Downrigging on Mille Lacs

[Milkdud]

I know this topic is a little early but I have always been curious why I never here of anyone downrigging on Mille Lacs. I know people pull cranks using lead core out over the mud flats in deeper water but I never here of anyone using riggers??? Any reasons for that? Just wondering because I would love to give it a try unless there is a good reason not to.

[Bigeye30"]

One thing that I can think of is the softer bottom, it seems to me even when running rigs that if I keep the weight out of the mud a little the eyes have a better vision, the only thing i can think of is that you will stir up too much silt and cloud your baits

[ikatcher]

i dont see why it wouldn't work. its probably not to common because of super lines combined with deep diving lures its not necessary. milacs is a shallow lake and the deep divers can reach productive depths on their own.

[Milkdud]

Downriggers are used up on LOW over the mud flats and the depth is real similar 32-36 feet of water. I don't think the lead balls would stir up any mud because they would be 4-5 feet above the bottom to allow for the lures to dive a few feet. Thanks for the response just was wondering if anyone has downrigged and how you did!

[Willy]

They would work just fine IMO. I think the reason guys do not use them is because of the clarity on Mille Lacs. Some of those walleye can get a bit spooky and the lead ball may scare them. Shoot, lots of guys, myself included run boards in 28-34 ft. of water.

On LOW the water is stained and probably doesn't bother them as much. Also, I think it is probably more widely used on LOW because the charters do and guys have followed to rig them on their own boats. There are none on Mille Lacs(charters) and the guys with downriggers rigged on their boat are not as prevalent or standard in the Mille Lacs area.

[fishorgolf]

I run downriggers on LOTW in the summer with great success so a couple years ago I said why not Mille lacs? Not a single bite! Why? I don't know but the theory that it is the clearer water of ML vs the stained water of LOTW makes sense to me. One other thing I can think of is speed. The fish in ML tend to go for slower bait speeds were they can check the bait out better and LOTW fish tend to be more aggressive as a rule. Again this probably goes back to the water clearity. Just a thought.

[Milkdud]

Good points guys, Thanks!

[2iceman]

Just troll crankbaits with the line counting reel and you will be mighty happy!

[PerchJerker]

I have seen and heard of a few riggers out there, not many though. I think the depth (don't need to use riggers) and the water clarity are the primary reasons.

[fishorgolf]

Depth is not the only reason for downriggers as many people think. The reason for downriggers is to put your bait at the exact depth you want. That can be 20' or 120' it makes no difference. eg. you can put and SR5 down 20" and KNOW your lure is running at 25-26" This is much more difficult to do with 120' of line out running a DHJ as there are so many variables to take into account.

Back to Mille Lacs. I do think it is a water clarity issue. I have said enough.

[PerchJerker]

I agree that downriggers give you really precise depth control, but with the depths at Mille Lacs I think you can get the same thing with line counters and super lines, and with lead core. The key is finding what works and then repeating it.

[fishorgolf]

I agree 100%. ML is not the place for downrigging. longlining is a much better choice. As big as ML is there is allot of depth changes. You can go 5+ miles on LOTW with only a 1-3" depth change so the goal is covering allot of water until you find fish then working that exact depth. This is were downrigging is the way to go. Just do not have this on ML.