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Cuyuna Lakes Country Fishing
Stress Free Fishing
Just northeast of the main Brainerd Lakes Area you'll find the best kept fishing secret in Minnesota! You never dreamed you could find this kind of serenity - this close to Brainerd. We put the "country" back into fishing! Fishing is excellent for all species and is most famous for the mine-lake trout. (You must have a trout stamp for these mineland trout.)
Mine Lakes
 Trout fishing slow? How about a 20 pound pike ? If the trout are not cooperating in the mine lakes...no problem, switch to another species. The mine lakes contain very large northern pike (that enjoy eating trout more than you do) and grow quickly on this high protein food source. Besides trout and northerns, the mine lakes contain both smallmouth and largemouth. You can try some "southern-style" sunken tree fishing as well as typical structure fishing for these hungry bass.
Imagine gliding over crystal clear waters with forty foot visibility. Take a break and go snorkeling or just jump in the clean unspoiled waters for a leisurely swim. If you really want even more solitude, check out our rivers! You probably won't see anything except deer, birds and other wildlife.
Natural Lakes
Are you tired of gonzo fishing amidst jet skiers, power boats and other "noise"? Isn't that what you came up here to avoid? The fishing is good and the solitude and relaxation is even better. This is stress-free fishing! Try one of the natural lakes in the area. Large pike, walleye, and largemouth bass are the main targets in the area. Don't be surprised if you stumble upon some slab crappies or big bluegills.
There are lots of small lakes if you want to explore and find your own secret "honey hole". Grab a map, find a back road, bring a small boat or canoe - and have at it! Please don't tell too many people if you find some big bluegills around here - we're trying to protect them. If your idea of the perfect fishing trip is plying small "out of the way" lakes with no competition - come to Cuyuna country. Oh yeah, did we mention the most underfished resource in the state? Here it comes...
Upper Mississippi River
The nearby Mississippi River has excellent populations of walleyes and smallmouth and are a prime target for summer float trips. The river channel is navigable under normal conditions with a small fishing boat and outboard. Others prefer to float it with a canoe. The Mississippi from Grand Rapids to Brainerd is possibly the most underfished water in the state of Minnesota! In Cuyuna country the stretch from Aitkin to Merrifield is both beautiful and rewarding. It is predominantly a walleye/smallmouth fishery. These fish will cooperate when the lake fish have shut down for one of several convenient reasons.
Speaking of float trips! Leave the rods in the car and grab an inner tube or rubber raft for lazy trip down the Pine River. The Pine is clear and sandy, just perfect for floating be it fishing or just fun. Check with local bait shops for launch locations and trip times. You can rent tubes at the Riverside Inn in Crosslake for a short trip with shuttle service.
 Walleye
The best place to fish for walleye is in the Mississippi River. Check with the local bait shops for river conditions to determine what kind of craft is required. These fish are largely ignored and present in substantial numbers. Don't expect the local "river rats" to tell you where to go. They've had it to themselves for years. Just check with Oars and Mine bait in Crosby or the Quickstop on Mainstreet Crosby.
The best area walleye lakes are Rabbit Lake (West-Cuyuna), Serpent Lake (Crosby), to the north and west we have Mission Lakes, Horseshoe, and Pelican. The further west you get toward Brainerd, the busier the lakes.
Northern Pike
Some of the finest trophy pike fishing in Minnesota is here in Cuyuna Country! Pike are avidly sought by anglers in the mine lakes usually casting large plugs and spinners along the shorelines and around brush and timber. Throughout the area lakes, submerged stands of timber provide ambush and shelter for fish of all kinds. These stands of trees and stumps are targeted for the big pike. Stiff rods and line are required to pull these large fish, some pushing the thirty pound mark , out of the timber! 
The best time of year to chase the mine lake pike is in September through October. They are up shallow and feeding heavily before winter. Musky-type tackle and tactics work as do big suckers and shiners under floats - fished right in the trees! When the bobber goes down, you better pull and pull hard.
This is one case where "horsing" a fish is not just suggested, it is required! Normally, the best technique when hooked up to one of these behemoths, is to start the motor or grab the oars and pull away from the trees into open water. Otherwise the fish will literally pull your boat into the underwater forest area and snag up. If you get lucky, you might clear one of these trophies and land it. At the very least you stand an excellent chance of seeing your fish in the clear water as deep as thirty feet down!
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Guide Services:
- Anglers North | Jesse Williams | 218-831-0267
- Bob's Guide Service in Ironton, MN | 218-546-5533
- Lynn Harker | Crosby, MN | 218-546-5509
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Largemouth Bass
The ubiquitous largemouth bass swims throughout the Recreation Area both in the mine lakes and natural lakes. Some of the finest largemouth "wood" fishing in the state can be found here. Look to the hard-to-get-at places such as June and Pascoe. All the mine lakes have largemouth. Again, start in the wood which are visible from the surface in many cases. Some lakes have unimproved launching areas and some do not, so carry in is necessary. The extra work will pay off with fish that do not see many anglers.
Smallmouth Bass
The mine lakes also contain smallmouth. Work shore lines and exposed or slightly sunken islands. Smallmouth also like wood. Again, stiff rods and line, with some "muscle" must be used around the wood or the fish will wrap you around a tree. Spinnerbaits are a great all around choice here because they are somewhat weedless and can be worked through the trees.
River smallies are the greatest sport fish that swims, some will argue. Live bait is always good for multi-species. Artificials include inline spinners (Mepps, Vibrax, etc.), crankbaits, spinnerbaits. A favorite technique for some is top water and flies. To learn more about fly fishing for river smallies check out flybass.com.
Panfish
Many local anglers try to keep this area quiet and for good reason. The lakes in this area have good-sized bluegills and slab crappies. The mine lakes are usually fished around the trees, sometimes with cane poles, to quickly pull the fish up and away from trouble. They will remain somewhere between the surface and thirty feet year around. The natural lakes are relatively shallow rarely exceeding thirty feet. The panfishing is good in all the lakes. Fish bite better during the day in the murkier natural lakes such as Mahnomen and Blackhoof. Try the mine lakes during low light for better action. Keep experimenting with all of them and you will find some real gems.
Fly Fishing
Fishing Seasons
The mine lakes open fishing season starts with the general fishing opener in mid-May. The mine lakes close on Halloween. Natural lakes in the area follow the same seasonal guidelines as any other Minnesota lake. A trout stamp is required while fishing mine lakes stocked with trout, regardless of target species.
Get Lake Information
Lake and River Public Access
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