mille lacs 2020 Mille Lacs Lake Fishing Reports

[srfishin15]

Out at 4 mile, 5 so far with one keeper at 16.5". Just curious, this afternoon from probably 1-5:00 there was a constant and I mean CONSTANT stream of vehicles from our northeast (towards 3 mile) headed straight towards what appeared to be the WSW side of yhe lake. Could not believe how many vehicles we saw throughout the afternoon. At about 4:30 there was a big backup and probably 40-50 vehicles were stoppe around a plow truck and a group of snowmobiles directly behind us in the middle Of the road all these vehicles had been using, then after about a 15 min delay the convoy of now probably closer to 60 vehicles and snomobiles drove another 300 yards or so before all coming to a stop again. I stepped outside and heard a mixture of laughing, cussing, honking, music, and yelling. After about 20 minutes they group started to move again. (Following the road towards the southwest side) and this was the last of the traffic. Can anyone explain or give me some info on what was going on?!

[buckpredator]

Its sounds to me they were people who were participating in one way or another in the Perch Extravaganza out of Hunters Point.

[Melon]

Stopped in at Hunters for a road pass and could barely get in the door around 6:30 last night. Set up on the west edge of three mile in 33'. Got a 25" on sucker, 19" and 13" on plain hook and small shiner. Just my father in-law and me out here still hoping for a couple today to end the season. A nice perch or two would fun too but I don't have my hopes up.

[jumbohog]

Fished Sherman's Thursday night one 26 and that was it till one perch in the morning went over to hunters Friday morning fished the boot flat and didn't get much sleep I think we got 6 eyes and one pout Friday night then after the perch ext we headed back to house and got another 6 in an hour 3 of which I caught within five min all between 22 and 24 that was fun so our season ended on a good note at least :-)

[srfishin15]

Ended up with 7 too big along two keepers and a nice perch out at 4 mile. And yes I figured it was from the perch extravaganza, thanks.

[Stick in Mud]

Like everyone else has said, we ended our season with a very solid bite.

It was a pretty amazing season on the ice....I haven't checked my journals yet, but I'm pretty sure this was our best year ever in terms of both size and numbers.

Plus, only 75 days 'til opener.

[srfishin15]

In 16 days of fishing in the permanent we ended up with 78 walleyes, 15 of which were keepers, biggest was 26.5" and one that was about 11" otherwise the rest were too big. Best year I've ever had.

[RiverChuckNorris]

Finished the season with a bang. Went up Friday evening through Sunday AM. Set up on the mud in a spot I fished last year and got 1 19" eye at 2:30 AM.

The next morning we went exploring and found fish about a mile north from our original set up spot. Ended up with 17 perch, 11 tulibee and 10 walleyes iced. Only 1 slot eye, rest ranged up to 24.5".

I have never caught such large perch. Nor have I ever seen such consistent quality. Our smallest perch was 9.5" and our largest just under 14" with the majority falling between 11.5"-13".

The eyes were all quite slim so not sure if it's time of year or something to be concerned about?

Couple pics for proof below

[iFishStu]

Nice fish RiverChuck! Planning on heading up for a day trip on Wednesday and would love to get into some nice perch like that. Sounds like you were more on the west side rather than the east side, any particular pattern to finding those jumbos other than a lot of hole drilling? Were they relating to the mud or off a ways in deeper water? Don't have to give up any specific loactions, but any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks.

[RiverChuckNorris]

We did go through 2.5 tanks of gas, so drilling a lot of holes was key. We also were out on the mud but stay deeper. If you don't find anything in 5 minutes, move.

[lispeej]

You should've entered the perch contest!

[RiverChuckNorris]

One of my buddies mentioned that. Anyone know how big the winner was?

[iFishStu]

Thanks for the info Chuck. Sounds like I will have my work cut out for me running and gunning. How was travel on the ice? I've got 4WD but will be out there alone so I can't afford to be too bold off-roading.

[RiverChuckNorris]

You should be fine. You can see the drifts/heaves to avoid. As long as you keep some speed up, you'll be ok.

I was pulling my 8x16 with my F150 and did manage to get stuck twice. One time we were able to back up, the other had to disconnect. My buddy with an F150 came up Saturday and had to go cross country to find us and did fine while my other buddy with a F350 was looking for the deepest drifts lol.

[monstermoose78]

Chuck the winning perch was 1.53 pounds

[little walleye]

we got stuck four times going to our fish house. good thing there was a bigger truck to pull us out.

