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few more night fishing questions?

mojo06

By mojo06
in Mille Lacs Lake Fishing Reports

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mojo06 Apprentice

mojo06

Posted
Posted

How far do you have line out?

Do you use a regular rod and line?

How many lines/people without making a mess?

What time is best? Is day fishing good at all?

What is your success with pictures at night? Any tips?

Thank you all for such a great resource and for your time.

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Team Otter Grand Master

Team Otter

Posted
Posted

mojo06,

I use 7' 7" trolling rods with 4/10 Fireline. How much line is out depends on the lure but 65 - 100' back is typical. Trolling with 3 people is manageable and some of the better times is sun-down up to an hour after and then at any point throughout the course of the night. Night photos can be difficult but I have a "night mode" on my digital camera which helps.

Good Luck.

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Borch Grand Master

Borch

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How far do you have line out?

It depends usually 75-125 ft.

Do you use a regular rod and line?

I use 30# power pro or fireline. It 8# diameter. I always use baitcasting combos with a slower medium action rod.

How many lines/people without making a mess?

Three max. Two is a lot less headaches with tangled lines and such.

What time is best? Is day fishing good at all?

Any time you can get out. Often my outings start after midnight. Othertimes I get there at noon. Fish are there somewhere all times of day. Personally I prefer later as most of the corkers and many of the trollers have made their way back to the dock.

What is your success with pictures at night? Any tips?

Good Success. Just make sure the flash is working. A little back lighting from the rear navigation light help to center things. A digital is great as you can check to make sure you got the shot. Otherwise take at least 3 pics of each fish. One is sure to turn out.

Thank you all for such a great resource and for your time.

You're Welcome! laugh.gif

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CC Rocks Community Regular

CC Rocks

Posted
Posted

Borch thanks for the info. I also am a novice when it comes to pullin cranks. I bought a couple of #12 Husky jerks at Gander the other day. Thought I would try them. Do you have a favorite color and size that works? Are #5 Shad Raps ok or to small? Also what side of the lake do you usually fish? No looking for exacts, just a starting point.

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Borch Grand Master

Borch

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Quote:

Borch thanks for the info. I also am a novice when it comes to pullin cranks. I bought a couple of #12 Husky jerks at Gander the other day. Thought I would try them. Do you have a favorite color and size that works? Are #5 Shad Raps ok or to small? Also what side of the lake do you usually fish? No looking for exacts, just a starting point.

Husky Jerks in #12 are one of my favorites. I really like clown, rainbow, firetiger and perch. The #5 shad raps will work. But I usually use stick baits or #7 shallow shad raps this time of year. Both will work well in 6-10 feet of water. Any shallower and you'll want to add some #11-13 floating raps or Rattling Rogues.

I usually fish the west side on rock or weeds. The south side is good as well. Well... All the sides are pretty good. Sometime you make choice because of wind. Look at your map and try to avoid the crowds. Shoreline can be pretty productive this time of year as well.

Good Luck!

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CC Rocks Community Regular

CC Rocks

Posted
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Thanks a ton for the last several posts. Nice to get good advice prior to venturing out. I heard the accesses on the west side are REALLY shallow especially at night. Do you have a favorite that isn't to bad on the motor?

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Borch Grand Master

Borch

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I usually put in at Eddy's or the access near the casino. They were in pretty decent shape yet last time I was there. If you use the casino one be aware that it's pretty shallow when you first leave the harbor.

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Paul Waldowski Grand Master

Paul Waldowski

Posted
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Gary,

Like Borch I use the access at Eddy's. Lit up like a Christmas tree, nobody bothers my truck and trailer and a nice deep, calm access. I would pay twice what they charge (Just don't tell them that smile.gif ) All of the accesses are very shallow right now. Malmo is virtually unuseable, Garrison is very shallow, Wealthwood is very shallow. The Casino access is okay, watch going out thru the channel. Cedar Creek is really shallow. I haven't looked at the ones on the south end, but I'm seeing a lot of spots sticking out of the water, that have always been submerged.

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Paul Waldowski Grand Master

Paul Waldowski

Posted
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Eddy's is a couple of miles up 169 from Onamia. It is on the right hand side 1/2 mile past the Econolodge. Entrance is located directly across the entrance from Kathio State Park.

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minnesotatuff Rising Star

minnesotatuff

Posted
Posted

edgewater resort is just a little north of eddys. its been years since ive used their access. dont know how it is now. i put in at eddys last saturday and am planning a trip this saturday again.

regards,

minnesotatuff

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bigeyes Experienced

bigeyes

Posted
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How far do you have line out? not real critical 30-110' odds are this will not determine your results.

