Ice Fishing in Brainerd, Minnesota
Ice fishing is a popular outdoor activity in Brainerd, Minnesota, where the winters are long and often bitterly cold. Hardy anglers happily drill holes through lake ice that has been frozen solid to catch walleye and perch especially. There are about 460 lakes within 25 miles of Brainerd, providing anglers plenty of opportunities to satisfy their favorite pastime.
Other People Are Reading
-
Popular Species
-
Walleye are coveted fish during the winter months in Brainerd. Brainerd's lakes are well-stocked with a variety of fish, including walleye, crappie, sunfish, perch, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, muskie and northern pike. Every year, anglers erect basic and elaborate ice fishing houses on the ice to keep warm while waiting for a bite.
Lakes
-
Some of the more popular ice fishing lakes in the Brainerd area include the well-known Gull Lake Chain, Leech Lake and Mille Lacs. Gull Lake spans 9,918 acres and is known for walleye, bass, bluegill, northern pike, sunfish and crappie. Gull Lake is stocked with about 3 billion walleye fry annually.
-
Ice Fishing Guides
-
There are many fishing guide services in Brainerd, including the Walleyedan Guide Service in Lake Shore. Walleyedan offers lake ice fishing trips to Gull, Whitefish, North Long, Mille Lacs, Upper Red Lake and Pelican. All equipment is provided, including a portable fish house, rod holders and an underwater camera.
Walleyedan Guide Service
9287 Anderson Road
Lake Shore, MN 56468
218-963-0422
walleyedan.com
Ice Fishing Contest
-
Every year, thousands of anglers head to Gull Lake in Brainerd for the Brainerd Jaycees Ice Fishing Extravaganza. Anglers are greeted by 20,000 ice fishing holes that have been pre-drilled in the lake. Prizes include ice fishing suits, ATVs, trucks and fishing augers. The angler who catches the largest fish by weight wins the grand prize.
Regulations
-
Anglers must follow Minnesota ice fishing regulations. All anglers age 16 and above must have a valid fishing license to fish in Minnesota waters. Two fishing lines are allowed through the ice, unless otherwise noted. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources recommends anglers stay off the ice until there is at least 4 inches of new, clear ice. Other available winter fishing licenses include a dark house spearing license, an ice fishing house or shelter license and a rental fish house or rental dark house license.
-
References
Resources
- Photo Credit ice fishing equipment image by Inger Anne Hulbækdal from Fotolia.com walleye image by Elena Vdovina from Fotolia.com fish image by rufar from Fotolia.com
