In the land of lakes, what's more Minnesotan than fishing on vacation? A great variety of fish call the Whitefish Chain of Lakes Region home, such as blue gills, crappie, walleye, northern pike and large mouth bass. Lake trout are being stocked annually into Trout Lake. Learn more about how to identify fish from the MN DNR. We also ask that you comply with the Minnesota laws regarding invasive species. Please clean all recreational equipment at the water's edge.
Everything from the worms to a guide are available in the Whitefish Area to help you hook into a memorable fishing experience. Check with your lodging property before your arrival, as they may sell live bait. Minnesota fishing licenses are available online and at area bait shops. Find everything about fishing in Minnesota from the DNR's new fishing website -- www.mndnr.gov/fishmn. Also ask your lodging host for their recommendations on experienced area fishing guides, or the best place to drop your line.
Or, you can just enjoy the water and all of it's recreational offerings, including sugar sand beachs and islands to explore. Here's a quick rundown of our lakes and a boat access map.
Fishing Guides
Business Name: Walleyedan
Business Category: Fishing Guide
Brainerd Fishing Guide Service Sponsored by Mills Fleet Farm. Book a fishing trip, find fishing reports, tips and equipment recommendations.
Business Name: Royal’s Fishing Guide Service
Business Category: Fishing Guide
Royal fishes all species of fish in 40 different lakes within a 30 mile radius of Brainerd including Gull Lake and Mille Lacs Lake. He has a special emphasis on walleye fishing, bass fishing, northern fishing and muskie fishing.
Business Name: Todd’s Guide Service
Business Category: Fishing Guide
Todd learned is walleye fishing skills while working for the legendary Marv Koep and his Nisswa fishing guides.
Business Name: Brainerd Guide Service
Business Category: Fishing Guide
We've been the number #1 ranked service for Brainerd fishing guides for the past 20+ years. Our reputation for excellence earned us an exclusive home a one of Minnesota's largest resorts.
Business Name: Tim Anderson’s Big Fish Hunt
Business Category: Fishing Guide
Specializing in Giant Musky Hunts on Lake Mille Lacs, and the surrounding Brainerd Minnesota area Lakes.
Business Name: Anglers North Guide Service
Business Category: Fishing Guide
We are on the water several times each week throughout the season, to bring you the latest hot action on several different species of fish. We specialize in lakes and rivers in one of the finest fishing and recreational areas in the Midwest.
Business Name: Nisswa Guides League
Business Category: Fishing Guide
Our league provides you with some of the best fishing guides in the Brainerd Lakes Area with over 300 years of guiding experience.
Business Name: S&W Guide Service
Business Category: Fishing Guide
S & W Bait is home to the S & W Guide Service which has over 4 decades of fishing experience. S & W fishing guides are known as being some of the top fishing guides in the Brainerd area.
Business Name: The Hot Spot Bait & Tackle
Business Category: Fishing Guide
At The Hot Spot Bait & Tackle we've got everything you need to stock up on before heading out to the lake. We're here to serve the Nisswa Lakes area with a family atmosphere centered around fishing.
Fishing Bait
Business Name: Bait Box Marina
Business Category: Fishing Bait
Rents pontoons, houseboats, fishing boats, canoes, outboard motors and personal watercraft. Full-service bait shop.
Business Name: BTR Outdoors
Business Category: Fishing Bait, Retail Shop
Bait & tackle and more. Outdoor equipment store. Rentals. Read a story
Business Name: S&W Bait
Business Category: Fishing Bait
S & W Bait has all the supplies you need for your fishing experience in the Brainerd Lakes Area. S & W Bait carries night crawlers, leeches by the pound and a variety of minnows including the best supply in the area of the all important Redtails.
Business Name: A-Pine Plaza
Business Category: Fishing Bait, Gas Station
We maintain a large selection of high-quality minnows, leeches, worms, baitfish and nightcrawlers. Fishing tackle and lures are also available.
