With the Minnesota fishing opener just days away, the EXCITEMENT is building! While recent days have been cold, more like mid-March, the weekend looks wonderful! Here’s what opener 2026 will look like and some tips for a successful fishing trip!

WALLEYES should be shallow. Targeting wind swept shorelines with a jig/minnow should get you fish! 3-10 feet, on lakes like Gull, Pelican, and Round will be a good bet. NORTHERNS will be in many of the same areas, so you should catch those as well. The CRAPPIE bite continues to be good, in the 2-8 feet range where they are really staying before they spawn in a few weeks, a small jig under a bobber with a crappie minnow or plastic is all you should need – Gull, Whitefish, and Pelican are all kicking out nice crappies now. Catch and Release BASS fishing is also an option, spinner baits and chatter baits are turning fish on most Brainerd area lakes in 2-8 feet as well!

Make sure to stop and get your bait at S and W and go out and enjoy the “Unofficial kick OFF” to summer in the B.L.A!!!
Call and book your trips now at 218-829-7010!!
GOOD LUCK EVERYONE AND HAVE FUN!

Hello spring! With the Fishing Opener just less than two weeks away, the excitement is building at the bait shop and with our guides! The ice is OFFICIALLY OFF the lakes in the BLA and now is the time to get new line on your reels, get the boat ready to roll, and the fish are waiting!

Crappies are just getting started and it should be good for the coming weeks. The panfish are staying in or near shallower water now, most fish are still in that 8-12’ range but will be moving shallow soon!
The walleye spawn is about over and they should be hungry and ready to bite come May 9th opener!

Book a trip or swing by S and w bait to get the latest update, Call 218-829-7010!!

Welcome Spring! Open water is coming soon to the Brainerd Lakes Area, with fishing opener in less than a month, now is the time to think about going fishing!
Our spring CRAPPIE season is upon us along with Catch and Release BASS also happening now!

Call 218-829-7010 to book your spring trip today or get your Summer trips in the books! We are looking forward to seeing past customers and new ones this summer to make some more fishing memories!

Fall is officially here now in the B.L.A water temps are finally Starting to drop, and with that the fishing has really picked up. Unless the wind is really blowing hard, all species are being targeted with a good chance for success!

WALLEYES are biting on Gull, Round, and Pelican on night crawls and red tails in 14-32 feet. They seem to be dropping deeper  everyday as temps get colder .

PIKE and BASS fishing remain Solid on North Long, Whitefish, and Hubert along the deeper weed edges in 12-22 feet – Jigs and minnows, crank baits , and Spinner-baits are all Being productive.

PANFISH are  now migrating towards there winter destinations on most area lakes. Some are Still being caught  in the deeper  Cabbage weeds and some are now suspending over the deeper basin on Cullen, Gull and Whitefish!

Soon open water fishing will be coming to a close, Now is the time to book your fall fishing trip with the Nisswa Guides League! Call S and W bait at 218-829-7010 to book a trip before we freeze up!