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

The season seems to be getting shorter every year up there. Im sure glad I got rid of my skid house several years ago.

I think its that global warming thing...lol

Buts it true I remember fishing over there and the guy Ifished with said usally by the 3rd week in dec we were driving to the flats. he owned a resort on the west side

and we use to pound them out there many yrs being one of the first ones out there Ofcourse back then we were snot nosing it no big wheel houses

and we could keep 6 fish one being over 20

AAAAHHHHHHHH the good ole days huh !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Made it out again for a little bit. Went out a little further today into 20 ish feet off Hawkbill and still pretty slow. Found ice up to 9 inches though. Would think that picture of the lake above in "darker blue" actually shows the areas with less snow cover, so north and east looks like the best ice outside of the southern bays. Forgot my tackle on shore and too lazy to walk back, so pre rigged tungsten and frostys were the hot bait today smile Only got one pike, more dink perch, and one slob in shallow. Out further was marking fish but not much doing. One in the upper teens and more small perch. From my two trips so far sure does not look like a forage shortage wink Lake is setting up, but still will be active for awhile, when temps warm up, some cracks will as well, be carefull! Here is a pic from the other day. There was a bazillion little perch below me and she grabs a crappie minnow, maybe the skinny fish are lazy as well or possibly not too smart grin

1223121219a-1.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Me and the GF are heading down to Appledoorns today to stay in a suite and I'm planning on going out in the morning Thursday and Friday any tips on what area the fish might be located??? I went out of red door last weekend and we set up in 20fow and didn't have much luck...Also if anyone is looking for a fishing partner either of those mornings let me know...Thanks for any tips..

Link to comment
Share on other sites

First off would ask Paul, he is a super nice and knowledgable guy about the lake. Other that that there is no real secret.....find and inside turn on a break or piece of structure, follow a point out, work a break shallower or deeper depending on time of day or cloud cover, might be tough to find right now but transition lines are good, weedlines or pockets.Maybe Roach or Hawthorne are banging them, but all in all a pretty slow start for me, and from what I gather, others as well; granted am fishing memories and either my memory is not so good, the fish are not there, or not active due to a whole host of variables such as forage, barometric pressure, cold fronts......and who knows what else.....it certainly is not fishing pressure. Have not made it out to any mid lake structure, and if you have safe access, would give that a shot, but really so not think that would have been the ticket the last week either. Kind of feels like a late Jan bite rigjt now and about the only thing you can do is drill a bunch of holes on some type of fishy area and keep moving till you find active fish.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks pushbutton...I was planning on drilling from 15ft out to about 21 all down the break line since,I'll be walking out...hopefully I'll have,a good report tomorrow

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Anybody been pulling sleepers out yet in the bays around garrison? They usually do by now with 4wheelers. lmk thanks

Link to comment
Share on other sites

How has the perch bite been up there lately? I've heard a lot of people are getting dinky sized ones in the bays but how about the main lake. Anybody get into any jumbos yet? I'm heading up today after work and will be headed out on the NE side of the lake. Wondering what depths and structure I should be looking at. Any information would be awesome!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Went out last afternoon around 2:30. Fished one of my favorite spots in 14 ft of water off just off a reef. Caught ZERO fish. I'll give it another try tonight, though. smile

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I was out the last couple days and found 11" everywhere we went. The mud worked the best for us in 28-34' of water. Nothing was on the flat they were off the edge. The morning and day bite was good the night bite really never happened. Most fish were over 25" and a couple at 27" but we still got close to our limit.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Good to hear you got them, Midwest. I was seriously considering heading out to the flats, but....that's a long walk. smile

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ya that would be a very long walk. I would try some edges of structure close to shore too. We fished some gravel on the east and did good closer to night.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

After Secret Spot #1 didn't pan out last night, I thought I'd hit up Secret Spot #2. Pulled the house out with a borrowed four-wheeler, returned the wheeler, and then walked ALL the way out there. Finally drilled holes around 2:00, had my first walleye on by 2:30, and ended up bringing seven through the ice. Lost two fish, too. After a skunk yesterday, I'd share some pics, but I forgot my phone in the fishhouse, so they'll have to wait 'til mornin.

