Jump to content
  • GUESTS

    If You  want access  to member only forums on FM, You will need to Sign-in or  Sign-Up now .

    This box will disappear once you are signed in as a member.

2020 Mille Lacs Lake Fishing Reports


Rick

Recommended Posts

I am heading up to Mille Lacs on Sunday to take my son and his buddy fishing for the day.

Has the fishing been better on the flats or in the rocks? Is the mayfly hatch over yet? I've fished the lake before and I'm looking for some feedback on what has been successful so far this year.

I'd like to get the two kids a good chance at catching something, especially since one of them has never caught a walleye before. If the walleyes are slow what would be the suggestions for smallmouth?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

flys only bothered at night.

you anchor or slip fishing?? fish are moving around, but flats might be a place to start..

Red Gama hooks work, leech, and a slip bob...

if drifting a 1/2 -3/4 oz sinker , a 7- 10 ft leader , and a leech or maybe a minnow...

if that don't work try a spinner rig with a little flash... or a crawler and harness..

Follow the reports for the weekend, and if the reports are slow, or old Mille is too choppy.. maybe have a backup plan for a smaller lake....

Remember .. at their age... it's not about anything but catching something.. also when on the big lake.. make sure the kids understand a nice 24" walleye goes back... Teach them about the Slot.

my $0.02

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Mille Lacs has been putting out the nice eyes! We've caught them on a variety of structure and on a variety of presentations. We've been catching them in the weeds on suspending crankbaits and swimbaits. Also getting them on the flats with rigs and leeches. I understand they are going on the gravel as well, and perhaps that is your best bet if you are looking for some eaters. All of the fish we have been catching have been released. I am glad for this warm weather as the water temp is going up fast...it will make for much more aggressive fish. Walleyes will be going better yet, and the muskies won't be far behind. Here's a few pics from the last week.

72cory.jpg

72kristine.jpg

72tim.jpg

72john.jpg

72timwalleye.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Tim pretty much said it, fish have been going on just about every type of structure Mille Lacs has to offer and on a number of presentations. With that said the fish are far from everywhere. You have to put on quite a few miles watching your graph to find em, but they're plenty out there. You just need to locate em first or go with someone that already knows where they are... whistle I've been on the rocks, gravel and mud with very good results on all of them, at certain times of the day. I'm getting my eaters on the gravel and rocks, and quite a few of my bigger fish are coming from the mud.

The last two days have been very calm and yet the bite has remained strong. I was guiding part of another large group of guys out of McQuoids the last two days. We’ve been catching a good mixed bag of fish ranging from small to over 28 inches. Yesterday morning we had over 40 walleye in my boat before noon, so with both a large number of eater fish (15"-18") and bigger fish, the bite has been almost picture perfect! We had 15 guys in this group and everyone caught their limit of eaters along with a number of super fat big fish that came up for some quick pictures grin. I’m not sure how much longer the lake can keep this up so if you’re interested in some fantastic fishing now would be a great time to come up. Good luck to everyone headed out this weekend!

Here’s a few pics from my boat.

P1010307.jpg

P1010305.jpg

P1010311.jpg

P1010300.jpg

P1010314.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Oh ya, here's a couple photos of Tuesday nights cloud system that moved through.

P1010317.jpg

P1010321.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Great pics EyeGuide!!!

Having the same luck...on every structure.

Right now there seems to be no specific pattern other than locate the fish...and fish!!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Was up Thurs. afternoon and Friday. Probably boated 20-25. Not too bad considering the hot calm weather. Fish on all structure, just not overly aggressive. Leeches outfished crawlers 5-1.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Went up out of the garrison public access last night. It was really windy. Went out to Curly's and got only one. Went out to Seguchie Flat and got none. At both spots tried spinners w/bouncers and rigs with leeches and crawlers. Just before dark settled down on the Garrison reef and picked up 3 box fish on rigs. At least there wasn't any bugs with the 20+ mph winds.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

How has the night fishing been lately? Any presentation better than others at night lately? Appreciate it!

Fish on!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The edges and tight corners of the flats are good that way you can cover the different depths while staying stationary

I like to use just a plain red gomakatsu and a red glow bead with a leech under a bobber anywhere from 6in to 2 feet off the bottom

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Fished Fri and Sat.

