mille lacs 2020 Mille Lacs Lake Fishing Reports

[TravP]

We picked up 30ish eyes last night trolling stickbaits on the rocks in 8 to 12ft of water. Mark got big fish of the night at 28". Many fish in that 21" to 23" range.

[ZEEK1223]

I'm heading up this week,for the first time. I hear a lot about fishing rocks at night. Can someone point me in the direction of some good rock piles, or rocky shore lines Im staying near eddies. I would like to make some spots during the daytime,so I can get my bearings......thanks.

[Wanderer]

Trav,

What time were you most productive? We were out last night from maybe 6 to Midnight. When it got dark everyone pulled up shallow and started trolling. We trolled for a while but only one boat picked up about a half dozen keepers. It didn't last long before people, including us, dropped anchor and bobber fished. We did fine doing that in 8-9 fow.

We were out of Appledorn's and the water was a little cloudy from the wind but the fish were there.

Zeek, if you don't have a map or gps - just look for all the boats.

[TravP]

We got fish from 8PM to 2AM. It was a steady bite, fish on every 10 or 15 minutes.

[Pat Burch]

Nice fish Trav, Mark told me you guys had a good bite going. I wish I would have been around to join in on it. Boy its tough this tim eof year to decide between hunting and fishnig. I will get out allot this week though and it should be great for the next couple of evenings.

[Stratosman]

A group of us went out friday, saturday and sunday evenings...friday was tough with the wind but we did okay, one boat had 8 in the box and the the other 3 had about 10 total..made for a great fry the next evening. Saturday was perfect and we all hammered fish. Bigger fish out in 6-10' and box fish in 3-5'. Last night was pretty good as well in 8-10', mostly in the 21-26" range. Most fish came on #8 or #10 husky's...colors varied from Tenn shad to clown. Good times once again!

[firefish_12]

Total rookie coming up Tuesday night

Couple of questions

When trolling shallow 8-12 fow are u using ur gas ir electric motor?

And number 2. What side if the lake is best was thinking the east side

Also if u see a 14 foot blue fin(should be easy to spot small boat big lake)

Say hello

Thanks

[TravP]

In that small of a boat I wouldn't be worried about the best side of the lake(their all good), but more about fishing the calm side. Most guys use gas motors as their moving around 2mph.

[firefish_12]

Thanks for the pointers trav p

What type of raps are you guys pulling??

Shad, husky jerks, original floaters?

[TravP]

Stickbaits. HJ's, Thundersticks etc.

[TravP]

Mark, Juan, and myself smacked the fish pretty good last night. Trolling HJ's, shad raps, thundersticks etc. put a bunch of fish in the boat. 8-12ft over the rocks with trolling speeds right around 2mph did the trick. Awesome weather for an October full moon on Mille Lacs.

[firefish_12]

Trav p thanks for help

We fished the east side A few rock reef with bobbers and then tried trolling HJ around did well for the first time trying and never been on the east side before

Biggest was a 23" kept 7 between 15-19". Fun night for sure. I think I'm hooked in this trolling thing--might have to buy a line counter reel

Are most guys using a line counter or just cast and hope u have enough line out

Sure was a beautiful night out plus in the dark my boat looks as big as everyone else. Lol

[TravP]

Good to see you got on some fish. Yes, were using linecounters.

[Big Jeff]

How much line are you counting out? I am having a hard time sleeping knowing our weekned trip is only a week away. If the weather is nice we may try Friday night or crash early and get up for the am bite.

[TravP]

90 to 200 ft depending on the crankbait. One of the best tools for trolling is the "Trollers Bible". It shows the depth curve for pretty much every crankbait you can buy.

[Borch]

Trav p thanks for help

We fished the east side A few rock reef with bobbers and then tried trolling HJ around did well for the first time trying and never been on the east side before

Biggest was a 23" kept 7 between 15-19". Fun night for sure. I think I'm hooked in this trolling thing--might have to buy a line counter reel

Are most guys using a line counter or just cast and hope u have enough line out

Sure was a beautiful night out plus in the dark my boat looks as big as everyone else. Lol

If you don't have a linecounter reel measure out the line and use a bobber stop to mark it. I like to put one at 100 and 150 ft for reference points.

[TravP]

Good point Borch. I all but forgot about that little trick.