All in all, a bit of redemption after a very dispiriting yesterday. smile

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Nice work carmike. Good to see the work pay off a bit. Here's hoping that secret spot #2 continues to pay off long enough until you can get your truck out there to move again smile

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well, I trudged my way back out there last night and caught a few more before going to bed at 2:30 a.m. or so. Caught one on the rattle reel at 5:30 and another at 6:30, so it was a short night.

After the fish at 6:30 this morning, I caught NOTHING all day. I did miss a couple, though, the last one being around 6:00 this evening. I don't know what happened to the fish, but I marked very, very few today....I hope they come back, or it'll be an even longer walk to Secret Spot #3. smile

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My Dad and Cousin were out off a flat friday in about 32ft got 8 fish all to big the smallest being 20in and the largest being 25in. From what it sounds like the mud is the way to go right now. A group of guys from work went out the day before Christmas off Garrison reef and ended up with 7 keepers out of 8 fish. Then again there was 4 of them out for 7 hours.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders

I would take a wheeler or sled because most of the guides on the lake are saying there is areas with less ice. I sure would suck to hit one of those spots. Better to be safe then sorry. Plus all the others driving to fast on the lake will weaken the ice.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well, after striking out on Saturday during "prime time," my dad joined me up here at about 6:00 p.m. or so. Got out to the fishhouse and had our best over-night fishing ever. Ended up catching 14 fish from about 6:30 until 3:30 a.m. (plus we missed three or five), when I got so sick of getting up (my dad, after catching one, refused to get out of bed) that I didn't put the lines back down. I did wake up at 6:30 to put another line down, and we then proceeded to catch fish from about 6:32 until 9:00 a.m. or so, when it was time to head in for some food. Biggest fish came in the middle of the night....I am looking a bit haggard by then. If I had held the fish out a bit farther, and had my dad take the pic looking up at me, it would've looked the superfat 27.5'' fish that it is.

full-18483-28309-fishy3.jpg

On Sunday we slept most of the day (well, I did). I woke up for "prime time" and got one fish. Picked up six more overnight, including one very hungry one that broke off one of our Gem-n-Eyes, turned around, and three seconds later hit the other one. The fish didn't have the bobber down for more than a few seconds both times.

full-18483-28310-fishy4.jpg

Good thing I didn't walk all the way out to Secret Spot #3. smile

Link to comment
Share on other sites

How deep we're ya in spot #2 carmike?

Sorry for not seeing this earlier....Secret Spot #2 is in a whoppin' 10 ft.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Another good night...but not as good as a few nights ago. A buddy came up, and we left Secret Spot #2 for a bit to do some exploring. Fished a spot that was completely devoid of fish; I don't know where the fish are during the prime time bite, but it hasn't been shallow. Lots of guys I've talked to have seen very, very few fish on the flashers. I'll be putzing around on the flats as soon as it's safe to do so.

Got back to Secret Spot #2 around dark, put down some set lines, and caught a double before we could even get our jackets off. Maybe we shouldn't have left?!? crazy

full-18483-28352-double.jpg

Caught another four or five overnight and one this morning before heading in for breakfast.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

After the big freeze last night and tonight, I have to believe that we can't be long from trucks and big houses. I called Macs on Friday and they weren't letting vehicles or bigger houses out yet (mine is a 10 x 20). I'm sure hoping to get out ASAP. Are any other resorts letting trucks out and pulling big permanents?

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 :)

