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Freshwater fishing near Brainerd
Brainerd, MNBuilt from our data

Freshwater fishing near Brainerd

10 stops10 watersUpdated Nov 6

10 freshwater spots within 75 minutes of Brainerd, each with a full TripsQuick page.

The closest by road is Red Sand Lake, 10 minutes away.

Reservoirs near Brainerd

1. Gull Lake

Gull Lake is a 16-minute drive from downtown Brainerd. Launch at Gull Lake, Government Point Public Water Access Site, the public ramp on Gull Lake closest to downtown (≈ 8.5 mi). Public access on Gull Lake: 3 boat ramps. Surveyed depths reach 80 ft. Recorded here: Common Carp, Bluegill, Largemouth Bass, and Rock Bass.

Gull Lake116 min · 10.4 mi
Reservoir

Gull Lake

Cass

Gull Lake, Government Point Public Water Access Site20

max 80 ft · surveyed

Water page

Lakes near Brainerd

2. Mille Lacs Lake

Mille Lacs Lake is a 35-minute drive from downtown Brainerd. Launch at Mille Lacs Lake, Pike Point, Garrison Public Water Access Site, the public ramp on Mille Lacs Lake closest to downtown (≈ 18.8 mi). Public access on Mille Lacs Lake: 12 boat ramps. Surveyed depths reach 40 ft. Recorded here: Northern Pike, Walleye, Smallmouth Bass, and Yellow Perch.

Mille Lacs Lake235 min · 21.4 mi
Lake

Mille Lacs Lake

Mille Lacs

Mille Lacs Lake, Pike Point, Garrison Public Water Access Site20

max 40 ft · surveyed

Water page

3. North Long Lake

North Long Lake is a 12-minute drive from downtown Brainerd. Launch at North Long Lake (S) Public Water Access Site, the public ramp on North Long Lake closest to downtown (≈ 6.3 mi). Public access on North Long Lake: 3 boat ramps. Surveyed depths reach 90 ft. Recorded here: Common Carp, Black Bullhead, Black Crappie, and Bluegill.

North Long Lake312 min · 7.5 mi
Lake

North Long Lake

Crow Wing

North Long Lake (S) Public Water Access Site17

max 90 ft · surveyed

Water page

4. Pelican Lake

Pelican Lake is a 21-minute drive from downtown Brainerd. Launch at Pelican Lake, Jones Bay Public Water Access Site, the public ramp on Pelican Lake closest to downtown (≈ 12.9 mi). Public access on Pelican Lake: 5 boat ramps. Surveyed depths reach 100 ft. Recorded here: Largemouth Bass, Pumpkinseed, Bluegill, and Rock Bass.

Pelican Lake421 min · 13.8 mi
Lake

Pelican Lake

Crow Wing

Pelican Lake, Jones Bay Public Water Access Site16

max 100 ft · surveyed

Water page

5. Red Sand Lake

Red Sand Lake is a 10-minute drive from downtown Brainerd. Launch at Red Sand Lake Public Water Access Site, the public ramp on Red Sand Lake closest to downtown (≈ 4.4 mi). Public access on Red Sand Lake: 1 boat ramp. Surveyed depths reach 14 ft. Recorded here: Black Bullhead, Bluegill, Bowfin, and Brown Bullhead.

Red Sand Lake510 min · 6.4 mi
Lake

Red Sand Lake

Crow Wing

Red Sand Lake Public Water Access Site9

max 14 ft · surveyed

Water page

6. Sylvan Lake

Sylvan Lake is a 17-minute drive from downtown Brainerd. Launch at Dade Lake Public Water Access Site, the public ramp on Sylvan Lake closest to downtown (≈ 8.2 mi). Public access on Sylvan Lake: 2 boat ramps. Surveyed depths reach 50 ft. Recorded here: Black Bullhead, Black Crappie, Bluegill, and Bowfin.

Sylvan Lake617 min · 11 mi
Lake

Sylvan Lake

Cass

Dade Lake Public Water Access Site16

max 50 ft · surveyed

Water page

7. Round Lake

Round Lake is a 14-minute drive from downtown Brainerd. Launch at Round Lake Public Water Access Site, the public ramp on Round Lake closest to downtown (≈ 7.3 mi). Public access on Round Lake: 1 boat ramp. Surveyed depths reach 50 ft. Recorded here: Common Carp, Black Bullhead, Black Crappie, and Bluegill.

Round Lake714 min · 10.7 mi
Lake

Round Lake

Crow Wing

Round Lake Public Water Access Site19

max 50 ft · surveyed

Water page

8. Lake Hubert

Lake Hubert is a 19-minute drive from downtown Brainerd. Launch at Hubert Lake Public Water Access Site, the public ramp on Lake Hubert closest to downtown (≈ 9.5 mi). Public access on Lake Hubert: 2 boat ramps. Surveyed depths reach 80 ft. Recorded here: Black Bullhead, Black Crappie, Bluegill, and Brown Bullhead.

Lake Hubert819 min · 13.1 mi
Lake

Lake Hubert

Crow Wing

Hubert Lake Public Water Access Site15

max 80 ft · surveyed

Water page

9. Lake Edward

Lake Edward is a 19-minute drive from downtown Brainerd. Launch at Edwards Lake Public Water Access Site, the public ramp on Lake Edward closest to downtown (≈ 9.9 mi). Public access on Lake Edward: 1 boat ramp. Surveyed depths reach 70 ft. Recorded here: Common Carp, Yellow Perch, Black Crappie, and Bluegill.

Lake Edward919 min · 11.7 mi
Lake

Lake Edward

Crow Wing

Edwards Lake Public Water Access Site14

max 70 ft · surveyed

Water page

10. Crow Wing Lake

Crow Wing Lake is a 17-minute drive from downtown Brainerd. Launch at Crow Wing Lake Public Water Access Site, the public ramp on Crow Wing Lake closest to downtown (≈ 11 mi). Public access on Crow Wing Lake: 1 boat ramp. Surveyed depths reach 25 ft. Recorded here: Common Carp, Bluegill, Black Bullhead, and Black Crappie.

Crow Wing Lake1017 min · 13.5 mi
Lake

Crow Wing Lake

Crow Wing

Crow Wing Lake Public Water Access Site14

max 25 ft · surveyed

Water page

When the fish bite here

Northern Pike bites well.

0stops

More fishing guides near Brainerd

Where this guide comes from

Every sentence here is assembled from the data on the Brainerd fishing page: road drive times where a route was built (≈ marks straight-line distances), access points from state registries, the species recorded in each water and our bite calendar, adjusted for latitude. Nothing is written by hand or generated by AI.

All fishing spots near Brainerd →

Know the water and the fish before you drive out.

Depth surveys, stocking records and water samples, straight from the public registries that hold them — brought together for one question: is it worth the drive?

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