Is the bass fishery declining?

[Bass Thumb]

I've just been fishing Mille Lacs regularly for bass for two seasons, and the fishing is really hit and miss, boom or bust. You either find them, or you don't. For instance, I caught 50 a week ago and yesterday caught just three over 12" in 8 hours.

A very credible and experienced fishing buddy of mine who's been fishing the lake regularly for years believe the peak is a few years behind us and the lake's population of smallmouth bass are in decline.

What are your thoughts on this? Is he right?

[fish_hunt_guy]

The rain dirtied up the water last week and messed things up for a bit. The bass are doing just fine overall.

[maxpower117]

There's always a decline after a peak. 

[Bandersnatch]

There is always a Fish Sage out there, ready to tell you that You Should Have Been Here Five Years Ago.

Typically, those are the very same folks that fish the same GPS coordinates every time that they are on the lake. 

 

[fishnowworknever]

You can't expect to slay fish every time you go out, if you caught 50 2 weeks ago I'd say the population is just fine and this last trip you went fishing on a "down day".  Maybe the weather, maybe the presentation, maybe the location were all wrong this last time you went out, that's why it's called fishing and not catching.

 

 

Edited July 19, 2016 by fishnowworknever

[Juan Grande]

The smallie population on Mille Lacs is very strong with lots of year classes present.  Smallies are just very fickle fish and can be here today and gone tomorrow.  You really have to be ready to adapt each time out because locations and baits that produce fish change daily based on weather, wind, water clarity, temp, time of season and available forage.  

[Sculpin]

Mille Lacs will host the Bassmaster Angler of the year Championship Sept. 15-18th. Bassmaster rates Mille Lacs one of the top 10 bass lakes in the country.

I expect if you want to see some impressive bags of fish brought to the scales you may want to spend a day at Mille Lacs during the tournament and check it out.

There is also a new organization at Mille Lacs known as the "Mille Lacs Smallmouth Alliance", that is working hard to restrict harvest, educate the public, and enhance and protect the fishery.

Check it out. !

[Bass Thumb]

Thanks for the responses, guys! Keep them coming.