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2020 Mille Lacs Lake Fishing Reports


Rick

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Was out there Sunday drove my 1/2 ton truck out of Liberty. Took a shot out to 3 mile hopped around but it was pretty slow. So we headed south and ended up finding a nice hole in 27 FOW. We managed 17 Walleye bewtween 4 of us and each missed a couple. Only brought 5 home. Had a nice one on but lost it half way up. we were sitting on 14 inches of ice there is only about 4 inches of snow on the lake. Sleds, Wheelers are venturing out with portables. Will be up there this weekend again. Good luck be safe!

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My son and my dad caught these nice ones out of Mac's Twin Bay in a nice flurry of action. Rumor is that 10 year old son was actually giggling!

full-12793-4467-ericwithperch.jpg

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i was out this past weekend out of lybacks and we pulled out 43 jumbos and 3 walleyes between the 3 of us and probably threw back another 75 perch that were to small.

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I was out there yesterday. We did really well with the Jumbo perches and caught two keeper eyes as well. Perch action was non-stop for a few hours! Kept about 10 perches for dinner and the rest was all released.

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dang KM! those are some giant perch! i'll have to stop in this week and maybe you can point me in a good direction!

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Fished Doe Island reef in 16 fow from sunrise till 10:30. 4 guys in 2 houses. 1 11 and a half inch perch. Moved towards main lake till we hit sand and 29 fow. Caught a few more but smaller. Moved out to 4 mile for eyes at 2:00. Set up in 24fow.1 guy got a 14 inch eye. Another guy in the house I was in had a nice fish on till 5 feet under the ice then nothing ! Had a nice perch slash at my bait a few times out there but missed and swam away. All in all we moved 3 times and caught 5 fish total between the 4 of us. Had the camera down all day. Just did not see many fish. Tip up with fathead at all spots never got touched. Changing lures right and left. Just a tough day for us. Roads are in GREAT shape !

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Haven't read much on the snow cover. How much is on the lake? Are wheelers able to go cross country or is the snow too deep?

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snow depth is not that bad Muleshack. Average guess ? 5 inches. There are widely scattered areas of broken up ice. They stick out like a sore thumb. Looks like it was about 5-6 inches when it broke up. Big shards sticking up. I did see a snowmobile trail that went through a smooth spot between 2 of these rough areas. The spot they went thru was not very wide. Of course there are drifts where houses and old roads have been.Never saw any wet looking spots or slush. No cracks in the roads. Did see wheelers and trucks all over the place. Kinda stuck to the roads with my Pontiac Vibe !!

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How's the roadS outta macs twin bay? Also any suggestions for arEas outta there foR Pike? Comin down to a buddys shack and first time in this water (hard or soft) thanx 44 any info. ALso: any preferrEd bait outlet for BIG suckers?

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How's the roadS outta macs twin bay? Also any suggestions for arEas outta there foR Pike? Comin down to a buddys shack and first time in this water (hard or soft) thanx 44 any info. ALso: any preferrEd bait outlet for BIG suckers?
The roads are in great shape. We were there today and very nice. A few heaves, but they are well marked and passable easily.
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  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders

Fished Doe Island reef in 16 fow from sunrise till 10:30. 4 guys in 2 houses. 1 11 and a half inch perch. Moved towards main lake till we hit sand and 29 fow. Caught a few more but smaller. Moved out to 4 mile for eyes at 2:00. Set up in 24fow.1 guy got a 14 inch eye. Another guy in the house I was in had a nice fish on till 5 feet under the ice then nothing ! Had a nice perch slash at my bait a few times out there but missed and swam away. All in all we moved 3 times and caught 5 fish total between the 4 of us. Had the camera down all day. Just did not see many fish. Tip up with fathead at all spots never got touched. Changing lures right and left. Just a tough day for us. Roads are in GREAT shape !

I was out on four mile last Friday and did OK until I put my camera down then nothing. I just started a post on not ever catching a Walleye with a cam down? I wonder if you would have done better with it not down all day? Maybe next time try without it and see if you catch more? wink

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I also dont like to have a camera down when fishing walleyes.The perch dont seem to mind but the walleyes seem suspicious.Thats just my observation with having a camera down there many hours in a shack.Pout on the other hand like to attack it.

