brainerd Brainerd Fishing Reports

[gulllakeguy]

Trucks on Gull right now is out of the question. 8 inches where Im at and with the ice now submerged it is scary.

[Blaze]

Are there any roads being plowed on N Long or Round? Would like to use the truck to pull out the house, but can use the wheeler as well. Any input is appreciated.

[gregg52]

i think theres a plowed road on merrifield bay out from the

landing

[cmcclaine]

Coming up to White Birch/Breezy Point Jan 1-5. can anyone tell us where to fish and what the conditions may be this weekend?

[Walleye #1]

Got out to the South end of Gull tonight. I was all by myself, with no one within 200 yards of me. The same as the other evening, fish showed up between 4:15 and 5:00 and then they shut down. Managed to ice three walleyes (15,16,and fat 20 that just about flipped off at the hole). Caught six perch, biggest being about 8". I don't have a four wheeler or snow mobile, so it was all hoofing it tonight. A tough walk, but in the long run it was worth it. I marked fish for almost an hour but they were sure picky. All of them came on the jig and bobber. I missed one on the jigging spoon.

Does the night bite turn on ever on Gull? Bringing my brother in law out on Thursday and we were thinking of fishing into the evening for a little while.

Walleye #1

[gregg52]

in the summer you can really smack em after dark

not sure about in the winter cuz they maybe go shallower you

would have to move with em

whos know stay awhile have a beeer

another thing is a few yrs back when i had my house out... after dark the pout drove you nuts

but thats yrs ago.. i think they run in cycles

[ASMOLEY]

Was out on North Long yesterday 12/27 i measured a lot of holes and the ice is very consistent 11"-12" solid clear ice. There was a Suburban cruising around the bay as well... Glad he didn't drive by me! There really wasn't much for slush or water unless you were near a hole. We used the wheeler and had no issues moving around the lake.

The water seems very cloudy compared to years past has anyone else noticed this?

[Hawg]

You guys do know that a local guide and teacher put his truck thru on Gull a couple nights ago. He's a good guy so I won't embarrass him by name.

[Sportland_Bait]

Just a heads up. Gull is not safe for driving trucks. We are finding 8 inches of ice covering most of the lake. A couple of areas do have 10-13 inches, but that area is pretty limited. The slush is healing up with the cold and is not nearly as bad as last season. We are only running atvs with chains and sleds.

Fishing is still going good. Not as many big fish this week, but we are still catching a lot of fish up to 16 inches. Most are running 10-13 inches. Crappie action is slowly getting better on the smaller lakes. Not many limits yet, but this morning was pretty good. Usually it gets pretty good around after the first of the year. A few pike were caught recently including some nice fish up to 37 inches. Not much for panfish reports. Looks like its going to stay cold for a few days. We'll keep you posted.

Jason Erlandson

[Walleye #1]

Jason

Are you still hearing weedlines for the walleyes? Does it seem that fatheads or shiners are the preferred liking right now?

I watched a guy drive out from Government Point or Ernies and drive all the way to Wilson's Bay the other evening pulling his house behind him. Talk about a death wish.

I am heading out for a full day of fishing tomorrow. I will post my report then.

Walleye #1

[Sportland_Bait]

We've still been hitting the weedlines but there are some anglers catching walleyes all the way down to 40 feet. One day they are crushing the jigging spoons the next they are a little turned off and prefer the shiner on a plain hook. It really has paid off to bring both.

Jason Erlandson

[Traxxx]

Panfish action has been pretty good over the last few days. Today's action provided lots of nice crapppies, gills, pike and some dandy bass, along with a couple really happy rental houses. The recent snow seems to be helping push them out of the shallows, concentrating them in the deeper basin areas. Small glow demon jigs tipped with waxies or small crappie minnows have been working best. Happy Fishin

[fishroger]

went out on pelican last nite. Its strange. One nite they will only hit a stationary shiner minnow under a bobber and last nite they went right past beautiful shiner minnows to hit a glow swedish pimple with a minnow head. Banged 3 right in a row a 5 pm. They were extremely aggressive, often swallowing the whole pimple. They were active until about 6. Maybe this cold snap will firm up the slush some, some bad spots on pelican but you can still get around with 4x4 or wheeler.

[Hawg]

fishroger, is there a crack from Slug to shore where the road goes around Steven's Point this year thats drivable? That's been nasty in years past.

[fishroger]

Dont know, havent been that far south yet.

[icecamper]

Any one have any ice thickness reports on pelican North, Middle, South?

