Fall Fishing & Tournament Time!

I'm back in the BLA after a long successful guiding season on Lake Vermilion. Thank you to everyone who stepped in my boat this year and I will see you next year!

Upon returning to Brainerd, I got busy on Gull Lake and fished the Classic Bass Walleye Championship. It was a day I'll never forget! 60lbs of Gull Lake walleye was good enough for 1st place and the big $10,000 check!! Thanks to everyone who reached out to congratulate me.

Fall fishing is peaking right now. Walleyes, crappies, and smallies are biting. I've been fishing a lot around the Hackensack area (the Woman Chain specifically!). Shallow weedlines and deep holes are holding walleyes. The crappies are on the edge of the basins and smallies are near wintering holes.

I've got a solid month of fishing left. See you on the water – tight lines!!

Early Fall Fishing Report

Early fall has arrived on Lake Vermilion. Walleyes are doing two things at the moment. First, they are spreading out over deep water flats and can be caught using leadcore or a spinner with a nightcrawler. Second, they are on mid-depth structure such as main lake humps and secondary points adjacent to deep water. Those fish can be caught on a bobber or a jig.

Smallmouth bass are both shallow and deep. Target shallow docks or boulder piles with a wacky rig or ned rig. For the deep fish, try a tube or dropshot with small, minnow-imitating plastics.

Muskies are moving back on to structure. Target wind-swept points and shallow rock bars. At night, target the deeper basin areas adjacent to the same structures using large swimbaits or bulldogs.

I hope everyone has been having a great summer. The best fishing is right around the corner. The lakes empty as the woods fill up with hunters. This is by far the best time of the year to catch all species as turnover looms. Tight lines & see you on the water!

-Hays, HB Fishing

Summer is Here!

Spring has come and gone here on the Big V! Walleyes are shallow on main lake rocks and boulder piles in 7-10 feet of water. A slip bobber with a leech are best for picking these rock piles apart. Smallies are starting to bed in the shallow sand/boulders. 2-5 foot of water. Wacky rigs, x raps, hair jigs, and dice are putting fish in the boat for me! These warm stable days will only improve the fishing in the coming weeks! Good luck and see you on the water!