[Northlander]

After having one I wont troll with out a line counter. You can get a good one pretty cheap and they can be invaluable out there. I mean being off by a few feet can cost you fish. I strongly suggest you get a decent linecounter if your going to troll every so often.

[TravP]

Most are off by a few feet or more, unless calibrated.

[Archerysniper]

The cabelas brand (depthmaster II) line counter reels on clearance for 19.99 each 15, 20 and 30 sizes (I think)in store only

I know they are not top end - but for 19.99 it's easy to add a couple to the arsenal.

This was posted by a member on 9/21 in the sales forum,not sure if their still on sale but worth checking out

[grizrunner]

I don't think they have any 20 or 30 left in Rogers, maybe had one or two of the small ones. That was a week ago.

[TravP]

Charles, Juan, and myself picked up another 30 or so last night. We pulled the inside, outside, and over the tops of the weedline in 6-10ft of water. 1.8-2.1mph got us our fish. SSR5's in firetiger was by far the hot crank. The water is finally cooling down and at 54 degrees it won't be long until the big females move in. I can't wait for next time!

[MrBig]

Nice job Travis! We got 16 Tuesday night but only 3 Saturday night on the south end. What side of the lake were you fishing?

[Big Jeff]

TravP you make it hard sitting in my office looking at all those pics day after day! Late OCt. is finally hear and we are heading up on Friday after work. What time are you fishing until? Our plans where just to make it up to my buddys uncles place on Friday night but with what I am seeing I feel we should try and fish Friday night as soon as we get there around 7:30-8pm.

[TravP]

Thanks guys, we've been fishing until around midnight, last week we were only out until 10:30 and we had 31 hit the net.

[Patronus]

Any chance anyone could get specific on where they have been catching fish? I'm fishing mille lacs for the first time this year after hearing so much about the late fall fishing for years, but so far I've only managed one 15" fish for two long nights of fishing. My family and I are staying at izatys until friday morning, so I've got a few more opportunities to get out, but I've also got my 4 year old out in the boat with me and I'd like him to actually see some excitement. due to the wind the last few days I've been going out of the Shah-Bush-Kung Bay landing on the southwest side of the lake, and trolling in 6-12 feet of water using mostly original floating raps and husky jerks in various colors. Any suggestions on locations or tactics would be greatly appreciated!

[northender]

Maybe try shallower? 3 to 5 ft. has been working.

[Burbslayer]

Youre on the right track Petronus, follow the weedlines tight. I was fishing the north and west side Thurs and Friday with alot of success. we boated around 40 fish all in the 6-8 ft range primarily on HJ's and shad raps. when the moon was out they seemed to prefer a brighter color but alot of fish caught on neutrals (black, silver, gold, white combo's) Make sure your lure is free of weeds and do alot of rod tip pumping, that seemed to trigger strikes

Good Luck

[Willy]

Any chance anyone could get specific on where they have been catching fish? I'm fishing mille lacs for the first time this year after hearing so much about the late fall fishing for years, but so far I've only managed one 15" fish for two long nights of fishing. My family and I are staying at izatys until friday morning, so I've got a few more opportunities to get out, but I've also got my 4 year old out in the boat with me and I'd like him to actually see some excitement. due to the wind the last few days I've been going out of the Shah-Bush-Kung Bay landing on the southwest side of the lake, and trolling in 6-12 feet of water using mostly original floating raps and husky jerks in various colors. Any suggestions on locations or tactics would be greatly appreciated!

If you are fishing the west side, go further north, or further south. Land at Terry's troll up to Pike's point. You will catch fish on that whole stretch. Also Then in Garrison bay from bout Mickey D's all the way to North Garrison landing. Then again near Myr mar and east over towards the Red Door. All these areas can and will have some fish. The north shoreline is littered with cabbage. Find a good patch of it and you will get fish.

If you go south, Anderson's, Rocky reef areas and Mazomonie pt are usually good. Also the shorelines in these areas can hold fish, find the littel bumps, etc , they usually congregate a few.

This night trolling deal is no secret and not hard. Get near the weeds with stickbaits, or bent lip shads, keep her around 1.4-2.2 and take a boat ride. You will get fish.

[Big Jeff]

where do you start when it is light out?