Stayed at Appeldoorns' , awesome like always.

Nice weather. Caught 6 Eyes Sat on the mud. Ran the trolling motor all day. One slot. 25" the biggest. Fished the mud. We fished the edges, and out in "no mans land". nothing. All 6 on Sat came on top of the flats in 24-26 ft. Leeches red hook. Tried spinners, and crawlers, nothing. Tried crawlers single bead, nothing. leech and a single bead nothing. Plain was the way to go.

Fished for 4 hrs Sat. 8:30-12:30, 2 Eyes. Biggest 25 1/2". This one was caught on 32 ft. The other caught on top again in 25 ft. Leech, plain red hook again.

Anyone else had the same luck as far as just a plain hook??. We also tried a chart., orange, blue, pink, purple hook as well. nothing on those colors.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We fished Thursday on the south end off the rocks in 20' We got a 26 1/2", 23 1/2" and a 23". Nothing for the box. All on orange hook and leech. Spent the rest of the weekend working on the honey-do list.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

What mud flats were you fishing on? Does anyone no if you can camp for free on the north east corner where Carlsona Beach is? Just past the bar where all the sand beach is.... Thanks for the info good luck to all the fisherman...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Eyewarrior,

Sounds like a good weekend!! I was on the lake Sat/Sun also. It was my first time this year. I fished mostly the south end and by the time I worked my way up to the north end I was close to suffering sun stroke!

Anyway, I didn't do near as well as your crew.

Do you run a long snell on the spinners?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Was out Sunday all day, and fishing was slow. Started on flats with spinners (Red/White, chartruessGreen, Blue (blue???)) Nothing with leeches or crawlers. Switched to 9' with white hook, nothing. Moved over south of Big point and caught 25" on white hook, bead and leech. Back to flats, ton of fish marked, trolled with reef runners, Perch and Crayfish, nothng. Moved to sloppy joes, nothing. moved to 26' break gravel plain hook, crawler with gas (inflated) 3 walleyes 2 perch 6:00-7:30pm. Aggressive hits. Moved shallower 19-22' and nothing. Plain hook seemed to be the key.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Does anyone no a good spot to camp right on the lake, trying to stay somewhere on the north side.... trying to stay close to the mud.. Thanks for the info..

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Rigging with the plain hook was the ticket for me on Leech Lake Thursday and Friday so I kept it on when I got to Mille lacs on Sunday and it didnt fail me,got 6 during the day.The best bite was Sunday night for us on the SW corner near Spirit,boated 20-25 on corks from 7-11:30.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Today between 11am and 7pm, tried 7 mile, nothing. Went to deep gravel and did great. Two of us kept 7 between 13" and 17.75", threw back 5 over 18" and 3 under 13". Biggest was 25". Great day! Corks with orange 1/16th oz. jigheads and leeches.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Eyewarrior,

When you have a minute can send me a PM?

Thanks

when I try to PM its says PM disabled

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Fished out of McQuoids in Isle Monday and Tuesday mornings. Found fish all over around the deep gravel bars. Found one spot on soft bottom about 20 yards from the gravel-to-soft transition. Still some mayflies coming up as well as bloodworms coming out of the soft bottom. Saw small fish (perch and tulibees) on the graph along with the insects and worms, and saw plenty of big fish. Anchored in the busiest looking area with big fish visible at all depth ranges and slip-bobbered. Best rig was a blue, white, and pink Creep Worm (ice fishing jig) tipped with a big leech. Set the three floats to work the leeches at 2, 3, and 4 feet up from the bottom. Watched the graph constantly, and when we saw shallower marks, we reeled our floats up to the boat and reeled up to vertical jig the leech at the depth fish were moving through at. We caught over fifty walleyes and a few perch in the two mornings, even with high skies and little wind. Caught fish from 14 to 27 inches, with most of them over twenty. We did keep eight from 14 to 17 inches for a fish-fry. Caught most of the fish within five feet of the bottom, but did catch several, including the largest one, ten to fifteen feet below the boat in 31 feet of water. Check the deep gravel areas, and watch your locator for activity of all sizes. Drop icons on your GPS in these spots, and then fish them slowly with a livebait rig, or anchor and bobber if there is some wind, or "power-bob" with your electric if there is not much wind. Good luck!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • The title was changed to 2020 Mille Lacs Lake Fishing Reports

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.




