mille lacs 2020 Mille Lacs Lake Fishing Reports

[Stick in Mud]

Had another amazing night last night. Fishing solo I got 25 in the boat and probably lost 15 or more. Caught fish everywhere from 4 ft on flat raps to 17 feet on big shad raps.

Speed was key for me. The wind kicked up out of the west, which made it impossible for me to get a bite trolling into the wind--the fish did NOT like the surge from the boat flopping onto the waves (sometimes they seem to prefer that, but not last night). When I figured that out, I just trolled downwind with two anchors and the trolling motor down so I could keep the speed below 2.0.

Hot colors were clown when the moon was out and gold/black when it was behind the clouds.

[Stick in Mud]

Fished for two hours getting my butt kicked by the wind (where did that come from last night?). Got 8 fish, missed two. One on inside weedline, one on outside weedline, and the rest over scatted weeds and rock.

Headed in early because the boat was filling up with water and I couldn't get the bilge pump to work.

[stellarfisher]

hey carmike, sounds like you've had some good fishing. I am heading out tonight, probably be fishing from 6pm to 1am. Im headed to the north side, is that where you were at?

[Stick in Mud]

Generally, yes. I'll be somewhere between the casino access and Red Door. If the wind is at all bad out of the east, I'll probably head over to the east side. Rogues have been far and away the best bait for me, though I others are getting them on shad raps, too. Wherever I've found sparse weeds and rock, I've found fish, so that's where I'd go.

[Stick in Mud]

Was out last night for three hours with my dad....ended up catching seven fish, though we missed eight or nine. Very frustrating, actually...and I'm not all that sure what to do to fix the problem. The hooks are sharp, drag is set right, long and limber rod....fish just seem to be nipping at the back treble hook or trying to hit it with their heads or something (I did hook a few fish outside of their mouths).

I tried bigger lures, smaller lures, brighter lures, darker lures, lures with a tighter wobble, lures with a wobblier wobble, lures pulled at 1.0 mph, lures pulled at 2.0 mph, Husky Jerks, Rogues, thundersticks, rebel minnows, shad raps, flat raps, original floaters, and I even threw a few curse words at them. The only bites came on the rogues (once again) and around 1.6 mph.

Still, it was better than sitting inside watching stupid political TV commercials all night.

[Borch]

Was out last night for three hours with my dad....ended up catching seven fish, though we missed eight or nine. Very frustrating, actually...and I'm not all that sure what to do to fix the problem. The hooks are sharp, drag is set right, long and limber rod....fish just seem to be nipping at the back treble hook or trying to hit it with their heads or something (I did hook a few fish outside of their mouths).

I tried bigger lures, smaller lures, brighter lures, darker lures, lures with a tighter wobble, lures with a wobblier wobble, lures pulled at 1.0 mph, lures pulled at 2.0 mph, Husky Jerks, Rogues, thundersticks, rebel minnows, shad raps, flat raps, original floaters, and I even threw a few curse words at them. The only bites came on the rogues (once again) and around 1.6 mph.

Still, it was better than sitting inside watching stupid political TV commercials all night.

At times opening up the gap on the trebles will up your hook up rate. This especially helps when the fish a slapping the bait rather than biting it.

[CaptainMusky]

You need the SureSet hooks from VMC. They are amazing. It is tricky to find the right size though, but its size 6. Check them out.

Openning a hook a bit may help sometimes, but after switching out the back hook on 75% of my cranks to sureset hooks I have noticed a tremendous increase in hooking percentage.

You still miss fish, but not nearly as many. Miss fish vs lose fish. With traditional trebles I would have both, misses and lost fish.

You will probably have to buy them online OR stop in at the Reeds in Onamia as i have bought some there before.

Make sure the large hook is pointing upward when you put it on though.

[Stick in Mud]

Went out last night between 8 pm and 1 am. Fishing for me was pretty slow, though I did catch one sumo pike and 12 walleyes (including an elusive keeper!!).

Four of the walleyes came in the last thirty minutes, so before that flurry, it was eight fish in just under five hours.

The pattern that I found a few weeks ago now appears to be over. And for what it's worth, I didn't miss a single fish last night.

[Stick in Mud]

Went out for the last night of the year yesterday, and ended up putting a few fish in the boat. My dad and I were a bit disheartened to hear before we headed out that two boats had already come in without catching a single fish. Crazy that we are, we still headed out.

It took us a while to find the fish, but after we did we had a steady bite of a fish every 20-30 minutes or so. The east wind picked up and made it difficult to keep a consistent speed on the troll, and that seemed important, as we'd not catch fish if the boat was surging.

We ended up going in with 10 fish in four hours. Rattlin' Rogues were again the baits. Now it's time to get the ice fishing stuff ready to go.

[zanzibarro]

Tell ya what last two fishing expeditions of the year could not have been more different. I drove down 53S feeling like a hell of a fishermen after leaving Rainy early October. 3 28's in 3 days. Numerous in between. 15 inchers for lunch every day.

