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Mille Lacs Lake Fishing Reports by Wilderness Warmth


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Posted

We drilled and staked our road all the way out to Spirit Island today. Ice thickness in the channel was between 10-11", from the channel to Kings Hump the average was between 11-12". From Kings to Spirit Island average ice thickness was 12" though we did have four holes that were 10". From the Beard/Horseshoe area we have to shave down 3-4 heaves to gain access with trucks to pull houses. At this point we recommend ATV traffic only (from the channel on) for a couple more days. Be safe and be smart.

Posted

hows the Ice today? can I drive a minivan out to Spirt?

Posted

We have roads staked and marked all the way to Spirit Island.  From just short of Kings Hump to Spirit Island we recommend ATV traffic only.  There are a couple of heaves that we have flooded and are waiting for them to firm up.  Ice thickness from Kings Hump to Spirit Island is 12-14".  Our road is open for vehicle traffic from the bay through the channel to our first three structures including the Beard, Horseshoe and Sunken Boat.  Ice thickness in these structures ranges from 12-14". We are hoping to open the road to Spirit Island within a couple days.

Fish report:  fishing in the bay has been excellent for northerns with numerous fish over 20 lbs.  Some individuals reported still catching walleyes in the bay. Perch actions is fast and steady with 1 out of 20 being a keeper.  The main lake walleye bite was good for house in the 21-23' range and houses in the 12-15' range all did well.  Some houses reporting over a dozen fish per night (can't tell you who ;D).

As always be smart and be safe.  Please drive 10 MPH or under as it is early ice and we will be stopping all vehicles driving faster. 

  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders
Posted

Is there a lot of busted up ice out around Spirit this year?

Posted

Our road is now open to Kings Hump and Spirit Island!! Average ice depths are 14" - 16".  The walleye bite has been good in 18'-20' of water and the northern bite is still hot in cove bay. 

Please keep your speed while driving out from 10-15 MPH, we ill be stopping all vehicles driving faster.  Be smart and be safe.

Posted

Updated ice report: road is fully open to Kings Hump and Spirit Island. On the average 15-17" of ice in these areas. We will be staking our road past Spirit Island hopefully by Sunday to our next structure and working our way out toward the mud. Fishing remains consistent in 18-20' of water with many reports of keeper limits and several fish over 29". 26-28' of water is also starting to pick up with mostly larger fish being caught. Cove Bay remains extremely hot for northerns with several over 20lbs being caught this week and a lot in the 32-37" range. Remember, be safe, be smart and DRIVE SLOW!

  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders
Posted
Is there a lot of busted up ice out around Spirit this year?
Since I was out there on Sat, I guess I will answer my own question. Yes, there is one He11 of a lot of busted up ice that is hard to get around. The whole right side of Spirit is unpassable. But, you can get out behind it on the left side. That's where I was all by myself with sled and porty until two resort trucks pulled up with a house and dropped it about 80 yards from me and I had to shag their two labs away with my ice scoop! But, it's a big lake and I moved! smirk
Posted

How's the road/ice after this warm up? Looking to come up this afternon and tomorrow. Wanted to get my boy on some pan fish during the day and hopefully a walleye or two at night...any suggestions on depth?

Posted

We will be staking our road in the morning past Spirit Island approximately 1 1/2 miles to the mud. This will open up all the structures to the north and the east of Spirit Island to vehicle traffic. We have two small cracks by Mazominee Point which are bridged but should be healed by the weekend. There are not any other cracks past Mazominee Point at this time.

Fishing report: Wednesday night through Saturday morning fishing was very good in 26-29' of water. The bite has slowed down in the 20-24' of water range. The last couple days with the cold weather has slowed the bite.

Remember be safe, be smart and drive slow.

Posted

Ice Report:  We have a consistent 18-20" of ice in most areas.  Our road is open to the mud past Spirit Island.

Fishing Report:  the 28'+ depth range has been hot as of the last 3 days.  The 24-26' depth range has been pretty steady and the 18-22' depth range has slowed.  The perch bite has been slow. 

Everyone seems to be doing well on large shiners.

Be safe, be smart and remember the speed limit on the lake is 10 MPH.

Posted

Ice report: We have 20"+ of ice in most areas. We do have a bridge to cross by Mazominee Point but after that there are no more bridges. We hope when temperatures rise to zero the cracks will heal and stabilize. Twenty below is not good weather for healing cracks (too cold too fast).

Fish Report: 18-20' on gravel over the weekend was good. 24-26' just off the rock over the weekend through Tuesday was very good. 28-31' in the mud was the best, the last five days has been very hot despite the weather conditions. Most all fish are being caught on rattle reels instead of jigging. Shiners seem to continue to be the ticket.

Be safe, be smart and drive slow. Cross the bridge at a CRAWL (slow, slow, slow)!!!!!! Faster is not better when crossing the bridge. 15MPH or less on the main road!!