  • Similar Content

  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • mulefarm
      With the early ice out, how is the curlyleaf pondweed doing?
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the south end...   The big basin, otherwise known as Big Traverse Bay, is ice free.  Zippel Bay and Four Mile Bay are ice free as well.  Everything is shaping up nicely for the MN Fishing Opener on May 11th. With the walleye / sauger season currently closed, most anglers are targeting sturgeon and pike.  Some sturgeon anglers are fishing at the mouth of the Rainy River, but most sturgeon are targeted in Four Mile Bay or the Rainy River.  Hence, pike are the targeted species on the south shore and various bays currently.   Pike fishing this time of year is a unique opportunity, as LOW is border water with Canada, the pike season is open year round. The limit is 3 pike per day with one being able to be more than 40 inches. All fish 30 - 40 inches must be released. Back bays hold pike as they go through the various stages of the spawn.  Deadbait under a bobber, spinners, spoons and shallow diving crankbaits are all viable options.   Four Mile Bay, Bostic Bay and Zippel Bay are all small water and boats of various sizes work well. On the Rainy River...  Great news this week as we learned sturgeon will not be placed on the endangered species list by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.     The organization had to make a decision by June 30 and listing sturgeon could have ended sturgeon fishing.  Thankfully, after looking at the many success stories across the nation, including LOW and the Rainy River, sturgeon fishing and successful sturgeon management continues.   A good week sturgeon fishing on the Rainy River.  Speaking to some sturgeon aficionados, fishing will actually get even better as water temps rise.     Four Mile Bay at the mouth of the Rainy River near the Wheeler's Point Boat Ramp is still producing good numbers of fish, as are various holes along the 42 miles of navigable Rainy River from the mouth to Birchdale.   The sturgeon season continues through May 15th and resumes again July 1st.   Oct 1 - April 23, Catch and Release April 24 - May 7, Harvest Season May 8 - May 15, Catch and Release May 16 - June 30, Sturgeon Fishing Closed July 1 - Sep 30, Harvest Season If you fish during the sturgeon harvest season and you want to keep a sturgeon, you must purchase a sturgeon tag for $5 prior to fishing.    One sturgeon per calendar year (45 - 50" inclusive, or over 75"). Most sturgeon anglers are either a glob of crawlers or a combo of crawlers and frozen emerald shiners on a sturgeon rig, which is an 18" leader with a 4/0 circle hook combined with a no roll sinker.  Local bait shops have all of the gear and bait. Up at the NW Angle...  A few spots with rotten ice, but as a rule, most of the Angle is showing off open water.  In these parts, most are looking ahead to the MN Fishing Opener.  Based on late ice fishing success, it should be a good one.  
    • leech~~
      Nice fish. I moved to the Sartell area last summer and just thought it was windy like this everyday up here? 🤭
    • Rick G
      Crazy windy again today.... This is has been the norm this spring. Between the wind and the cold fronts, fishing has been more challenging for me than most years.  Panfish have been moving in and out of the shallows quite a bit. One day they are up in the slop, the next they are out relating to cabbage or the newly sprouting lilly pads.  Today eye guy and I found them in 4-5 ft of water, hanging close to any tree branches that happened to be laying in the water.  Bigger fish were liking a 1/32 head and a Bobby Garland baby shad.   Highlight of the day way this healthy 15incher
    • monstermoose78
    • monstermoose78
      As I typed that here came a hen.  IMG_7032.mov   IMG_7032.mov
    • monstermoose78
      So far this morning nothing but non turkeys. 
    • monstermoose78
      Well yesterday I got a little excited and let a turkey get to close and I hit the blind!!
    • smurfy
      good......you?? living the dream..in my basement playing internet thug right now!!!!!! 🤣 working on getting the boat ready.......bought a new cheatmaster locator for the boat so working on that.   waiting for warmer weather to start my garden!!!
    • monstermoose78
      How is everyone doing? Holy moly it’s chilly this morning I stayed in bed and will hunt later today when it warms up.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.