    • Kettle
      Walked today and yesterday, flushed 9, shot at two and got two. Hopefully next year I'll have a dog to hunt with. Still warm up here, skim of ice on ponds. Weather has been nice. Hopefully walk a bit more the next few weeks. Been pretty cautious walking for birds to not interfere with deer hunters. There sure are not the deer hunters there used to be 
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the South Shore...  The focus for many this week is the ongoing deer hunting season which is a big tradition in these parts, even for avid walleye anglers.  There were some that either already harvested their deer or are more into catching fall walleyes than hunting.     Those that are fishing are taking advantage of the unseasonably warm weather and excellent walleye and sauger bite that is happening across the lake.  Cold weather is in the forecast in the upcoming days and weeks so that is also getting many excited. The best depths on the south end of LOW are 22-28 feet of water.     Vertical jigging with frozen emerald shiners is catching most of the walleyes, saugers and jumbo perch.  Depending upon where on the lake you are fishing, some slots and big trophies are in the mix as well, but most reports are talking about good numbers of eaters.    Jumbo perch are coming in good numbers this fall which will serve ice anglers well.  Watch out for an occasional pike or even lake sturgeon mixed in with the walleyes.      There are good numbers of walleyes and saugers across the south shore which is setting up nicely for early ice.   On the Rainy River...  There continues to be good numbers of shiners in the river, and consequently, there are good walleyes in the river as well.     Walleyes along with saugers, pike and some sturgeon are coming in up and down the river.  Most walleyes are being caught in 10-25 feet of water in various stretches of the river.   Jigging with live or frozen emerald shiners is the key. Some anglers are also still slow trolling crankbaits upstream to cover more ground and find fish. Both methods are producing solid results. Sturgeon fishing remains strong.  The catch-and-release sturgeon fishing is open into the spring when it changes to the "keep season" on April 24th. Up at the NW Angle...  As temps are getting colder, most are in the woods hunting and not fall fishing, however, for those who bundle up, fishing continues to be excellent.     A nice mixed bag with walleyes, saugers, perch, pike and crappies being caught. Very good muskie fishing with the colder water temps and shorter days.  Some big fish and some good numbers are being caught amongst the islands.  Both casting and trolling is getting it done.  
    • gimruis
      I hunt in the rifle zone so I don't have a need to use a shotgun to hunt deer, but I would be looking at this if there was ever a need to.   There could be state legislation introduced next summer that eliminates the shotgun zone completely.  It has bipartisan support.  Wisconsin removed theirs years ago and MN is usually later to follow.  They've tried to pass it more than once and it came up just short both times.  Probably just a matter of time.
    • Wanderer
      Oh, h e l l no! 
    • leech~~
      Screw that, here's whatch need!  😆   Power-Shok Rifled Slug 10 Gauge 766 Grain Grain Weight: 766 Shotshell Length: 3-1/2in / 89mm Muzzle Velocity: 1280
    • Wanderer
      20 ga has become a real popular deer round in the last 5 or so years.  The rifled barrels are zinging those sabot slugs with rifle like accuracy out to 100 yards easily.  Some go so far as dialing in for a 200 yard shot but really, by 150 they’re falling off pretty low.   I have a single shot Ultraslug in 20 ga that shoots really well at 100 yards.  Most everyone I know that has bought a slug gun lately has gotten the Savage 220 in 20ga.  Problem can be finding the shells you want.
    • leech~~
      My son always bugs me about getting a nice light over-under 20ga for grouse hunting.  I say Heck no, I'm getting a 3 1/2" 10ga so I can put as much lead in the air that I can!!     So, I'm keeping my 12ga.  
    • 11-87
      That’s almost exactly what I was thinking.  Have slug barrels for both   One for turkey and one for deer.      I have a 20ga mosseberg as well. (Combo came with the scope but never used.   I always liked the 12 better
    • leech~~
      Wanderer is right on the money and covered it well.  I was wondering too if you had a slug barrel for one of your guns?  If so you could make that your slug gun with a scope, and the other your turkey gun with the Red dot.  As you can afford it. 
    • Wanderer
      Kinda depends on if you want magnification or quick target acquisition.   More magnification options and better accuracy with a scope.  You get what you pay for too so get comfortable with a budget for one.  Tasco and Bushnell work but I find they lose their zero easier, have low contrast and don’t gather light well in low light conditions.  That said, I’m still using one I haven’t replaced yet.  Vortex has been the hot brand for the past several years for bang for the buck.  Good products.  Nothing beats Swarovski though.  Huge dough for those.  Burris is another decent option.   There are some specific models for shotgun/slug hunting in the economy brands and bullet drop compensation (BDC) reticles.  Based on experience I’d recommend not falling for that marketing ploy.   Red dots are usually lower magnification and easier to get on target.  Reasonably accurate but don’t do well with definition, like searching the brush for your target.  I put a HAWKE red dot on a .22 for squirrels and it’s been good.  For turkey, that’s probably the route I’d go.     If your slug shots are normally not too far and too brushy, I’d think a red dot could work there too if you’re only buying 1 scope.  You’ll be better off dimming the reticle to the lowest setting you can easily use to not over shine the target and get a finer aim point.   If you don’t have a slug barrel, you might appreciate one of those.  I had a browning with a smoothbore slug barrel that shot Brenneke 2-3/4 inch well.  The 11-87 would well fitted with a cantelever rifled barrel. 
×
×
  • 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.