mille lacs 2020 Mille Lacs Lake Fishing Reports

[jerry91]

Heading back up on Friday. Should be a good time.

[TProGuy]

Thanks, Will. I know the Rocky reef website mentioned they had something like 4or 5 inches a few days ago, but with all of these reports of the lake re-opening, I am wondering if this has impacted the RR area. I had been hoping to head up there on Thursday...

[Dragon Fish ll]

were u out on the south west side in a blue portable with no one else around and mayby had a dog or someone visit with a dog on sunday.

[Dragon Fish ll]

The Rocky Reef area is real scetchy right now. I went up on friday evening and called rocky reef resort on the way up then called rockman while sitting in his lot looking at the mess out there to ask advise. He said he was out that morning and had 6 and a half inches out as far as he went which means the big crack out there. theres a huge break out there that im going to guess abot 20 feet wide or more, it was froze on friday but not crossable. its not anymore its open wat as of sunday Just north of rockys resort about where the marker buoys are in the summer opened up like a little lake yesterday the break or crack runs right ino it and out of it, its open water. Ive been there from friday evening till yesterday afternoon running around checking it out and talking to the dnr , watching truck after truck stop and check it out and deciding not to go out. I finnaly went out when I felt the inner cracks were safe enough to get over made it out to about 13 and a half feet where there was a 2 inch crack with open water between what I call the river out there. the open spot out there looks like a river running thru the white ice. Starts at the top of cove bay and angles out to indian point out past eddys or the casino. It was scary to see out close to where i was fishing monday night opened up so much over night. Missed a few because of the big hook on the little flyer i was trying out and caught for walleye when i switched to a pink white glow angel eye with a minnow head. no perch there but tons of those little buggers in the bays. HEADS UP THE BUDGET HOTEL IS AT A GOOD PRICE RIGHT NOW, 50 BUCKS A NIGHT OWNER WAS PACKING HIS U HAUL UP AND HEADING TO CHICAGO. BANK TOOK OVER AND SENT SOMEONE TO RUN IT. I HAD THE HOTEL ALL TO MYSELF FRIDAY TILL YESTERDAY. Bring spud bar and stay shallow for now 10 to 13 feet I had 6 to 7 and a half out infront of the hotel But use lots of caution if U go out there for a little while.

[Will]

Yikes, I'm stayin away for a while

[TProGuy]

Sounds like I may have to wait until some time next week before venturing out there...assuming that we finally get some cold weather, anyways.

Thanks for the info!

[timmy2time]

hey guys my dad and i are taking our first trip to mille lacs january 2 just wondering if you guys can give me any bait tips ( types of jigs and live bait ) thanks for any help

good luck and be safe !!!!!!!!!!

[jerry91]

hey iceboy. we did alright. we were on the south east side near isle.

[FLAG!!]

Buddy and I were thinking of heading up tomorrow for a day of chasing some walleyes. Don't know much about the SE side, always launched/fished the NW 7/9 mile flats.

Do we have a shot at some eyes or would you guys recommend waiting few weeks so we can get out to the flats?

I wouldn't expect more than a straggler eye or two in the bay (maybe I'm wrong?.. how far can one safely venture out and not flirt with the big crack? Popes/Gull Reef?

Thanks for any incite guys.

[mwal]

With the way the Ice is shifting around I would not go period. Watch the news they are rescuing people on Mille Lacs. Is a fish worth risking your life. Come on people pick a smaller lake or wait until it is completely froze over.

Remember you are also putting the lives of your rescuers at risk. Is it worth it?

Mwal

[FLAG!!]

Aren't all the rescues occurring up near Garrison, north of The Big Crack?

I wouldn't even consider going out of there but thought the SE side was solid..?

[RiverChuckNorris]

AMEN!

[maxpower17]

Did those guys out there catch anything??? Hope they saved the fish too!!!

[chris63]

One Rescue was around Sloppy Joes too so as far as that goes the whole Main lake is suspect to opening up depending on the wind speed/direction.Stay close to shore line breaks and don't cross any ridges until the main lake locks up with sub-zero temps.You don't want to be the next guy/gal "in the news"Merry Christmas to all and don't fall in!c63

[jerry91]

I was out again today didn't do quite as good as I was but still had fun. Caught 5 keeper perch and a14 inch walleye and a 25 1/4 inch eye and a 32 inch northern. Fished from 2:00 until 6:30.

[strait-meat]

out in Isle this morning--slower than I hoped for was out from 9-230. caught 2 northern 25 and 28in and a bunch of small perch. Had nice weather. Ice in that bay was close to 12 inches. Saw a car drive on the ice too.

[Buck_Hunter04]

Fished the south end today. Windy is the word. Oh yeah, and kept lots of perch. Nothing huge 11" being the biggest. 9 fow was the ticket for me. Walleyes moved in at sundown and disappeared as fast as they arrived.

[montowibo]

Fished the SE end Saturday and Sunday afternoon and Monday all day. I did well in 21-26 FOW, caught numerous perch ranging from 8 1/2" - 13" and did not have to sort much due to upsizing my jigs. Red, Gold or clear (glass jigs) were the ticket with either a fast or slow presentation, depending on how aggressive the fish were. When the fish were finicky, I played the keep-away trick and sometimes brought the perch upwards of 6-7 ft. off bottom before they hit.... Think fleeing baitfish going up, but never down. The bait-tipped preference was minnow heads over waxies.

[Stick in Mud]

Good to hear someone made it out AND back in without having to call the rescuers!

[Jarrid Houston]

Just got 2 texts from my buds on teh SE side of teh lake some nice walter 1 25" and another over 26".. on tip ups Im sure...

[Jarrid Houston]

or jig raps with minnow heads..

[Fishman11]

Reserved a house with some buddies in Feb. out of Mcquoids. Any suggestions on where to hit the tullies and eyes from that area? Tips from regulars on the pond would be helpful. Thanks!

[pushbutton]

For the tulliees take Macs main road out to Hennepin and the gravel flats and take a left towards the tullibee hole a little after the island. This is Lybacks territory and there will not be an official road, but usually you can get there. As for the eyeballs, they are pretty much scattered by that time,although this year without all the pressure they still might be out on the gravel. If not get out off the break during the day in deeper water and closer or on at night.

[schr0563]

Three of us walked out on the south side on Wednesday (Brandts). We were on the lake from 7:30 until 3:30. Tried 12 ft out to 24 ft. Had a single 18.5 walter and a whole bunch of small perch (only 2 over 9 inches). Drilled over 80 holes, but a lack of mobility kept us from finding the quality fish (most holes had small aggressive perch in them). We also had to leave about the time it should have started to get good.

[jumbohog]

Its sad what id give for a few 13 inch perch right now if I only had a air boat to go the mud

[broman]

Are people still driving ATVs out of the Garrison public access? What's the ice thickness?

[Judd]

Are they pulling houses anywhere yet?

[jerry91]

heading back up on saturday with BIG DONNY.

[ThndrDkl]

I am planning a trip out there early February as well getting a sleeper from phils myr mar reasonably priced and recommended. I will bring my portable too any suggestions on areas to check or when to fish for some eyes? Also the regs have changed so much lately, what are they now?

[luv2rapala]

fished out of Garrison last night (Thursday)from 3-7pm

6-8 inches as you get away from shore towards the transition. A few ATVs out there but the they are stopping short of the transition and walking the last 100-200 ft. Open water was only a few hundred yards away and the ice was really loud in the sunlight but much less noisy after dark. Almost all the fisherman left shortly after dark. Fishing was BAD for us last night not bump and we jigged everything and used dead sticks and tip up.