brainerd Brainerd Fishing Reports

[Traxxx]

Good report Jason, similar here. We've been doing really good as well up near the weedlines, in 16-20 Fow. Small green-glow buckshot spoons, with minnowheads have been hot. Setlines, plain hooks and smaller golden shiners have been working good as well. First ice walleyes tend to be a little more finicky, if there's alot of commotion. Try to keep the noise to a minimum, have your holes drilled early. Finding areas with little traffic will up your odds. Gradual sloping ledges coming off the weedline is where we've been finding the best action.

[CaptainMusky]

Interesting, we had much different results on Gull. Few fish on the locator and only caught 2 with both being dinks.

No one around us was catching any fish and even those fishing other areas that we talked to at the access had similar results. We were right on the weedline and tried deeper and shallower and no difference.

[WalleyeJeff]

North Long, Sat. had great luck with a buck shot, but on the small side. Sunday, nothing on buckshot only fish caught where on fat head. Again on the small side. One more night in this spot then to the next. Lots of traffic and houses moving about.

[WalleyeJeff]

Same report for Merrifield bay, all of the fish I have been catching are on the small side. Also seeing lots of smaller ones on camera just before dark. My son did catch average size northern on a tip up in 10'.

[buddha]

I didn't stack em up Saturday either, however a group next to us did really well. They stayed put while I moved around. Only 2 eyes for two guys. We will go after it again this weekend.

[Eastman2003]

Just to prove that there is still down to earth people on the planet.....

I went out on the North end of gull Sunday mid-day getting my things ready for the drag and checking out my gps on the back of my truck. Doing that a guy was coming in on his four wheeler from a fish house that he'd set up just before we got there. My buddy yelled to him jokingly "Hey man since your leaving we might as well just fish your shack!!" The guy parked his four wheeler and handed us the key!! Told us there was a heater and bait in there and explained how everything worked. I couldn't believe it, complete strangers. All the guy wanted us to do is tell him how many fish we caught, and to make sure that we left the place squared away before we left.

A long story short... I had a blast, we caught few fish, but just knowing that I didn't have to drag the ol clam suitcase across the ice was nice!!!

[Sportland_Bait]

Little update from today. The action wasn't as fast this morning for us. We tried a new spot and although we didn't catch as many in numbers, the average size was much better. We ended up with keepers averaging 16-17 inches. Today at least for us, we noticed the fish were a little finicky. They weren't snapping the jigging spoons. They would show up, take a sniff, and slowly disappear. They did take down some set lines with small to medium shiners. Caught our fish in 18 feet. Still a pretty good day. Nice out there, beautiful weather. We'll see what happens tomorrow.

Jason Erlandson

[jwmiller33]

what have you guys been using out on gull for those eyes? i have been out on gull the last two days and only caught a couple tiny eyes and a bunch of little perch

[Panfish Killer]

That is awesome Eastman2003!! It is great that people do that kind of stuff!! I usually think I have a great year when no one breaks into my house!! I would be willing to borrow my house any day to someone local just to keep an eye on the house. (And the holes open)

[jwmiller33]

ive been using northland buckshots and forage minnows with minnow heads and am catching almost all my fish on my bobber/red hook/shiner rig. also tried swedish pimple. cant find eyes!!!

[jwmiller33]

also, im staying at grandview. what r the snowmobiling conditions for the area? is all of gull lake safe to drive on or r there spots i shouls b careful for? r people on the trails yet?

[jwmiller33]

how about the other lakes in the gull chain? r they safe? sorry for multiple posts. im on my cell and can only post short amts. no wifi here.

[jwmiller33]

i really jus wanna kno if there r some bad ice spots i should avoid. can anyonde tell me? staying at interlachen. love driving the sled around as much as possible and im here for a week

[wildmanp]

out-of-towners could be responsible and ethical fishermen too???? They may fish in your ice house once or twice a season????

[buddha]

Great story Eastman, nice to hear that sort of trust when there are getting to be too many goof balls out there.