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I will try it next time I go up. I never have it down where my bait is at any time . I always use it looking down and at mille lacs with the clouds and snow cover it was probably 8-10 feet up from my hooks. Do you use yours that way or do have it at the level your bait is ?

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Can't say I've ever seen a walleye on my camera either. Lots of perch, and musky's but never a walleye. Would it work to put some of that fake weeds on the camera and camera cord? I don't think it would hurt anything, or is their a hum to our cameras that the walleye's hear or something?

I normally have my camera on the bottom but I have it about 5-10 feet away.

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  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders

Can't say I've ever seen a walleye on my camera either. Lots of perch, and musky's but never a walleye. Would it work to put some of that fake weeds on the camera and camera cord? I don't think it would hurt anything, or is their a hum to our cameras that the walleye's hear or something?

I normally have my camera on the bottom but I have it about 5-10 feet away.

I did try putting the fake weeds on the cord as well and it really didn't seem to help any. frown

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Fishing has been good overall on the SE Corner - some limits on the gravel with mobile people. Our houses are on a transition area catching some nice perch and a few walleyes. This nice fish was caught by Mike Christensen yesterday.

photo.jpg

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Went Thursday out of Appledoorns and was very slow. 5 small eyes (all released) and 1 perch. Fished rocks and mud. Little more info on my 12/23 topic.

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Leech, heading up to Arnesens for 4 days starting tuesday. Need to bring the new year in right talk to you soon Rick!

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  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders

Leech, heading up to Arnesens for 4 days starting tuesday. Need to bring the new year in right talk to you soon Rick!

Haven't heard much from you so far this year? Have fun up there! I'm heading up to Burntside for Laker open in a few weeks so saving a few pennies for the trip right now. Going to inlaws for X-Mas tomorrow! Hopefully some cash in the X-Mas sock for fishing and not a lump of coal! laugh

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rcatcherman- my bro & i are heading down to meet a buddy who has a private house out of mac's.leavin duluth on thursday around 3-4pm.hope to be on the ice by 5:30ish.stayin till sunday around noon.you may want to stay home since whatever lake we ever go to it seems the bite shuts down.i swear someone painted "keep away" on the bottom of our boat last summer eek actually, i cant wait.good luck out there!

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Leech do you have that problem only on Mille Lacs with the camera? Reason I ask is because I used my camera today with no issue but all I could see and catch was jumbo perch. Also does any one know of a descent spot to get eyes going out from Lybacks? It seems I have a hard time getting to any out there, I usually only find perch and pike.

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what colors have been working best lately?for 'eyes, pike, & perch?please say red or green since thats what i have the most of.

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I was getting perch on a buck shot(yellow) and my brother was having luck with a green one using wax worms.

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Just got back, 9 walleyes and 4 perch. Lost quite a few at the hole including one pig. Fished near July bar all day in about 21-25 feet of water. Didn't mark alot but the ones that I did, were pretty aggressive. Red flyer and blue/silver rap did the trick today.

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  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders

Leech do you have that problem only on Mille Lacs with the camera? Reason I ask is because I used my camera today with no issue but all I could see and catch was jumbo perch. Also does any one know of a descent spot to get eyes going out from Lybacks? It seems I have a hard time getting to any out there, I usually only find perch and pike.

crappie, I am on my 4th cam and have used it all over the state and never pulled up a Walleye with it down? frown The days that really get me thinking are the ones that I am doing well and then put it down for a look-see and they stop! confused

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Coming up to the pond friday for the weekend and staying at Wilderness Warmth with a few others.

Is there any specific jig that is doing better than any others?

How about deadstick ho0oks and bait?

Thanks

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harvey lee -

Here are two links to lure topic threads from ML Lake Fishing. My experience (for what it's worth) this year has been once you find active eyes, the lure is not all that important. Hope this helps!

Lure Link

2nd Lure Thread

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