Brainerd Lakes Chapter Activities/Events
The Brainerd Lakes Chapter participates in a variety of activities throughout the year. From giving back to the community, to giving our members different ways to interact with one another, there are opportunities for everyone to get involved. We do more than what's listed below. But this is a sample of some of what we've been up to and what our plans are in the future. We hope you'll join us at some or all of these events in the coming year!
While you don't have to be a member to participate in all of these events, we'd love to have you as a member of the Brainerd Lakes Chapter. You can become a member on the Muskies Inc website or at any of our monthly meetings.
The Brainerd Lakes Chapter participates in a variety of activities throughout the year. From giving back to the community, to giving our members different ways to interact with one another, there are opportunities for everyone to get involved. We do more than what's listed below. But this is a sample of some of what we've been up to and what our plans are in the future. We hope you'll join us at some or all of these events in the coming year!
While you don't have to be a member to participate in all of these events, we'd love to have you as a member of the Brainerd Lakes Chapter. You can become a member on the Muskies Inc website or at any of our monthly meetings.
Financial Contribution to MN Fish
The chapter collected donations from members at our monthly meeting and matched those funds to make a $700 donation to MN Fish to help purchase fishing rods that went to underprivileged youth in the state of Minnesota. Studies show that unless a child is introduced to fishing by the age of 14, it is unlikely that they will ever become an angler. This effort by MN Fish will hopefully make for some lifelong anglers.
Food and Financial Contribution to the Salvation Army and Area Food Shelves
Thanks to our dedicated members who attended our November and December monthly meetings and participated in our “Season of Giving” in recent years. With their generous donations, we have been able to give to area food shelves considerable amounts of non-perishable food items, toys and cash to put towards more items at the food shelf.
Our generous members donate toys, food and money that we collect at our November and December meetings. We are happy to be able to make this an annual donation to our local food shelf.
Our generous members donate toys, food and money that we collect at our November and December meetings. We are happy to be able to make this an annual donation to our local food shelf.
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Financial Contribution to Access Walleye Pond
For several years, the Brainerd Lakes Chapter has provided financial assistance for the Minnesota DNR to gain access to a walleye rearing pond in Deerwood, MN. This has become an annual financial commitment for the chapter. This pond has typically produced approximately $20,000 worth of walleyes that are stocked in MN lakes each year.
Support for our Fisheries
When the Brainerd Lakes Chapter has the opportunity to help with our fisheries, we are happy to lend a helping hand whether it be volunteering to assist the DNR pull nets in the spring to evaluate the health of our fisheries or to help monetarily in some fashion. Over the years this has included things like offering monetary support for purchasing PIT Tag Readers, netting equipment, feed for rearing ponds, stocking efforts and more.
Lure Swap
SPRING
This is usually one of our more anticipated monthly meetings of the year. Bring in any of your own gear you would like to sell. Buy, sell, trade. A great opportunity to thin out your own gear, make room for new, or find some great deals! This will be our April meeting in 2026.
This is usually one of our more anticipated monthly meetings of the year. Bring in any of your own gear you would like to sell. Buy, sell, trade. A great opportunity to thin out your own gear, make room for new, or find some great deals! This will be our April meeting in 2026.
Sportsman's Banquet
MARCH 21, 2026
Our main fundraising event. This is an amazing event with tons of prizes. A fun filled night with raffles, games, auctions. This event gives the chapter the financial flexibility to participate in the events that we do throughout the year. More banquet info here.
Our main fundraising event. This is an amazing event with tons of prizes. A fun filled night with raffles, games, auctions. This event gives the chapter the financial flexibility to participate in the events that we do throughout the year. More banquet info here.
Brainerd Parks & Rec Youth Fishing Clinic
MAY - LUM PARK
Youth, Fisheries and Research are the core values of Muskies Inc. And the Brainerd Parks & Rec Youth Fishing Clinic is an important event to get and keep kids interested in fishing and the outdoors. The BLC is proud to volunteer our assistance here. This event is scheduled for May 16, 2026 from 9:00 to 1:30 pm.
Youth, Fisheries and Research are the core values of Muskies Inc. And the Brainerd Parks & Rec Youth Fishing Clinic is an important event to get and keep kids interested in fishing and the outdoors. The BLC is proud to volunteer our assistance here. This event is scheduled for May 16, 2026 from 9:00 to 1:30 pm.