[s_floater]

Out on the lake today got out a little late but from 845 to 11 i caught 5. two small ones and 3 between 17-20 so it was a great mornig. i think it helped that there was no traffic noise out there. Good luck to all and have a good christmas

[Sportland_Bait]

Talked to some of the ice fishing guides today around lunchtime. They said it is still going good up here on the north end. Caught some big fish yesterday afternoon and this morning. They key is fishing quiet areas and weedlines. They hooked into quite a few 20-24 inchers the last couple of trips. Not making much ice this week. Still finding 5-7 inches in many places on Gull. Good to go for atvs and portables. I'd be a little cautious yet with the big houses. I'll keep you posted on all the latest. Or you guys can stop in the bait shop to chat. Good luck out there.

Jason Erlandson

[walleye365]

jason any info on WFC/Big Trout ice and a wally bite anything goin out there thanks for any info

[firejumper]

it has been terribly slow for me out on the main lake im in 21 feet right now and going to move it today im just not sure if i want to go deeper like into 30 or so or if i should just bump it up shallower

[gulllakeguy]

I have done well on Gull last two nights. Not for # but nice size. 2-16" 3-18" 1-22" 1-25" 1-27" This is by myself.

[jwmiller33]

gull lake guy, what part of the lake are you on?

[Traxxx]

Jake,

I think you guys are in a pretty good spot. Catch any after I left?

[Sportland_Bait]

Should be great for sledding now after the snow. We ended up with about 4 inches this morning, not sure whats to come yet. I haven't heard much from the Whitefish Chain. Never do get many reports from up there. Gull has been so good, not many anglers running up there to check it out.

Gull went pretty good the last couple of days. Hasn't shown any signs of slowing. The area we fished, we are catching them in 12-40 feet. Some days they have preferred shiners, some they want the Buckshot spoons. 7 inches of ice everywhere. Broke out the new Strikemaster Solo last night. Man does it rip. If you are an angler that drills a lot of holes. This is the only auger I would recommend. I'll give it a good test the rest of the season and I'll give you a report on how it performs after some use. Merry Christmas everyone!

Jason Erlandson

[walleye365]

well with the snow dont know if il get up there, but if i do il report what i find.

[gulllakeguy]

gull lake guy, what part of the lake are you on?

On the south end. Went last night and got a goose egg. Thought it would be good with the weather coming in.

[shamalex72]

anyone been out after this snow? just curious how the ice is. was thinking about heading up that way tomorrow.

[jwmiller33]

Jake,

I think you guys are in a pretty good spot. Catch any after I left?

Ya caught a couple more small ones after you left. Since the storm has moved in, the bite has been slower. Not catching any more big ones... lots of little cigars. right before that storm moved in, I got 3 over 20 inches within like 2 or 3 hrs.

We were out last night and it was pretty slow. Tonight was the same thing. We are sticking to that same spot (got it marked on the h2o), but me and Greg have been setting up on different depths, fishing the break. marking lots of fish but not many takes.

will be out probably 2-3 more days. i think were going to take the snowbear on mille lacs for a day since were up here. this snow made the lake an absolute mess with slush, just like last year. kept getting stuck in the snowmobile when i was pulling the portable

[jwmiller33]

have been out on gull like the last 7 nights in a row i believe. pretty much been fishing this same spot and it has been consistently producing eyes, however most of them are tiny. the best bite was the night before/during that pressure system moving in. i got 3 eyes over 20 inches in a 2-3 hr span around dark. since the storm has moved in, the bite has turned way off. we havent been able to get anything but cigars since the storm moved in. i think were going to go to mille lacs for a day this weekend

[Walleye #1]

Got out on Gull tonight on the South End of the lake. Didn't get out until late, but managed to catch two 15"ers. Marked a few fish. Was fishing in 20' of water and they were hunkering close to the bottom. Both fish came on the buckshot.

I would say there is a good 12-14" of snow on the lake. We were able to use the four wheeler to get out, but hit a couple of slush spots on the way. It is going to get messy if we don't get some cold weather. Saw a guy driving his truck and a big sleeper all the way out from Ernies to Wilson Bay. Brave soul, is all I have to say!

Anyone been hearing of a panfish or crappie bite?

[walleye365]

was out on NL tonight from 3 to 7 ended up with 3 17 inchers and a 25inch that went back. hitting on jiging rapala with shiner heads in 20fow. had about 14in of ice with 10in of snow and alittel slush main lake.