes of 22-38ft (finding fish suspended in the water column). If fish are near bottom beyond 28-30ft, they will not survive the catch due to barotrauma, so plan to keep all sizes of fish within your legal possession limit if fishing those depths. Jig crappies with 5mm or 7mm Tungsten jigs tipped with a Mister Twister Sassy Stingum or wax worms, 1/16oz Frostee Spoon or glide-bait style lure, such as a Crystal Reaper or Jigging Rap (I’ve had a lot of success with a small tungsten jig with a soft plastic or wax worm too). Schools are roaming slowly now, and moving to various spots is a good idea until you mark fish; unless you plan to sit out the wait for a school to circle through your location. At times, try still fishing without jigging to see if fish are being deterred by the vibrations from jigging. Jig higher in the water column, a good rule of thumb is splitting the depth in half and jigging at that location in the water column as well as jigging within 2-3ft from the bottom. Pluck fish from the top of schools to avoiding scattering the school. Bluegills continue hitting tungsten jigs tipped with the tail end of a Mister Twister Sassy Stingum or wax worm on weed flats or soft bottom areas in those similar locations. Northern pike are hitting sucker minnows and spoons tipped with a minnow head. Try suspending a sucker minnow or shiner under a tip up/IFishPro in 10-18ft, especially around weeds. Walleyes are still active at low light periods and hitting minnows/livebait presentations or spoons tipped with a minnow head jigged near bottom in 22-30ft of water. (Fishing Videos: https://youtube.com/@Hawg_Hunterz )
This is a great time to get out and relax on the ice! Practice safety first every time on the ice! Good luck out there and have plans to remain warm! Have fun, stay safe and Happy Hawg Hunting!
Dustin Monson
Hawg Hunterz Guide Service LLC
Ph: 320-293-2442
Email: mrhawghunter@hotmail.com
Website: Www.hawghunterzguideservice.weebly.com