Are you going elsewhere this spring because of the slots?

[Guest]

?

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MILLE LACS AREA GUIDE SERVICE
651-271-5459 http://fishingminnesota.com/millelacsguide/

[Guest]

I am going to hit Mille Lacs for one reason.
The Walleyes are large, and they should bite good, and I am up for some good action.

If I get a couple slots for dinner, then a nice bonus that will be.

PCG

[fishfearme]

I used to go every year, but I've givin up on the opener. Not because of the slot, because it is truely the amateur weekend. Memorial day weekend also counts as amateur days. I just can't deal with all those amateurs on the water at the same time. Plus it helps keep my blood presure down. I'll be headed out to Clearwater Sunday evening after all the amateurs have left the lake. Nice and peaceful and the fish bite better.

[This message has been edited by fishfearme (edited 03-23-2002).]

[Guest]

I have fished Mille Lacs from back in the 60's... right up until the slots. I fished it the first couple of years of the slots, and haven't been back since. In years past my father and I targeted Mille Lacs almost exclusively. I no longer fish it for many reasons, but I must admit,the haphazard way the slots are set is the main one. Yeah I know , you can call me a Meat Hog all you want, but I choose to practice catch and release on my own terms, not the "Sovern Nations" I'm not feedig a hoard of kids. No the family won't go hungery if I don't bring home a fish or three, but D*&it, if I want to take three twenty inchers for the table I figure thats my choice, and it's still a h^ll of a bit short of a couple hundred pounds pulled from a gill net. I know you guys love the lake and all, but to me, spending my time and money in the area, is just supporting all this foolishness.

The bottom line is... you vote with your Dollar. And dimes to doughnuts, the loudest bitc()ing you'll ever hear about the Mille Lacs situation.... will be around a freaking Black Jack table on a windy day.

You Don't Get Respect.... YOU EARN IT!

They (all encompassing) haven't earned mine.

[Guest]

FFM/ what about those 22 1/2 inch smallies memorial weekend?

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MILLE LACS AREA GUIDE SERVICE
651-271-5459 http://fishingminnesota.com/millelacsguide/

[fishfearme]

D-man, Well last season I got 2 over 22. This year I'm trying for 3 over 23. The big ones bite better in early july. I still prefer the week days anyway. Maybe the tuesday after memorial day. I'm fishing on Prior on sunday.

[This message has been edited by fishfearme (edited 03-24-2002).]

[SpikeRoberts]

D-Man,
Having only fished Mille Lacs three or four times in the last ten years, I will be heading up to Mille Lacs at least once this year and hopefully more in spite of (or maybe because of) the slot limit. I only have a small 12' boat but have been making arrangments to borrow a big water craft so I can take advantage of the great possibilities I've been hearing so much about. I can catch a dinner on many small lakes, I really look forward to the chance at catching several bigger fish on the same trip -- a chance not many other lakes in MN can offer.

[Fathead]

Hello Yall,

I am definetely targeting Mille Lacs for the opener and beyond. "Amateur" day is what one of the guys called opening day. This may be true, but there will be your so called "one-day-wonders" on all the Minnesota lakes this day. I don't think that you should let that deter you from enjoying a great fishery like Mille Lacs. There are 133,000 acres of water. Plenty of areas to co-exhist with the others trying to enjoy the opening day festivities. As far as the slot is concerned, I am a proponent of establishing one that is fair and equitable. I do think that the 2" slot is somewhat restrictive and should be changed to 3 fish in possession, 14" to 18" OR 2 in possession over 19".If this were implemented, the DNR could monitor this at the landings for the first few weeks of the season and modify accordingly. I am still a little concerned with the lakes lack of forage that I have been hearing about. I believe there could be trouble down the road if we allow too many big fish to roam the lake ravaging the remaining forage base. Look to lake Oahe as an example of this. I sure hope the DNR knows what they are doing.
This lake is BY FAR, the best fishery in Minnesota, if not the upper midwest. I remain in awe of the continuous improvement every year. I believe a large part of this is due to the slots that have been established the past decade. But I also think that being too restrictive can be detrimental as well. I am not a meat hunter, if I really was concerned with just the fillets, I would probably fish other lakes that have a good walleye counts. I want Mille Lacs to be a healthy fishery, with good numbers and a better than average shot at a trophy (30" or greater).

Fathead

[sawtooth2]

I'll be there. I just enjoy being on the water in the fresh air and as a bonus catching some fish regardless of size. Even as an "amateur" I caught plenty of fish on the Pond last year. If I happen to get a slot fish or two then that will be great.