Boat Rentals
Business Name: Easy Riders Bicycle & Sportshop
Business Category: Boat Rental
Easy Riders offers rental equipment for your enjoyment, whether you're a visitor or resident in the area. We have the following equipment available: Bikes, Canoes, Kayaks, Ice Skates, Cross-Country Skis, Snowshoes, Rollerblades.
Business Name: Cycle Path & Paddle
Business Category: Boat Rental
Rent a canoe or kayak and paddle on area lakes, rivers and mine pit lakes. Equipment transportation is available to any area location.
Business Name: Bertha Boatworks
Business Category: Boat Rental
Pontoon rentals; boat, wake board & ski rentals. Boat sales and service. Bertha Boatworks, a leader in boat sales and service on the Whitefish Chain since 1977. Located on the shores of Minnesota's premier recreational lake, the Whitefish Chain of Lakes.
Business Name: Al’s Marine
Business Category: Boat Rental
Water and snow recreational products. Half, full and multi-day pontoon rentals. Also houses full-service shop, retail store and boat sales. Yamaha snowmobile sales, service and rental.
Business Name: Crosslake Rental
Business Category: Boat Rental
Rental of pontoon boat and jet skis. We deliver and launch for you! All rentals include appropriate personal flotation devices.
Business Name: Dave’s Sportland Rentals
Business Category: Boat Rental
Pontoon, ski boat and Personal Watercraft rentals. Dave's Sportland Rental in Nisswa, Minnesota provides you with the tools for an exciting summer vacation!
Business Name: Boats & Beyond Rentals
Business Category: Boat Rental
Rents pontoons, competition ski/wakeboard boats, fishing boats, ski boats, CraigCats (compact boat) and jetskis (Personal Watercraft). Also rents ice houses and snowmobiles.
Business Name: Lake Fun Rentals
Business Category: Boat Rental
Lake Fun Rentals offers some of the finest quality Jet Ski, Pontoon, Boat and Fishing Pontoon rentals in the Brainerd Lakes Area.
Business Name: Seaberg Motor Sports
Business Category: Boat Rental
Crosslake MN’s location to rent Seadoo Jet Skis and Yamaha Wave Runners: one, two and three person machines for the day, days, week or longer.
Business Name: Your Boat Club
Business Category: Boat Rental
Formerly the Bait Box Marina. Rents pontoons, houseboats, fishing boats, canoes, outboard motors and personal watercraft. Full-service bait shop.
Fishing Report for
The Whitefish Area
Here's a link to regularly updated Brainerd Lakes Area fishing report, courtesy of the Brainerd Guide Service. For additional tips on a specific lake, ask at the bait shop.
Here's a great video on how to filet a northern so the Y-bones are not an issue.
Interactive Water Trails Map
Getting around afloat just got easier. The Minnesota DNR's interactive water trails map includes all 32 State Water Trails, in addition to public water accesses and campsites along each route. The map makes it easy to zoom, search, and pan and to find and print information about facilities.
Fishing Articles
- Springtime Crappies — Read more
- What's my line? Matching the Right Line to Fishing Conditions — Read more
- Fishing Guides Share Memories — Read more
- Early Season Largemout Bass — Read more
- Muskie Fishing
- 3-D Walleyes
- Walleyes, walleyes, walleyes: Minnesota's state fish all the range at Pine River egg-stripping station (link includes video of process)
- WAPOA, DNR project aims to improve walleye spawning in Hay Creek
- New Tackle, Ticks to Try This Season
- Don't Move a Mussel (preventing the spread of aquatic invasive species)
- Fishing Small Lakes for Big Fish and Big Fun
- It's Hip to Wade (bass fishing)
- Rapala — Lure Development Comes from Boat Seats Around the World
- Don't Fight the Bite (walleye fishing)
Stories courtesy of Outdoor Traditions (Brainerd Dispatch) or the Lake Country Echo