Brainerd Everything Outdoor Youth Expo
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JUNE
The Brainerd Everything Outdoor Youth Expo is held at the Crow Wing County Fairgrounds in Brainerd and the BLC has been a proud participant since its inaugural year. |
Minnesota High School Muskie Tournament
JUNE
The Minnesota High School League has several qualifying tournaments around the state with a championship held later in the summer. The Brainerd Chapter hosts a regional qualifying event in June. If you have a high school student that would like to participate in this event or if you would like to volunteer as a judge boat, contact the BLC for more information. The 2026 qualifying event will be in June on Lake Alexander.
The Minnesota High School League has several qualifying tournaments around the state with a championship held later in the summer. The Brainerd Chapter hosts a regional qualifying event in June. If you have a high school student that would like to participate in this event or if you would like to volunteer as a judge boat, contact the BLC for more information. The 2026 qualifying event will be in June on Lake Alexander.
Youth Night
AUGUST 11, 2026
Our annual Youth Event is another important event to get and keep kids interested in fishing and the outdoors. This had typically been held in June at the same time and location as our normal monthly meetings. However, we changed this up in 2022 to make this bigger and better and we hope to keep this up going forward. Held as a stand alone event, we had more than 70 kids join us at Lum Park in July in 2022 for this free event. Since 2023 we have held this event at the Nisswa Community Center on the second Tuesday evening of August and plan to be here again in 2026.
Our annual Youth Event is another important event to get and keep kids interested in fishing and the outdoors. This had typically been held in June at the same time and location as our normal monthly meetings. However, we changed this up in 2022 to make this bigger and better and we hope to keep this up going forward. Held as a stand alone event, we had more than 70 kids join us at Lum Park in July in 2022 for this free event. Since 2023 we have held this event at the Nisswa Community Center on the second Tuesday evening of August and plan to be here again in 2026.
Musky Mission Complete
SEPTEMBER 2026
The Brainerd Lakes Chapter is proud to support Musky Mission Complete. Several of our members volunteer their services and guide the Veterans that participate in this annual event, held on Leech Lake. A very rewarding experience for everyone involved. We support and salute our Veterans and will continue to do so in the future.
The Brainerd Lakes Chapter is proud to support Musky Mission Complete. Several of our members volunteer their services and guide the Veterans that participate in this annual event, held on Leech Lake. A very rewarding experience for everyone involved. We support and salute our Veterans and will continue to do so in the future.
Jeff Young Memorial Muskie Shootout
OCTOBER 3-4, 2026
This is the chapter's annual fundraising tournament held on beautiful Leech Lake. Limited to 50 teams. For more information and to register for the upcoming Shootout, check it out here.
This is the chapter's annual fundraising tournament held on beautiful Leech Lake. Limited to 50 teams. For more information and to register for the upcoming Shootout, check it out here.
BLC Scholarship - Central Lakes College
FALL
Each fall, a second year Natural Resources student at Central Lakes College receives a scholarship provided by the Brainerd Lakes Chapter of Muskies Inc/Hugh Becker Fund. This ongoing scholarship has been given annually for the last decade plus.
Each fall, a second year Natural Resources student at Central Lakes College receives a scholarship provided by the Brainerd Lakes Chapter of Muskies Inc/Hugh Becker Fund. This ongoing scholarship has been given annually for the last decade plus.
Monthly Meetings
THE SECOND TUESDAY OF EACH MONTH
We have monthly meetings at the Nisswa American Legion on the second Tuesday of each month. Meetings begin at 7:00 pm and are open to the public and free to attend. We have many different things happening throughout the year from guest speakers, lure swaps, youth night, lure building, lure auction and more. Great chance to give back to the chapter and win a few prizes through raffles as well. Keep an eye on the home page of the website and our monthly newsletter for our upcoming events. Come out to a meeting and bring your friends!
We have monthly meetings at the Nisswa American Legion on the second Tuesday of each month. Meetings begin at 7:00 pm and are open to the public and free to attend. We have many different things happening throughout the year from guest speakers, lure swaps, youth night, lure building, lure auction and more. Great chance to give back to the chapter and win a few prizes through raffles as well. Keep an eye on the home page of the website and our monthly newsletter for our upcoming events. Come out to a meeting and bring your friends!
On The Water Outings
We have numerous on the water outings over the course of the summer and fall. These outings are simply a time for members to get together for a little friendly competition on the water, share fish stories, and learn a thing or two from fellow members.
Would you like to receive our monthly newsletter? Do you need us to update the email address we have on file for you? Email the BLC to let us know!