AREA FACTS
Local Facts
Location
The “Brainerd Lakes Area” is loosely defined as extending south from Brainerd to Fort Ripley, north to Hackensack, west to Staples and east to include Mille Lacs Lake.
It includes all of Crow Wing County as well as parts of Aitkin, Cass, Mille Lacs and Morrison counties.
Crow Wing County is the most populated county and the center of commerce for the Brainerd Lakes Area.
Brainerd is the largest city in the Brainerd Lakes Area.
Brainerd is a 30-minute flight from Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport, which is about 125 miles to the south.
Demographics
The Brainerd Lakes Area’s population is 66,201, according to the 2000 U.S. Census. This is a 27.3 percent increase over 1990 Census data.
During the summer, more than 25,000 seasonal homeowners move into the area.
Nearly 33 percent of all housing units in the area are seasonal-use units.
The median age in Crow Wing County is 39.4.
The median household income in Crow Wing County is $37,589.
Climate
The average annual snowfall in the area ranges from 46 inches to 56 inches.
Economics
Major employers in Crow Wing County with 150 or more employees include:
- St Joseph's Medical Center, Brainerd – 900+ employees
- Independent School District 181 – 900 employees
- Brainerd Regional Human Service Center – 657 employees
- Madden’s on Gull Lake, Brainerd – 425 employees
- Crow Wing County – 400 employees
- BISYS (formerly Universal Pensions Inc.), Brainerd – 400 employees
The industries that have accounted for the greatest increase in jobs since 1990 are construction, up more than 111 percent, and finance, insurance and real estate, up nearly 73 percent.
Tourism creates more than 5,000 jobs and has a total economic output of more than $290 million, according to the Minnesota Office of Tourism.
Six world-class resort conference centers employ almost 2,000 people, with four of these properties open year round.
Geography
Brainerd is the geographical center of the state.
More than 465 lakes are within 30 miles of Brainerd.
The Mississippi River runs through the middle of Brainerd.
The city of Brainerd is 1,120 feet above sea level.
Fishing Facts
The Brainerd Lakes Area is arguably the top fishing destination in Minnesota. With 465 pristine hard-bottom lakes within a 30-mile radius, you can catch a wide variety of species – everything from panfish to muskies to trout.
The Lakes Area also has a rich fishing history and is home to national fishing experts, tackle manufacturers and pioneering technology, all of which have revolutionized the sport.
The Lakes
The Brainerd Lakes Area’s lakes, rivers (including the Mississippi river) and streams feature excellent structure and habitat for many species of fish. Some highlights:
• Mille Lacs Lake is one of the premier walleye fisheries in the Midwest.
• The 27 Cuyuna Range Mine Pit Lakes, some of which are 400 to 500 feet deep, support rainbow, brown and brook trout, among other game fish.
• The Whitefish Chain of Lakes, one of four chains of lakes in the area, is the southern-most lake in Minnesota that supports lake trout.
• Dozens of area largemouth bass lakes are nationally acclaimed by top bass anglers who rank them as some of the best anywhere in the country.
• The 9,418-acre Gull Lake is a popular choice for many anglers.
The Species
The lakes, rivers and streams in the Lakes Area feature just about every species of game fish in Minnesota.
• Walleye • Northern Pike • Crappie
• Smallmouth Bass • Largemouth Bass • Sunfish
• Muskie • Trout – Lake, Rainbow, Brown, Brook
Ice Fishing
The Brainerd Lakes Area is a very popular area for ice fishing but it’s the most popular ice fishing location anywhere in the world on one particular Saturday afternoon every January. That’s during the annual Jaycees $150,000 Ice Fishing Extravaganza on Gull Lake, the world’s largest ice fishing contest. It attracts 12,000 contestants each year who compete for a new pickup truck, $10,000 and many more prizes, such as ATVs, snowmobiles, ice augers, GPS’s, electronics, fish houses, etc. Information on the event can be found at www.icefishing.org.
Fishing Industry
Because of its proximity to excellent angling opportunities, the Brainerd Lakes Area is home to some of the leading freshwater fishing companies in the country, some of which have pioneered technology that changed the sport forever.
• Jeff Zernov developed perhaps the first liquid crystal display flasher, which was more sensitive than traditional flashers.
• Zernov later started Nature Vision, which invented the first “underwater viewing system,” called Aqua-Vu, as well as Buzz Stix, which is a motorized ice fishing rod that produces a mini-jigging – or buzzing – action. The company has expanded, and now produces Game-Vu and Woodland Whisper for hunting enthusiasts.
• In-Fisherman magazine was founded here by brothers Al and Ron Lindner in 1974. It’s now owned by Primedia, a New York-based nationwide multimedia corporation.
• Al also started “Al Lindner’s Outdoors” in 1970, which led to four decades of fishing-focused TV shows. Al and Ron now host a national TV show: “Lindner’s Fishing Edge.”