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  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • monstermoose78
      Ok the ice was 15-16 inches and less than 2 inches of snow. It’s was -15 this morning and the weekend looks to be cold again. The fish were there but not biting with change in weather. 
    • Dash 1
      I guess the vikings are a lot like fishing.  Very entertaining but frustrating at times. I've probably been cheering the vikings for 50 plus years  that i can remember and once again it's all about (there's always next year).  
    • Dash 1
      I remember Jeno's boxed pizza years ago.  Mom made it every Saturday night while dad and I watched All Star Wrestling.  
    • smurfy
      Chef boyardee box pizza. Good stuff 
    • smurfy
    • leech~~
      Smurf, still trying to get his lure jigging down when using the camera!  🤭   https://www.facebook.com/reel/517510734635573
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the South Shore... Ice fishing is going great on the south shore of Lake of the Woods, with resorts and outfitters reporting thickening ice conditions with two feet of ice in some areas.  Many ice roads are now open to 1 ton vehicles pulling a wheelhouse.  Every road has different weight limits, check with each resort for details before traveling up and out on the ice.      Some good fishing this past week.  As a rule, fishing activity is happening in 28 - 32 feet of water.  Resorts do just about everything they can to get customers on fish and this past week, some resorts made some long runs, resetting fish houses in new areas miles off shore.  Most are reporting good fishing as a rule.     It is common to sort through some small walleyes and saugers to get your keepers on LOW.  Naturally, some big fish are showing up, especially in deeper water.  In addition, this has been a very good year for jumbo perch with good numbers being caught.  Other fish in the mix are eelpout (burbot), pike, tullibees and an occasional sturgeon.      Anglers are using the one-two punch of jigging in one hole and deadsticking the second hole. In the jigging hole, a jigging spoon tipped with a minnow head or tail in gold / pink, gold / glow red, glow white / pink, or Wonder Bread have worked well.     Especially in the deeper water, some anglers are finding success on rippin raps or using jigging spoons with a rattle as well.     On the deadstick, a small jig with a live minnow hooked behind the dorsal fin set 6 inches - a foot off of the bottom is working well.  One day the jigging line catches most of the fish, the other day a deadstick is hot.     Electronics are very helpful to see suspended fish, know when fish are coming through and adjust your presentation to the mood of each fish.  Most resorts, outfitters and bait shops in the area rent electronics by the day.   On the Rainy River... The Rainy River is still producing some nice walleyes and saugers, primarily in the mornings and evenings.  A jig and minnow working well.   Catch-and-release sturgeon fishing continues to be good for those targeting them.  An oversized hole, or three holes drilled together, with nightcrawlers or frozen emerald shiners on a sturgeon rig fished on the bottom are what anglers are using.     Ice conditions on the river can vary significantly due to the current. To stay safe and maximize success, always work with a local resort or outfitter familiar with river conditions.    Up at the NW Angle... Ice fishing continues to be very good up at the Northwest Angle. Resorts have fish houses set up on various pieces of structure as well as adjacent to structure in deep mud.  A consistent mix of walleyes, saugers, jumbo perch, pike and tullibees in the mix.     Shallow structure is best right away in the morning and as the sun starts going down in the late afternoon.  Mud is more of a slower bite but all day.   The ice road from Jerry's on the mainland (Angle Inlet, MN) to island resorts (as of this past week) was open to 1 ton vehicles.  Guests drive right to their island resort after picking up a road pass at Jerry's or Point North Services.  Venmo is also available at all resorts.  Work through your resort for specifics.   Ice fishing is in full swing across Lake of the Woods and there are openings for lodging, fish house rentals, sleeper fish house rentals and meal plans across the area.  Ice fishing is extended on LOW with fish houses allowed on the ice through March 31st, walleye / sauger season open through April 14th and a pike season that never closes.  
    • Brianf.
      From your fingertips to God's ears...  Finally got some snow!   Several inches of new snow fell before and during the weekend.  Sunday eve when we left, the high winds had already begun to create some drifting on the lake.  It was fun riding for sure.  Lots of folks on the lake this past weekend too.  We fueled up the sleds at Shamrock and saw as many people fishing in that area as I've ever seen in the Winter on Lake Vermilion.     Our weekend results were decent.  Jeff and I and a buddy caught probably 50 walleyes between the three of us, mostly fishing a jig/plastics with our three biggest being 24", 25", and 25.5".  We also got one large pike of unknown length.  During the midday on Sunday, we targeted whitefish and Jeff managed one big one.  We released all of our fish, except for three small walleyes that our buddy wanted to bring home for a meal.  Definitely a fun weekend on Lake V!   
    • leech~~
      The Vikings are the Vikings so it's nothing new.  It is kind of sad that Darnold's off season stock is now going to drop like a rock after these last two games. It kind of shows he's not a big game guy.  🤔
    • smurfy
      I'm blaming leech... his food selection has been lacking game days recently  🤣
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