[Pigmeat]

Anyone have a travel update since the last snow? Who is still plowing roads? I saw that Terry's was done for the season. Was hoping for a last hurrah chasing perch next week . . .

[RiverChuckNorris]

With an eye on the forecast, it looks like we're gonna give the old girl one more whirl on Saturday (9th). Call it Custard's last stand! Hopefully it doesn't rain.

Anyone else going out?

[Tullies]

I like to get out this weekend too but seems like they don't plow roads out to the flats anymore. I'm thinking Sunday but will see how the weather is.

[RiverChuckNorris]

I heard Lyback's might still be plowing but not sure about the flats. We're taking sleds as I think you're correct. Not even sure a 4 wheeler would do it after this last snowfall...

[RiverChuckNorris]

Well, 3 of us ventured out Saturday from the public launch in Garrison. The ride out was quite interesting with 1/4 mile vis and rain. We also had to make our way over a new(er) heave that was 5'-6'. We marked fish all day, but I think the weather had them on the uncooperative side. We ended up catching a tullibee, 2 jumbos and a fat 21" eye. We fished in rain, sleet, ice pellets and the largest snowflakes I've ever seen.

The entire day, we only saw two sleds from a distance and never even shared a flat with another angler. By the time we got back to the launch, I'd say it had snowed 6" and was still coming down. Thank goodness for waterproof ice-suits!

A real adventure and a flavor of ML I've never experienced. A great way to spend a day with a couple good friends and a great way to close out the ML season.

[The Grebe]

We went and stood in the rain, sleet and snow, half naked, for 15-20 minutes to do the Polar Plunge at Eddy's. Brrrrrr!

[Stick in Mud]

The first openwater report of the year!!!!

I made it "out" on Friday at midnight for about an hour....I tossed on the waders and putzed around. Didn't catch anything.

Yesterday evening was better. We picked up a couple of fish pulling shad raps on the top edge of the sand break on the north side of the lake. We trolled for a long ways with nothing, then found some weeds--dead or alive, I don't know. The fish were near the weeds. By the time we actually figured out the pattern, it was bed time. I also heard some guy talking on the radio about whackin' 'em down in the bays on the south end.

The natives are starting to get some fish, too, though it doesn't appear that lots of fish have yet moved into the real shallow water. We probably watched them get 25 or 30 fish last night in maybe 15 or 20 minutes.

Well, it definitely wasn't a traditional opener, but it sure was nice to get out and watch the rods bend. Let's hope the weather and wind this week open the lake up by next weekend.

[DREZLER]

Trolled crankbaits for 2 hours on the north end sunday afternoon. Didn't pick up any fish.

We saw the drifters catch a couple.

[greenbackslayer]

fished tuesday for a few hours on what seemed to be the only open water on the lake that was accessible. The public access right by the casino. Picked up two fish which wasnt too bad considering someone stole my buddies locator the night before.......should have brought my boat. Fishing not knowing the depth is not fun. Drifting with rainbows is how we caught both fish. One Fat 23 and a skinny 25

[Jeff13]

My buddy just filled me in on his trip yesterday. THey casted plasics in the weeds on the west side and got 35 fish. Nothing to eat, lots of big fish. They didn't trying any bobber fishing or rigging.

[SCONASOTAN]

sounds likes the bite we had last fall. everybody was bustin thier hump trolling all hours of the night and we were pitching jigs in the daylight. Man was that fun.

[Stick in Mud]

Bobber bite was fine tonight....nothing terrible, nothing great. Got seven (missed two) in two hours. I moved about nine times, and caught them everywhere from 5 to 24 feet. I could've had my limit in the first 30 minutes, but I didn't feel like cleaning any fish.

[Stick in Mud]

Another decent day and night on the Pond. Found fish pretty much everywhere this afternoon....got two trolling in 13, got a few pitching jigs and plastics, and got one bobber fishing.

The night bite was better. Got nine in two hours, but none the last 45 minutes. Pulled this double off of the edge of a northwest mud flat.

[bassfshin24]

Was out Friday evening and Saturday late morning. Ended up with 18 eyes between 3 of us. All fish were caught in less then 8ft of water. Only 1 fish in the slot, the rest were 21 to 27". I did catch my personal best at 27". A couple nice pike and 1 fat smallie mixed in made it a fun weekend.

27"