[SuddenlySummer]

Yep.

First time in three years I'll go elsewere.

[perchpro]

I think slots make fishing more fun,......not!

[Guest]

I have 8 days off July1-8 and am considering a trip to Mille Lacs. I live in Milwaukee now and have not fished Mille Lacs in 15 years. From what I've been reading,it sounds like a good place to take the kids for steady action. Is early July still good fishing?. Any advise on where to stay would be appreciated.

[This message has been edited by Snook (edited 03-28-2002).]

[This message has been edited by Snook (edited 03-28-2002).]

[Fathead]

Hi Snook,

In early July, fishing should still be good. The past few years, fishing usually peaks around the 3rd to last week in June. However, Fishing continues to be steady until Mid to late July.

Many people have differing opinions on what presentations and locations are the best for early July but here is my two cents. For me, early July usually means that the gravel bars (on south end) have started to cool down a bit. You will still be able to catch numbers of fish in the various rock reefs surrounding the lake if there is a prevailing wind blowing in to them. I personally turn my attention to the mud flats. I usually will run BBs and spinners/crawlers, and sometimes step up to BBs/3ways and #7 or #9 minnowbaits (perch, minnow, or rainbow trout colors) run at 2 to 3 miles/hr on the edges and immediate surrounding basin areas. Of course as always, the fish will determine what they want. So it is important to check back in with this website and/or talk to your local baitshops or resort owners for advise at that time.

[GEO]

Yes, this will be my eighth consecutive opener on Mille Lacs. I love the possibility of catching numbers of large walleyes, and the big pond has quite a few big ones.

I am planning on fishing all over the state this season, I figure I should have enough meat - I really don't need that much. If I catch 50 walleyes over five pounds on Mille Lacs this year, I won't complain about having to release them.

If you want meat, there are many, many lakes and rivers with healthy populations of walleyes all over Minnesota, all that is required is a little homework and a little planning. However, if you like catching big ones, I don't know if there is a better lake in Minnesota. Good luck out there to all you fellow amatures, and don't forget to bring a camera!

[james_walleye]

Why would the slots make it less fun to fish?? Do you not have fun catching an insane amount of eyes over 20" on an outing?

The reason Lake Oahe had problems was something to do with the smelt being run through the dam during there runs...leaving a shortage in the lake. From my understanding...the shortage on perch that we are hearing about (even though the DNR says the perch numbers are still above average) is just a normal occurance in a fish population. Populations go through cycles and this is one of them.

I personally plan on fishing Mille Lacs more then ever this season. I love catching walleyes.....i love catching big walleyes even better...and when you can catch them like you can on the pond...it can't be beat. I'll never not fish a lake because im forced to throw fish back.

[Guest]

James,

Very well said. You don't need to keep fish to have fun. You just need to be fishin'. I, for one, will be spending alot of time on MilleLacs this year. Last year was the best year I have ever had there and with the current slot limits I think it will stay that way.

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Paul
[email protected]

[Ole1855]

I will continue to fish Mille Lacs, I have freinds that operate resorts and businesses in the area and I'm not going to turn my back on them. Besides, the fishing, at this point in time, is great. Last summer the girlfreind and I caught and released more Walleyes over 6#'s than we have in the last 5 years. I for one will boycot the casino and spend my $ in local businesses while continuing to fish the lake.

[Guest]

I will definately be avoiding Mille Lacs this spring, The lake is a great one, and I have really enjoyed fishing it in the past. But until the manner in which the lake is managed is brought into reality, I will seek out other lakes, that are more ecologically balanced, and support the nearby resorts, resturants, bait shops, and gas stations near these other areas. The lake is in trouble, and I don't feel the need to contribute to its decline... $0.02

[Guest]

I have never even considered fishing Mille Lacs Lake in all my 40 plus years of fishing in Minnesota, but I can’t wait to go this year.

Why?

Because of all the large walleye that are there.

Period.

There are so many, many lakes in this state where I can fill the boat with 14 to 16 inch walleye, but I don’t know of a single lake where I can go and (presumably) have a very good chance of having some of the very best walleye fishing in my life.

To make it even better, I don’t have to pay an arm and a leg to fly into some remote Canadian lake to do it!!

As others have pointed out, however, I am greatly afraid that all these large fish will eat themselves out of house and home.

After all, when Great, Great Grandpa came here in the late 1890s’, all the lakes were full of small, runty, stunted fish because of all the big ones having eaten up all the food.