Nate Berg Fishing Guides

The Brainerd area is not short on is walleye fishing destinations.  The Minnesota DNR has done a wonderful job of stocking many lakes in the area with fry every year or every couple years.  No matter the wind, we have lakes that supply great walleye bites all year round.  Of course, the better times to produce large numbers of fish are in the cooler water months but the weed walleye action can be nothing short of fabulous.

Ice fishing for walleyes can be quite tough but if you want to target large fish, don’t sell the winter bite short.  We tend to run walleye trips during low light times and then target panfish and pike during the day time hours.

One thing the Brainerd Lakes Area is not short on is northern pike and they always seem to be willing to stretch your line.  We have some awesome numbers lakes as well as a few with some serious trophies.

I personally think pike get a very bad rap when it comes to table fair.  In fact, I will go as far to say they are my favorite fish to eat in the Brainerd Lakes Area.  You can just prepare them in so many ways.  Starting in 2018, the Minnesota DNR is trying some new regulations to curb some of the small fish by implementing a 10 fish limit with all fish from 22-26 released and two of the 10 fish over 26 inches allowed to be kept.

Winter pike fishing is one of those things that we include on every trip.  No matter if we are chasing panfish or walleyes, chances are there are some good pike nearby so tip ups with live bait will be put out if you choose.  We also do strictly pike trips in the winter months as well if you choose to do so.

It doesn’t matter the time of the year, there always seems to be Panfish that are willing to bite.   Watching your bobber go down with a slab crappie or a big gill on the other end and then frying up a few fillets from the day’s catch are definitely two of the finer things in life!

Crappie action tends to be best from ice off  through the middle of June, late July through August and then of course the middle of October and most of the winter.   Bluegills are generally cooperative throughout the season, and many big bulls are caught while we fish for walleyes during the mid summer months.

The Brainerd Lakes Area is teaming with lakes full of Largemouth bass.  The quality of Largemouth fishing in the area is actually world class if you look at the average size of fish.  Include the numbers you can catch in a given day and you truly have a gift for fishermen.  It doesn’t matter the conditions, Largemouth bass always seem to be willing participants to bend the rods.  The coolest things about bucketmouths is the allotment of techniques you can use to catch fish and the pattern on one lake is most likely the same pattern on the next.

We have to do a little bit of traveling to get into the big perch but boy do we sure enjoy it.  We have been know to travel up to 2 1/2 hours just to get into one of the best eating fish that swims.  When you get on a school of perch, the action can be as fast as you can imagine.  The best times of the year to target perch is from late June through their spawn which normally occurs in April.

Musky are not the fish of 10,000 casts like the old saying goes, they are actually the fish of one cast, the right cast.  Brainerd has a handful of lakes and a few rivers that have some wonderful musky fishing.  They most certainly are the supreme predator in freshwater and can make for some challenging days.  Muskies can be the most frustrating thing you have ever done fishing wise but on that one right cast or right trolling pass, you gain a new respect for their strength and beauty.  Just be prepared to gain a new and very expensive hobby!

The summer months can be nothing short of fabulous for muskies but as the year moves into fall, the fishing gets better for muskies.  I truly enjoy late fall trips where my customers can do some casting while I pull a sucker to increase the odds.

Whitefish and tullibee may be the most underrated fish species in northern Minnesota not only for their willingness to bite and the fight they put up but also for eating.  Whitefish are absolutely fabulous smoked, boiled, broiled and fried.  Tullibee are excellent smoked and pickled.

Whitefish are one of those willing fish almost all year but the best times to target them would be in the winter months and during the summer months once a thermocline sets up on our deep lakes.  There are so many ways to catch them during the summer but we tend to troll for them to cover water but if you happen to find a large school, you can drop down a jig and pop them on light tackle which is a hoot with fish up to 8-plus pounds possible.

Whitefish and tullibee may be the most underrated fish species in northern Minnesota not only for their willingness to bite and the fight they put up but also for eating.  Whitefish are absolutely fabulous smoked, boiled, broiled and fried.  Tullibee are excellent smoked and pickled.

Whitefish are one of those willing fish almost all year but the best times to target them would be in the winter months and during the summer months once a thermocline sets up on our deep lakes.  There are so many ways to catch them during the summer but we tend to troll for them to cover water but if you happen to find a large school, you can drop down a jig and pop them on light tackle which is a hoot with fish up to 8-plus pounds possible.

It doesn’t matter the time of the year, there always seems to be panfish that are willing to bite.   Watching your bobber go down with a slab crappie or a big gill on the other end and then frying up a few fillets from the day’s catch are definitely two of the finer things in life!

Crappie action tends to be best from ice off  through the middle of June, late July through August and then of course the middle of October and most of the winter.   Bluegills are generally cooperative throughout the season, and many big bulls are caught while we fish for walleyes during the mid summer months.

There are not nearly as many Smallmouth bass lakes in the Brainerd Lakes area but we have a good amount and we seem to be getting more every year.  Pound for pound, I don’t think there is a stronger fish in the waters around Brainerd and we sure do have some world class bronzeback fishing.   As the seasons change, the technique changes but one thing is for sure, you hook one, your rod is bent and they are going to give you an areal show.