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

Back to fishing reports... It was a fairly slow "opening" (ice free) weekend for us on Mille Lacs. Didn't get out much due to late arrival Friday night and weather conditions Saturday/Sunday morning.

2 of us caught 4 fish. Three of which made the 18-20inch cut and came home with us. The other was to big. Very few boats out fishing.... Be interesting to see how many people make it up this weekend with the new slot and slow bite.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think the slow bite you are talkingh about during opener is not a reflection on what the lake will be like for the rest of the year. There was barely any open water to fish and conditions couldnt have been worse. But I like probably many other fisherman who love Mille Lacs lake hope those people trying to fill there freezer stay away and continue to think the bite will be slow so stay at home or go somewhere else.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

greenback it must be kinda slow as a whole meaning I live in traffic to Mille Lacs city, since I moved here in 1996 I haven't seen this little boat/camper traffic heading to the big pond ever. It certainly could ramp up but wow it's been slow heading north on HWY 47, even 169 seemed a little slow on Friday night, very few boats being towed. Is it that ice out date, 2 fish limit, gas prices,harvest quota, weather or a combo of all of those things most likely. Really quiet like I'm unaware the season is open. Got a feeling plenty said kinda screw it till memorial weekend, we'll hit em hard then.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think the slow bite you are talkingh about during opener is not a reflection on what the lake will be like for the rest of the year. There was barely any open water to fish and conditions couldnt have been worse. But I like probably many other fisherman who love Mille Lacs lake hope those people trying to fill there freezer stay away and continue to think the bite will be slow so stay at home or go somewhere else.

I didn't consider the 11th opening weekend for Mille Lacs, as most of the lake was covered in ice. I was referring to the most recent weekend May 17th-19th.

PS: Telling people to stay away because they want some fish to eat isn't right. As long as they are within legal size and limits they are free to fill the freezer.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think we will start to see gas prices starting to play a role here as well. Its entirely possible that Mille Lacs gets MORE weekend traffic than before because those that would have gone much farther North may choose to stick closer due to the gas prices.

The lack of boats now is largely because of ice conditions over anything else I think.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It was definitely pretty empty up...I think on Friday night I counted three boats in the south Garrison access.

There were definitely a few boats in the "prime" areas, but nothing like previous years. I've never seen it this empty up there, and I hope for the resorts' sake that things pick up.

From what I've heard, the bite has actually been pretty good, especially if you get away from the traditional tactics, i.e. lindy rigging on the sand. Those pitching jigs with plastics and trolling are catching good numbers of fish....A friend of mine sent me 23 photos on Saturday night of different fish he caught.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It most definitely could be all of those things contributing to Mille Lacs not being fished. Gas, two fish limit, weather I think are most definitely why poeple arent fishing it right now. I dont think it is because of a slow bite or because numbers of walleye are down. People who know what they are doing are having great days with great numbers. But like I have been saying all along. Those people who wont come to Mille lacs because of a two fish limit will be missing out. Which is fine for me. Im not starving im just looking to have a bend in my rod and get some great pics. Good luck to all fisherman out there and stay safe.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Fished ML last saturday on the south end. 3 boats is all we saw. Public access was empty at 10:00am. Fished 6-8 ft of water where rocks transitioned to sand. Anchored with bobbers. We purchased both leeches and fats. Supprising, the fats out fished the leeches. The fish bit all day. Females were spawned out and the males full of milt. The fish ran from 18 to 25 inches. Tried trolling cranks on the edges but we thought the water was too cold for the fish chase the cranks. Fun trip from Mpls but expensive due to gas prices for boat&truck. ((Where is the Govenor on gas prices?? Why isn't he kicking some "big oil" fanny ?)). Bouys were not in yet. Best of luck to ya'll

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Anyone been up to Malmo Recently? Going to try that area tomorrow and wondering how it's going.

Thanks,

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Slow night on the Pond for the Carmike boat. Got five in 2.5 hours. No keepers.