[fishroger]

Pelican is around 12 " . Hasnt added much since the snow.

[schaapj]

Fished Jone's Bay on Pelican from 3 to 5:30 PM today with nothing to show but a couple of stolen minnows. Had a few light taps and pretty constant action on the locator but nothing was very hungry.

[WalleyeJeff]

Same on North Long, sat and watched the perch on the camera all day.

[Hawg]

Fishroger- going to try the south end of Pelican tonight. Any advice on depth and whether quick drops or flatter spots are working?

[jerk bait]

Hawg call mike from coffee I think he's been out there I have his # if you don't.

Jerk Bait

[mmclain6101]

Any reports for Round, heading up there in a few weeks

Thanks

[Average Outdoors]

Going up to WhiteFish/ crosslake and we will be staying at Boyds lodge. This is a new lake for me. I am wondering if anyone has any advise of help for us. I am taking my brother up to celebrate his 30th Birthday and we are hoping to make it a good one! Thanks in advance!

[Average Outdoors]

I heard ther is 12 inches of ice. I also heard that a few small eyes were being caught in 18-22 ft. My friend lives close to the lake and has kept up on the bite. He is the one who gave me the information. I am going up on Wednesday to try it out for myself and I will let ya know

[jd524]

Any reports for Round, heading up there in a few weeks

Thanks

My house is sitting on 16 inches. The bite has been slow lately. Throughout the year have pulled out quite a few eyes, most of them small. Did manage to catch a couple really big ones this year, so they are in there.

[mmclain6101]

We were on the SE side near a friends cabin, -35 degree last year we wanted to stay close to home. We managed 5 14-17" eyes and a dozen or so keeper perch. That was 4 guys and a full day of fishing. I think we were in 15-20fOW too.

[NorthLongSlayer]

Don't be afraid of deeper water. We had been fishing in about 20 ft for eyes on 10-30ft breaks and we were managing a couple a night. We moved out to a 35ft hump on a local lake that comes out of 45-50ft of water and there are walleyes all over the bottom. We can see them all day on the camera. Getting them to bite is the tough part. They bite when they want to. It sure is frusterating watching them down there all day and they just nose the bait. I've tried lindy darters, every colored spoon, glow jigs, plain hooks...the only lures that seemed to work a bit better than the rest were small perch chubby darter and plain hook rig with small shiner. My buddy actually had good luck using the smallest rig he could put down - glow jib with crappie minnow. We tried Rainbows, fatheads, small shiners, large shiners, crappie minnows. We got tired of watching the flasher light up only a few times at night on those 10-30 breaks. Now, the flasher has been lighting up all day. Finally we're on the walleyes. It was a frusterating beginning of the year. Good Luck Fellas.

P.S. Lets hope those culprits breaking into fish houses get caught soon. If you are the culprit reading this, I hope your conscious gets the best of you. We all work for a living and try to give our families a little extra recreation, why do you have to ruin it for us?

[Traxxx]

The walleye action has been fairly consistent over the last few days. We've been up in 16-17 Fow for the evening bite. 4pm-5:30pm has been the best time for keeper size walleye, in that depth. Earlier in the day we've been getting fish out deeper, in 25-26+ Fow. Small jigging spoons with crappie minnow heads have been getting the majority of the bites. Small to medium sized rainbows or shiners seem to be their preference on the setlines, with a plain hook.

The panfish bite has been picking up, as more fish are starting to show up in the depths. The pike action has also picked up, as they seem to be following the the panfish around. Glow jigs with waxies, eurolarva or small jigging spoons have been the hot ticket for the panfish during the day,crappie minnows after dark. Make sure to give the schools room to come in. By this, I mean keeping your bait around the highest level the fish are coming in on the flasher. Make the fish come to you, especially with crappies. Generally the most active fish are the ones higher up in the school. Staying mobile during the day is key, to staying on the panfish. Sounds like a good weekend to get out and drill some holes.

We've been finding at least 10-11 inches on Gull, in most places. Talked to a buddy and he said he found only six, near Rocky Point, after the cold snap. Smaller lakes we've been finding 10-14 inches. Good Luck and be safe!

[mmclain6101]

How is the travel on area lakes (gull/round). Will I be able to drive my worthless Saturn Vue out on the lake? Drove out on Minnetonka last night with no problems. The snow pack is really good down here.

[Dylan33]

We are planning on putting a perm out on Pelican next weekend. Is it safe to pull it out with a full size pickup, or have people been using ATVs? If the ATV is the route to go, I am looking for some assistance, since I do not have one. Thanks