brainerd Brainerd Fishing Reports

[Hawg]

Morning JP, so the ice held up the snow? I was hoping the wind and weight would start things all over again. The middle lake had a skim of ice on saturday, that must have gone away I hope. Any word?

[JP Z]

I'll have to take a peak, my little lake has a nice snow blanket. As for N. Long Merrifield bay I'm not certain. Sorry, let me clarify City of Merrifield got 6-7" I'll do a little drive by of Merrifield Bay on my way home to let you know.

[BryceJ]

Merrifield bay is holding a bunch of snow. I went and checked at lunch. There also was one track from someone pulling a sled out there this morning. I didn't walk out there or check the depth.

[eyedr]

I was up doing some work on horseshoe lake near backus this past weekend and there was open water, and some very thin ice. We fished on 3 inches but the farther out we got the thinner the ice got. Horseshoe is a pretty small but deep lake.

[Meat-Run]

I'll be checking MBay around 4pm and will post my results.

MR

[Meat-Run]

Well it's not looking good, got 40 yards out and punched chisel thru. Some guys are going out and looks like a wet spot right in front of access, maybe if it stays cold till weekend it could be walkable.

Be safe!

MR

[centralmnguy]

Talked to a guy going out on Merrifield Bay...he said there was 3" straight out from access as of this morning. I did not confirm this myself as that sounds a little to thin for me yet.

A few out on rice lake again & there were some kids ice skating out there the other day before the snow hit. Looks like one perm. house on Rice way on other side.

[centralmnguy]

Chart I found on brainerd outdoors radio website.

[gregg52]

somebody walked out on round on the west here

went by an hr later he is still out there so i guess it must be ok but man i think it just froze over fri or sat now with the snow i dunno

[Hawg]

And if you punch a hole you better have hip boots on, that snow adds a lot of weight.

[dvs2008]

Fished 371 Bay Saturday--had 6 inches everywhere that we drilled, although the ice was cracking pretty loudly for most of the day. Caught 7 or 8 small northerns before calling it a day. I doubt the snow helped much.

Hoping that this cold snap will get the main lakes frozen quickly. Just checked the 10 day outlook and it isn't supposed to be warmer than 30 degrees any day for the next 10 so hopefully Gull will be all froze up come Christmas.

[siemers]

Does anyone have any ice reports on Lake Shamineau?

[Lip_Ripper Guy]

As of Sunday there was open water.

[mnspearingguide]

Whitefish is 90% froze over, checked Rutger bay, has 1-2", and south side of upper whitefish, has about the same, someone had chiseled before me, and it flooded a 10 yard dia. snow varied from 6 - 3" depending if the wind hit that area.

[Redline]

Think the lakes will be safe by next weekend?

That's if the world doesn't end on the 21st....

[otis]

Anyone been out to Pelican? Or see anyone out there yet?

[ASMOLEY]

Fished 371 Bay Saturday--had 6 inches everywhere that we drilled, although the ice was cracking pretty loudly for most of the day.

Any post snow updates for 371 bay?

Sure seems the size of the pike has gone down there recently. Caught lots of 7"-12" last year.

[Traxxx]

"Walked" out and fished Gull tonight, found 3" of ice on the north end. Caught a couple eaters on a 1/16th oz Northland Buckshot tipped with a shiner head. Take it easy and be safe...pretty thin ice still!

[rockyhook]

Did the drive by on Pelican yesterday, as I'd like to fish tomorrow and the weekend. Jones Bay had a perm house - it's always the first to freeze. A few portables near Weaver Point. The unprotected areas were still open last Friday - so I am guessing they only have a few inches.

Gull near 371 was steaming Monday morning and seemed to have sealed by evening. Tracker has a handle on that - 3" on ice is about half what I need to fish.

We need more -10 nights; not more snow.

[Rx4eyes]

Fished Jones bay on Tuesday pm, 5-6 inches of ice-a few small crappies

[pikerliker]

Think the lakes will be safe by next weekend?

That's if the world doesn't end on the 21st....

LOL!!

[gregg52]

was a bunch of portalbe out from the 371 landing last night

Not to far out throw some didnt even look like they out to

the first break but i was going by at 60 on the hwy ...lol

[eyenutt]

Drove by the west end of Shamineau on my way home from work...didn't look to good out there. No one out there just a few foot prints out about 50 yds and then they turned back.

[mrklean]

How are the smaller lakes doin?

[Traxxx]

Just a hair shy of 4" on Gull tonight. A couple new cracks had formed since Wednesday which made things a bit interesting. We need a couple more days of cold to firm things back up.

[Weekender]

Was on a small lake north of Emily a few miles - ice was only 2.5 thick about 100 yards out - so didn't go any further. Lake froze over before the first batch of snow. Hoping colder temps this week make it fine for next weekend.

[Gillsen]

Hoping to fish on Gull this coming Sunday, 12/23. If anyone gets out on Gull over the next few days would like to hear how the ice is doing.

[dvs2008]

I'm hoping to go out on Gull as well this weekend, starting Saturday. Temperatures should be cold enough to make some ice the next few days.

[Sportland_Bait]

Ice is starting to shape up. 5 good inches around the edges. So far most anglers are just fishing the first break but this weekend we'll start venturing out. Fishing has been pretty decent. The best depths this week have been 23-27 feet.

Jason Erlandson

[tisosy11]

How's Pelican shaping up?