16 ft boat on Mille Lacs????

[icepike 1]

Planning on fishing Mille Lacs for the first time with a 16 foot boat 25 horse Johnson. Little hesitant don't exactly want to sink the boat   have a buddy that's fish Mille Lacs quite often he wants to be up there early tomorrow morning. He's saying the wind should be around 11 miles an hour and with a drift sock we will be just fine. Anybody have any Insight on that would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance. Oh and almost forgot to mention the boat seems a little heavy on the front end that's the main reason I am slightly concerned about it. 

[ZachD]

I would look at the wind direction and choose what side of the lake you are fishing from that.

 

16 foot deep V should be fine there was a time when that is what everyone had out there

 

If you can handle the boat well I don't see a problem. I am sure there will be some that disagree with me but I personally don't see a problem.

 

Yes a bigger boat will be nicer and handle better and you may be able to fish better with more control.  But I don't see you sinking the boat.

[Kettle]

I've fished weekly since opener in my 14 foot with a 15 hp motor.  I am meticulous with my outboard so I trust it.  Like Zach says fish the calm side.  Winds out of the northwest tomorrow so fish the northwest side.  On a calm day with a good forecast (winds less than 6mph) I will even venture out to some of the flats that are within a mile and a half off shore.  There was a day two weeks ago winds out of the east at 8 mph, I fished the east side all the way from the northern sand to Big point.  Its doable, be cautious still, wear a life jacket and your motor tether.

 

Kettle   

[icepike 1]

Thanks for the replies. Will be heading out there early morning tomorrow out of the West.  this will be my first time but my buddies put a lot hours out they're in the past. Thanks again for the replies 

[maxpower117]

The drift sock is a must if you ever have motor issues. It will keep your bow pointed into the wind and prevent your boat from getting swamped in big waves. 

 

Simply hook your sock to the front tow eye in case of an emergency. 

 

I agree with with what others have said. You'll know when it's too rough. Just don't be a tough guy. 

[ZachD]

How did you do?

[icepike 1]

Good pretty good. Went out from the northwest side I think Garrison. Made our way to eight mile was able to go full-throttle the majority of the way but when the waves got too big has lower down. My buddy went looking for a drift sock but couldn't find one so we used a five-gallon bucket which work fairly well glad we had at least that. Well we are drifting it was perfectly fine but a pain in the butt trying to motor back up through the big waves. Then after some time sitting out there I had enough of sitting on those big waves and told my buddy that we needed to get closer to shore. The right back was very slow going and wet. Started to get a little concerned when my bilge pump stopped working and the back of my boat started to fill up especially when I was finally able to give it more throttle man the back of the boat was full of water but we made it back I got a new bilge pump and everything was all good quite the experience but I'll be back there again with my boat. And good thing we had back when we did there was barely any gas left in the tank.