Bite Indicator
🐟 Panfish Spawning In Full Swing · Editor's Picks: Little Rabbit Lake (Ironton) & Rice Lake (Brainerd)
Water temps are now in the 48–55°F and panfish spawning is in full swing across area lakes. Editor's lake picks this week: Little Rabbit Lake in Ironton and Rice Lake in Brainerd — both are loaded with spawning sunnies and crappies and producing excellent panfish. Target shallow weed edges and protected bays in 1–3 feet of water on either lake. Target any shallow weed edge or protected bay in 1–3 feet of water. A slip bobber and small minnow is the go-to; hair jigs are outstanding when fish are actively chasing on the beds. Fly fishing continues to improve as insect hatches are picking up — check Fritloven Park and the Cuyuna area. Trout stamp required. The walleye and pike opener is Saturday, May 9 — this week.
Lake-by-Lake Reports
Sun May 3 – Sat May 9Gull Lake is ahead of other large lakes when it comes to ice-out — as a reservoir, water flow through the system accelerates ice melt and it consistently opens earlier than natural lakes of similar size. Ice is deteriorating rapidly and open water is appearing along shore edges and bays. Stay off the ice until fully clear, but keep a close eye on conditions — Gull should be fishable open water soon.
Once it opens, the panfish bite will be immediate. Crappies and sunnies will push into 2–6 feet along shallow weed edges and bays in the afternoons as water warms. A slip bobber and minnow just above the weeds is the go-to. Hair jigs in white or chartreuse are a strong alternate when fish are actively chasing. Walleye and pike remain closed until May 9.
Pelican Lake is a great pick this week with spawning panfish in the shallows and perch active along weed edges. Water temps in the 48–55°F — sunnies and crappies are in 1–3 ft over sandy and weedy flats. Perch are holding at 4–8 ft near weed edges. A slip bobber and minnow covers both species effectively.
Light crowds compared to Gull and Whitefish make this an excellent choice heading into opener weekend. With the walleye opener on Saturday May 9, now is a great time to scout access points and structure on Pelican.
Whitefish Lake is still holding ice this week. At over 4,000 acres it is taking longer to clear than the smaller lakes in the area. Stay off the ice — conditions are poor quality throughout. Ice-out is expected soon and when it happens, Whitefish should produce excellent crappie and panfish action very quickly — it is consistently the top crappie destination in the Brainerd area.
Once open, target 2–6 feet along weed edges with a slip bobber and small minnow. When fish are chasing, a white or chartreuse hair jig is excellent. Crappie and sunfish on the Whitefish Chain are limited to 5 per day — know the limit before you keep fish.
North Long Lake is open water with light crowds and a solid afternoon panfish bite. Water temps in the high 40s to 48–55°F — perch and panfish are active near weed edges in 3–8 feet. With spawning approaching, shallow protected bays are worth checking as the week progresses and temps climb.
A low-pressure alternative to the marquee lakes with cooperative fish that haven't seen much pressure this season. Bobber and minnow along weed edges is the reliable setup. Walleye and pike closed until May 9.
Round Lake is open water — as one of the smaller lakes in the area it has shed ice ahead of the bigger lakes and the afternoon shallow bite is excellent. Sunnies and bluegills are in 2–5 feet near weed edges and dock areas as the water warms through the day. Light crowds make this one of the top picks right now.
Hair jigs work particularly well when fish are actively moving — cover the weed edges and you will find them stacked. A slip bobber and small minnow is the consistent go-to. Watch for spawning behavior beginning when water temps hold 50°F.
Edwards Lake is open with a solid afternoon panfish and perch bite developing. Low pressure makes this a great option for anglers looking for space. Shallow weed edges and points in 3–7 feet are holding fish as water temperatures climb. A bobber and minnow setup is the most reliable, with a hair jig as a strong alternate on active fish.
Spawning will begin when water temps consistently hold 50°F — once that happens this lake should fish very well with minimal competition from other anglers.
River smallmouth action is strong with water temps in the 48–55°F. The Mississippi, Crow Wing, Pine, and Rum Rivers are fishing well — smallmouth are active and covering water. More aggressive than earlier in spring with the warmer water. This remains one of the most underrated fishing opportunities in the Brainerd area right now.
Target deep pools, current seams, and the downstream edges of large boulders. Smallmouth in rivers will be slower than their summer selves but will respond to well-presented baits worked slowly. Tube jigs, small jig-and-minnow combos, and curly tail grubs in natural colors — brown, green pumpkin, smoke — are the go-to presentations. Fish them on a 1/8 to 1/4 oz jig head and crawl them along the bottom through likely holding water.
The Crow Wing River from Pillager down to its confluence with the Mississippi offers excellent wade fishing access in several stretches. The Mississippi around the Brainerd/Baxter area also has strong smallmouth populations in the deeper rocky runs. Always check with a local bait shop for current river levels and access points — spring runoff can raise and muddy rivers quickly after rain.
Regulations: Smallmouth bass are currently catch-and-release only on inland Minnesota waters. Harvest season opens mid-May — exact date varies by water. Confirm with the MN DNR for each river you plan to fish.