Fishing is one of the best reasons for visiting the Brainerd Lakes Area. Whether you’ve heard of stories from our local pros such as Babe Winkelman or Marv Koep, the history of the sport – and fun – is as old as the lakes themselves. Be sure to read our weekly fishing report for the latest news from the lakes.

	The Brainerd Lakes Area is rich in fishing culture, too, claiming home to the national magazine In-Fisherman, as well as their other media venues. Boat, bait and equipment manufacturers have also found our region the best for not only producing the superior products, but the ability to test them out their back door.
	With 465 fishing lakes to choose from, your choices of fish specie to attract is as varied as the bait and tackle you could use.
	Many visitors utilize the advice and expertise of a fishing guide to help ensure that the time they spend afloat pays off with great bites.
	Fishing doesn’t stop when the leaves fall from the trees, either. Ice fishing is gaining in popularity, though the challenge is the same.

Don’t miss the Minnesota Fishing Hall of Fame in Reed's Sporting Goods store in Baxter. The non-profit Hall of Fame is an interactive museum dedicated to the history of freshwater sport fishing in Minnesota through a collection of stories, pictures, artifacts and memorabilia from anglers who've contributed to the sport. The museum is also linked to an eight-acre pond, adjacent Paul Bunyan Nature Learning Center, and hosts free fishing and instructions for children every day.