• Lindy Little Joe, a Brainerd-based tackle manufacturer, got its start in 1969 with the Lindy Rig, which was pioneered by Brainerd guide Harry Van Doren but packaged for retail sale by the Lindner brothers. The company is now under the leadership of Professional Walleye Angler Ted Takasaki.
• Babe Winkleman Productions, in business since the 1970s, has produced fishing and hunting TV shows and videos.
History
• The Brainerd Lakes Area is home to the Minnesota Fishing Hall of Fame, appropriate since nearly half of the inductees are from this area.
• The Nisswa Guides League, formed in 1967, was one of the first fishing guide associations in the country. The guides worked together to revolutionize the sport by promoting new technologies and techniques, and educating anglers on how to use them to catch more fish. Among the original members were:
- Al Lindner
- Ron Lindner
- Marv Koep
- Harry Van Doren
- Gary Roach
- Jeff Zernov
Cuyuna Country Facts
The abandoned iron ore mine pits on the Cuyuna Range, east of Brainerd, provides fantastic recreational opportunities, including camping, fishing, scuba diving, hiking, canoeing/kayaking, birding, mountain biking and much more.
The Lakes
When the cavernous iron ore mine pits were abandoned in 1960, they filled with spring water, creating crystal clear lakes that are ideal for Minnesota game fish, scuba diving, canoeing/kayaking and boating.
The 27 mine pit lakes, which are connected by navigable machine-cut channels, feature 25 miles of undeveloped shoreline. Some of the lakes are more than 400 feet deep and boast water clarity up to 90 feet.
Fishing
The mine pit lakes hold the following species and are open to fishing:
• Walleye • Northern Pike • Largemouth Bass
• Crappie • Sunfish • Trout – Rainbow, Brown, Brook
Scuba Diving
The mine pits are widely regarded as some of the best freshwater scuba diving in country. The water clarity and the diverse diving opportunities attract divers from throughout the country.
There are 50 designated dive sites in the mine pits, all of which are unique. Divers find old mine shafts, tree groves, building foundations, old vehicles, mining equipment and many fish.
Brainerd also is home to one of the top diving outfitters in the country. The Minnesota School of Diving was founded in 1959 by former math teacher Bill Mathies, who still runs the business with his son, Todd. MSD offers diving trips, certification, equipment sales and rentals, commercial diving instruction, underwater salvage, search and rescue, underwater maintenance and more.
Hunting
Game Species of the Brainerd Lakes Area
The Brainerd Lakes Area features habitat that supports many popular game species.
The mixed hardwood and conifer forests are home to ruffed grouse, wild turkey, squirrel and deer, while the expansive willow meadows and marshes provide excellent habitat for pheasants, ducks, geese, black bear and rabbits.
Deer
The mixture of lowlands, tree-covered ridges and agricultural fields in the area create an excellent deer hunting environment.
Record harvests in recent years are due to a combination of relatively mild winters and ever improving food sources.
Deer can be taken during archery, firearm and muzzle-loader seasons.
Waterfowl
With more than 400 lakes and countless marshes, the Brainerd Lakes Area has excellent waterfowl habitat, attracting hunters from all over the country.
This area attracts early-season wood ducks, blue-winged teal and geese, as well as migrating mallards and diving ducks. Late-season ducks include ring-necked ducks, bluebills, redheads and the occasional canvasback.
Pheasants
The exotic ring-necked pheasant can be found in the southern part of the Brainerd Lakes Area, where the habitat is more suitable.
Game Preserves
In recent years, many hunters have discovered that game farms and hunting preserves provide a reliable, fun and realistic hunting experience. For a fee, hunters can hunt areas regularly stocked with pheasants, quail, chukars, ducks and even wild turkeys.
General Hunting Regulations and Licenses
A Minnesota hunting license is required; they’re available at many retail outlets. Bag limits and arvest methods are regulated.
Public Hunting Lands
Thousands of acres of excellent wildlife habitat are available for public hunting in the Brainerd Lakes Area. Some county and state lands are managed for optimum production of game species.
State and county agencies publish guides that identify public land for hunting. Online resources are also available. View Minnesota DNR Wildlife Management Area information, including details on Crow Wing and Cass County WMA's.
Trails
The Brainerd Lakes Area has 850+ miles of multi-use, year-round scenic trails for visitors to enjoy. Whether you’re a cross-country skier, a snowmobiler, bike rider, hiker, inline skater, horseback rider, jogger or walker, you can enjoy many miles of trails that wind around our lakes, rivers and streams, and sneak through our evergreen and deciduous forests. Along the way, you’ll see your share of wildlife and breathtaking beauty.
Paul Bunyan Trail
The paved Paul Bunyan Trail is the pride of Brainerd, where it starts and extends 100 miles north to Bemidji. Along the way, it passes through 16 quaint little towns, past 21 picturesque lakes, through pine forests and over rivers and streams. The trail is on an abandoned railroad bed and is now one of the longest paved “Rails to Trails” projects in the country.