Four fish caught on bobbers, one trolling. We only found fish deep around transition areas between rock and mud. It took us seven moves before we found some fish....all the areas we tried shallow weren't any good for us.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I saw three boats pull out of their livewells full limits of fish...and that was before 3 p.m. The fish are biting if you got the cash for shiners and are willing to drag them behind jigs. Or cast them and jig them back. Or aggressively jig back jig-n-plastics.

The bite tonight was very good...caught them everywhere between 12 and 14 ft deep, on both minnows and leeches. Let's hope the wind keeps up.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

A little role reversal for me this weekend! Im home with both kids while my wife is with her girlfreinds at a cabin on Mille Lacs! They fished yesterday evening and my wife had 3 Walleyes, a 19.5, a 20, and a 24. They were fishing slip bobbers in 10.5 feet, bait set half way down with leeches.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

went out of father Hennepin over the weekend, nobody bringing anything in around that area, DNR ops noted only time anyone brought anything in was at night, supposedly that bite is much better than morning (too cold?)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hit the north end sunday started with lindys shallow no luck. Then went over to a deep rock pile I had caught a few on before and anchored up in 23 feet off the pile a bit. I ended up catching 15 no keepers two 26", 17 3/4", 20 1/4" and the rest averaged 22". My buddy picked up four with two being keepers. Casting jigs as far out as possible and dragging them back and popping them off the bottom with minnows. All fish were caught from about 9am to 4pm. Super fun day definately my favorite way to catch walleyes.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Was out saturday and sunday on the south end of the lake. saturday Went out during the day fished for norhterns and bass in the shallow weeds. Got some nice pike nothing over 8lbs but still a fun afternoon also picked up 4 Largies and a pair of smallies (all released) In the evening stuck around the south end and hit a favorite rock pile, fished on the break about 13ft and picked up a few nice over fish nothing under 22. Sunday went out in the after noon and trolled over the weeds in whakon there still only about 1.5ft tall, no success. Went out again in the evening to the same rock pile ended up with 3 25in fish and a few smaller nothing to keep though. All the walleyes were caught bobbered up with either a red hook and a glow bead or with a small peacock colored jig head tipped with leaches.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Our weekend was pretty good...the key for us was using shiners on a jig, as they outfished plastics by a wide margin. The only problem is that, at $8/dozen, it's not the cheapest way to fish. We found them everywhere from 10 to 20 ft deep on either sand or rocks.

The night bite has been reasonably consistent as well, though we've noticed that, in shallow water, it pays to cast as far as possible from the boat. Got ten last night with two in the slot, though both were released. Sunday was a bit better, but we didn't do anywhere near as well as the launch, which got 85 in four hours.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Was up all weekend and fished a few times- a total of maybe 8 hours.

Caught about 15 total- 5 keepers.

Fatheads or shiners took all of our fish.

If you don't want to spend all of that money on shiners try and find jumbo fatheads- I am sure it is the profile and size that the fish are really looking at.

We got our fish bobber fishing and pitching jigs.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The fishing was good for us. We were able to keep 5, all in the 19"+ range. Lemme tell ya, the bag fills quick with these fillets. Biggest fish was a 27.5" hog, weighing almost 8 lbs. Landed it with a 12" eelpout half way down its throat. I bucked the system and ran leeches in the regular areas. A medium leech worked just fine. So, where is everybody? Not that I mind not having to work through the crowds, but with the bite this good?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Was up on Saturday, launched out of Cove Bay. Ran slip bobbers over the rock piles in 8-12 ft of water. Moved a bunch of times before we finally found fish and then it was game on! 20+ eyes boated for two guys, averaging 23 inches. Nothing for the box but a blast nonetheless. One word: MINNOWS!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

So, where is everybody? Not that I mind not having to work through the crowds, but with the bite this good?

Good question, and I've got no idea. I sure hope for the resorts' sake that things pick up; otherwise, it'll be a rough year for them.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The last two evenings have been a bit tougher than I'd like....last night, between three guys, we got three fish (missed five...embarrassingly). Tonight, fishing alone, I got five, but I moved probably ten times, and didn't catch more than one fish in each spot.

The daytime bite has tailed off for me, too. I'm catching some fish on the sand using leeches or shiners, but it's nothing like it was a few days ago. At least for me.

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.