Leaving Mille Lacs however last Sunday I was a shell of a that proud fishermen. We only fished Saturday. But one fish all day. An 18 incher night trolling on a SSR. Fished all day at numerous depths. Worked 3-4 different rock reefs from 8 to 25 feet. Worked a sharp break/weed line by Malone Island for an hour. Eventually agreed with my buddy we were going to keep lines out of the water until we marked em. Spent an hour and half cruising reefs at 3.5 - 4.0 mph and saw zero fish. None. I looked at my buddy and said it's very possible we will continue driving until dark because there appear to be no fish in this lake.

Made me feel a little better that 2 other walleye boats had similar results. There were two unhappy boats at hunters point bar around 5:40 p.m., both comiserating about Mille lacs. These were not cold front conditions either.

Anyway no point to this really just an observation that I believe the article out of the strib a couple weeks back that Mille Lacs is down for walleye. Unless you're that Carmike dude that is.

[Moose-Hunter]

Went out for the last night of the year yesterday, and ended up putting a few fish in the boat. My dad and I were a bit disheartened to hear before we headed out that two boats had already come in without catching a single fish. Crazy that we are, we still headed out.

It took us a while to find the fish, but after we did we had a steady bite of a fish every 20-30 minutes or so. The east wind picked up and made it difficult to keep a consistent speed on the troll, and that seemed important, as we'd not catch fish if the boat was surging.

We ended up going in with 10 fish in four hours. Rattlin' Rogues were again the baits. Now it's time to get the ice fishing stuff ready to go.

I'm glad to hear the Rogues are still paying off!! I plan to get out as long as I don't need a coast guard cutter leading the way. Curious as to where you're launching and the conditions there... Water level, temp, dock... No specifics, just the usual. Shoot me a PM if you'd be so kind.

[Stick in Mud]

Unless you're that Carmike dude that is.

I'll take that as a compliment?!?

[Stick in Mud]

PM sent, Moose.

[Stick in Mud]

Had a VERY bad night last night...didn't fish for all that long, but after 2.5 hours with three missed fish and none to the boat, we figured it was time to head in. Worst night of the year by far.

[tecguy]

Thought I had a bad night Thursday, 2 fish in 5 hours, then loaded the boat west side by casino. Talked with a guy who had his side window busted in in on his truck and had some tools stolen. Turned out wasn't as bad as it could have been.

[RiverDewey]

I love trying new things - why not put a single hook on the back of the rogue? Or attaching a stinger hook? That might be similar to what you would see using a sure set hook. There's still time to try it out LOL.

[CaptainMusky]

Had a VERY bad night last night...didn't fish for all that long, but after 2.5 hours with three missed fish and none to the boat, we figured it was time to head in. Worst night of the year by far.

Sureset hooks!! Trust me, you will miss fewer fish. Size 6 for most cranks.

[Stick in Mud]

Sureset hooks!! Trust me, you will miss fewer fish. Size 6 for most cranks.

Fine, fine, fine....I'll buy some.

[CaptainMusky]

Fine, fine, fine....I'll buy some.

LOL I can be very persuasive.

swing by my house, I will give you a couple to try. They are hard to find.

[Stick in Mud]

Had another slow night last night...only got one fish in the net, and missed one, too. Whatever mojo I had working in September and October is now gone. I think I'm done until it ices up. Unless I change my mind around the upcoming full moon.

[Stick in Mud]

Tried PMing you, CptMusky, but you're inbox is full...

[Moose-Hunter]

Had another slow night last night...only got one fish in the net, and missed one, too. Whatever mojo I had working in September and October is now gone. I think I'm done until it ices up. Unless I change my mind around the upcoming full moon.

Wow... What a 180 from my experience! I was out Tuesday with my G.F. and Wednesday with my neighbor... We nailed'em!! In a cold water context, ya know. Over two days, we totaled 61 caught. 56 in the slot, 4 in the box and 1 very health 30.5" that was a bit over 10! All but 2 were returned to fight another day.

Tuesday we fished until dark. She was a bit chilly and bribed me with a good dinner. Wednesday my neighbor and I stayed out until 7:00 before going in due to his work schedule.

A GLORIOUS way to end the open water season on The Pond!! No you guys can have your ice!

Sorry I didn't get in touch. Was that you on the north side break?

[Stick in Mud]

I was out Tuesday night....another slow one. Only got one fish, missed one as well.

We didn't get out until well after dark. Must've missed a good day bite.

And we're done for good for the rest of the open water season. Put the gear away today, in fact. Bring on the ice!

[1960]

Are most of the small lakes frozen over? I want to get out spearing (preferably Bulldog) and just wondering how much ice there is for this coming weekend.

Any info wold be great.

Thanks

[Stick in Mud]

Looks like the south bays on the big lake are locked in this morning.

[1960]

Are any of the small lakes froze over?

Has anybody seen anyone out fishing?

[wally243]

yes

yes

[wally243]

yes

yes

[1960]

thanks which lakes

[BradHawthorne]

Are most of the small lakes frozen over? I want to get out spearing (preferably Bulldog) and just wondering how much ice there is for this coming weekend.

Any info wold be great.

Thanks

I checked a few local lakes a two days ago, most had 1-2 inches and some still had open water. Maybe by the weekend but it will be sketchy... if it's even posible.