Do you use a regular rod and line? Yup, you'd be a let up to run a spin cast real on a med or medlight. I like 14lb fireline for night trolling.

How many lines/people without making a mess? This primaraly depends on the driver and wind conditions and to a lesser extent the experience of the "crew" smile.gif 2 is good start 3 can usuasually be pretty easy. 4 needs a good group the right program and correct winds or it will be a pain in the...

What time is best? Is day fishing good at all?

Yes, day bite tends to be very good and predictable. Best night time bites can and do very quite a bit thoughout the season.

What is your success with pictures at night? Any tips? Digital cameras seem to work fine here.

Hope it helps.

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Hines R Collaborator

Hines R

Posted
Posted

I just started night fishing last year and for me it's like adding a whole extra season of fishing. Tons of fun being out their at night especially if you've got a good moon lighting up the lake. My father in law who isn't really a fisherman went once with me last year after saying "No Initially" and he loved it.

Ryan

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TRZ Proficient

TRZ

Posted
Posted

Good point! Edgewater is very close and is barely in business the last time i checked, But i will say that 22' and under is a very fair slot and should be used statewide with one over 28'.

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Hines R Collaborator

Hines R

Posted
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With the lake being down so much this year though and if you want to launch out of a certain side of the lake you really only have certain options. We generally launch out of the public Launch by the casino. I will say it was really nice to launch out of Hunter's Point and be able to clean my fish at the launch when we we're down.

The other aspect would be safety of your vehicle, and the things that are inside it while your out on the water fishing.

Ryan

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Paul Waldowski Grand Master

Paul Waldowski

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Wolverine,

I launch all of the time at Eddy's..Why? It's a deep water harbor that is protected from the wind and they watch my vehicle for me. I don't have to worry about coming back to a smashed or stolen rig. If more of the resorts had a west side access there would be more of a choice, but with 169 in the way many of them don't have that opportunity.

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JDM Community Regular

JDM

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Wolverine - do you think that it might be possible that the slot and reduced limit have contributed to the quality of the fishery today? There are plenty of other lakes without slots where you can go catch your six 14" fish. Need suggestions?

As far as your protection comment, why don't you just say what you mean?

Can't we just talk about fishing reports, techniques and methods, etc....?

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Paul Waldowski Grand Master

Paul Waldowski

Posted
Posted

Yeah,

They are protecting my rig from the same type of idiots that vandalize and burn fish houses on the Chisago chain of lakes, or that vandalize vehicles at launches around the south metro, or that break into fish houses on LOW. %^^*&&*&$#$$@

IMHO The fishing on ML just keeps getting better so I could care less what the slot is, or that I can only keep a few fish. For me it's all about the memories. smile.gif

This site has never, and will not condone racism. So if you would like to continue to play that card please take it somewhere else.

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PT73 Collaborator

PT73

Posted
Posted

I've never fished the West side in the fall, any suggestions where to start?, with the water being soo low, what areas have become hazards that arent visible on the chips?

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JDM Community Regular

JDM

Posted
Posted

If you have GPS and a chip, I would subtract 4 feet to play it safe. I hit rocks 40 yards from shore around Spirit Island and the GPS said I should have had plenty of depth. It will get difficult on some of the reefs when the pull the markers.

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Hines R Collaborator

Hines R

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The big thing I think is to establish your trolling lines in the light when you can see things especially if it's a new area. Even when I'm trolling the same line trying to hit an area I caught a fish on sometimes if you look outside the boat for reference it throws you off.

When you leave the launch esablishing a waypoint to aim at, and then one once you reach safely to deeper water is one thing that helps me. Gives me 2 reference points when returning to shore in the dark.

Definitely just study the map real quick before you make any big move and note any reefs that might cause a problem for you and try to bypass around them by a good safe margin.

The sand Rock shoreline out in front of Eddy's is supposed to be good although I've never fished it but probably will this year. Off of Indian Point/Rainbow Island. Slot machine bay right by the casino launch if your going to troll over the weed tops. St. Albans Bay is supposed to be good in the gravel area although I haven't fished that myself either.

Ryan

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Rick Grand Master

Rick

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Please stay on topic. If you have a political viewpoint or racial viewpoint please take it elsewhere. We do have an outdoor discussion forum for political viewpoints.

Before posting please be sure to read forum policy.

Thanks much.

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