Snowmobile Trails
With 1,200 miles of groomed trails, the Brainerd Lakes Area is a snowmobiler’s paradise. Riders enjoy a variety of trails that cut across frozen lakes, snake through forests and join excellent dining and shopping establishments. The trail system recently went through a GPS signage program. The Lakes Area also has one of the few lighted trails, which crosses Gull Lake.
Winters also hold many snowmobile events. Radar runs, which involve a 1,000-foot strip across a lake, are very popular. The annual Antique Snowmobile Rendezvous in Pequot Lakes attracts hundreds of antique snowmobile enthusiasts from throughout the country. And nearby Crosby is home to the Scorpion Snowmobile Museum.
Recreational Opportunities
Pillsbury State Forest
Pillsbury State Forest is Minnesota’s oldest state forest. Its 27 miles of rolling unpaved trails meander through a forests and past small lakes and ponds. The trails are open to motorized vehicles, but are heavily used by horseback riders in the spring and fall.
One of the two campgrounds in Pillsbury is the Walter E. Stark Horse Assembly Area, which is designed to accommodate horse-riding enthusiasts. It can accommodate 70 truck/trailer rigs plus campers and tents. It also has permanent “picket lines” (elevated ropes you can tie your horse to).
Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area
The 5,000-acre Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area is the state’s newest recreation area and already is making a name for itself.
• Mountain biking – On- and off-road mountain biking trails weave their way throughout the recreation area, offering challenging and exciting rides through the scenic and rugged park.
• Birding – This area is an excellent location for birding. The recreation area is part of a major flyway that features many rare species. Bird watchers have seen glossy ibis, sabian gulls, buff-breasted sandpipers and great gray owls, for example.
• Portsmouth Campground – 17 rustic campsites are available during the camping season.
• Rock hunting – The Cuyuna Range features Bighamite, which has a luster similar to an African tiger’s eye agate. Iron pyrites (fool’s gold) and manganese minerals such as pyrolusite, manganite, groutite and rhodochrosite are all abundant.
Cross-Country Ski Trails
Serious cross-country skiers say the Brainerd Lakes Area has some of the most diverse, challenging and scenic cross-country ski trails anywhere in the United States.
• Northland Arboretum – The 500-acre arboretum features 12 miles of trails that are expertly maintained and groomed. Three miles of trail are lit until 9 p.m. daily. They’re rated beginner to moderate with many being groomed for dual use while others are designated for either skating or classic skiing.
• French Rapids Ski Area – The trails at French Rapids are expertly maintained and groomed, and feature an advanced 16K course that affords stunning views of the Mississippi River while challenging skiers with elevation changes and tight curves.
• Others – Many resorts have their own cross-country ski trails, such as Breezy Point Resort, Grand View Lodge, Pine Beach Resort and Boyd Lodge. Others include Cut Lake Trails, Deep PortageTrails, Foothills Trails, Hiram Trails, Larson Lake Trails, Pine Beach Trails, Spider Lake Trails, Upgaard Trails and West Gull Trails.
Birding
Birders from throughout the world visit the Brainerd Lakes Area because they can see so many different species here. The area’s unique geography, featuring wetlands, prairie, evergreen and deciduous forests, lakes and rivers, makes it one of the top birding destinations in North America. It’s also a major flyway for hundreds of species.
It’s not unusual for birders to log more than 100 different species in one day. The luckiest may spot a northern goshawk or an American woodcock. Seeing either of these species, let alone both, is an experience of a lifetime.
In the summer, the abundance of water attracts loons, osprey, great blue and green herons, ducks, and gulls. In the woods, you’ll find scarlet tanager, grouse and many others. When winter arrives, you’re likely to see bald eagles, great horned and barred owls, gray and blue jays, ravens, nuthatches, snow buntings, finches (including tree sparrows), and woodpeckers, including hairy, downy, red-bellied and pileated. In the fall and spring, many species of migrating birds pass through the area, including Canada geese, swans, flycatchers, vireos, thrushes, warblers, tanagers and sparrows.
Canoeing and Kayaking
A number of rivers in the Brainerd Lakes Area provide scenic and enjoyable canoeing and kayaking. Well-defined routes exist on the Mississippi, Pine, Gull and Crow Wing rivers. Detailed maps of each are available.
The routes offer plenty of access, allowing users to select a portion of the river that matches their time schedule and skills. Several segments have riverside campgrounds. Some retailers offer canoe and kayak rentals, and shuttle service to drop off and pick up users.
Golf
The Brainerd Lakes Area features 25 golf courses and 520 holes within 50 miles of Brainerd. There are courses for all skill levels and budgets.
Some of the finest courses in the nation, designed by legends such as Arnold Palmer, Robert Trent Jones Jr. and Robert Day, are located here. This concentration of championship courses has made the Lakes Area one of the “Top 50 Golf Destinations in the World,” according to Golf Digest. Golf packages are available at more than 20 area lodging properties.
Note: For photos of these recreational opportunities or to arrange complimentary lodging,
contact Brenda Zawatzke at the Brainerd Lakes Area Chambers of Commerce
bzawatzke@explorebrainerdlakes.com (218) 829-2838
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