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.

What to expect?


Guest

Recommended Posts

I am going up to Mille Lacs in a rental this weekend. Should I expect the walleyes to be few and far between? How about big perch?
It seems like fishing has been pretty slow so far. I will make sure to bring other things to keep me busy. Anybody have any tips on how to be as successful as possible?
Thanks.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

swords
we have been up the last four weekends and have had some very good walleye fishing despite all the negative reports. I by no means claim to be a pro or anything but this is what has worked the best for us by far this year. We like using the medium size jig-a-whipper hawger spoons in the chartruse color. We always get them at lundeens but there are probably other places that sell them to. On the set lines the only thing we have been able to get them on are the Golden Shiners and a plain #6 hook. Ever since someone told me to use those golden shiners a few years back, it seemed to improve our catch on the set lines 10 fold. Jigging I would say has caught 4 out of every 5 walleyes this year for us and it seems as if they don't bite until you jig them 3-4 feet of the bottom. This got a little longer than I thought but hopefully this helps. by the way where are you going out of?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks for the info Rocky. I will definetly give those jig-a-whippers a shot as well as the golden shiners and plain hooks. There are 6 of us going up, we are going out of somewhere in garrison. I am not sure which one, a buddy booked it.
Are most of the rentals still in fairly shallow, or have they moved them out now?
Is the slot 14-17"?
Also is it true that you can't filet and eat what you catch out on the lake? I thought I read that in another thread.
Thanks,
Swords

Link to comment
Share on other sites

WE HAVE HAD SOME GOOD SUCCESS AVOIDING CROWDS AND AGRESSIVE JIGGING WITH LARGE 1/2 OZ. CASTMASTERS OR BUCKSHOT SPOONS TIPPED WITH A MINNOW HEAD OR TAIL, AND MOVING AROUND ALOT TILL WE MARK FISH, ON SUNNY DAYS I LIKE ANYTHING GOLD IN COLOR, ON OVERCAST DAYS I LIKE A PERCH COLOR WITH A SILVER BACK.
WE HAVE BEEN FISHING DEEPER ROCKS LIKE 27-29'

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Swords,
The slot is 14 inches to 16 inches that you can keep and 1 over 28 inches. The limit is 4. If the walleyes are a 1/4 inch on either side of the slot throw them back! I had a buddy get a $90 ticket for a 16 1/8 inch walleye at the Garrison access. It's not worth it to say close enough to the slot and keep them even if it does give you hard feelings. Good Luck....Mille Lacs is a tremendous fishery!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Whoops, my bad! Thanks for the info, and I'm gald I didn't get caught!! We did have a few perch in the pan and I thought if I had the carcus I was OK.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks for all the tips everyone! Does anyone know if they stop you from driving out with all the warm weather lately? I would assume not because I saw trucks out on Lake Minnetonka today and the ice is not as thick as Mille Lacs there. I will report back on Sunday when I get home as to how we did.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

As previously posted , the slot limit remains at 4 fish - 14" to 16" with 1 over 28" , until after the night ban ends on June 9th. Then the new slot goes into effect.
Another word to the wise. If your fish are even 1/64" out of the slot do not take a chance. It may cost you money.
Swords: you can't clean and eat fish on Mille Lacs.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You may eat fish not affected by a slot, but save the carcuses because they do count for your limit.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We were at Eddy's and caught 6 eye's. I was amazed at the size, they were 25.5 to 28 inches. We were in 28 ft. straight out from the Conoco/Subway. I was hoping to catch more, but I was pleased with the size. 2 were on shiners, and 4 on rainbow's. No perch or anything else.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Was on the big pond this weekend. Drove trucks and saw trucks being driven everywhere. Seemed to be about 18-20". It was so cold and windy. 10 below with wind gusts around 30-35mph.

Anyways. I caught two. A wee little eye and one about 17". Both on jigging spoons. The bigger eye came when my spoon was life less. I set my rod down to grub and watched a nice red mark hit mt spoon on the vex.

We were about 5 miles out on some gravel on the SE side. I think it was a gravel flat. Saw fish in everyhole, but they were lookers.

Best time was prime time. (dusk)

My buddy caught two 22" and one 20" that had cancer or something.

I love how we get away from the crowds and people drive over and mark the spot you just found. So we left and joined the crowds. If you can't beat them join them right?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest
This topic is now closed to further replies.


  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • mulefarm
      With the early ice out, how is the curlyleaf pondweed doing?
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the south end...   The big basin, otherwise known as Big Traverse Bay, is ice free.  Zippel Bay and Four Mile Bay are ice free as well.  Everything is shaping up nicely for the MN Fishing Opener on May 11th. With the walleye / sauger season currently closed, most anglers are targeting sturgeon and pike.  Some sturgeon anglers are fishing at the mouth of the Rainy River, but most sturgeon are targeted in Four Mile Bay or the Rainy River.  Hence, pike are the targeted species on the south shore and various bays currently.   Pike fishing this time of year is a unique opportunity, as LOW is border water with Canada, the pike season is open year round. The limit is 3 pike per day with one being able to be more than 40 inches. All fish 30 - 40 inches must be released. Back bays hold pike as they go through the various stages of the spawn.  Deadbait under a bobber, spinners, spoons and shallow diving crankbaits are all viable options.   Four Mile Bay, Bostic Bay and Zippel Bay are all small water and boats of various sizes work well. On the Rainy River...  Great news this week as we learned sturgeon will not be placed on the endangered species list by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.     The organization had to make a decision by June 30 and listing sturgeon could have ended sturgeon fishing.  Thankfully, after looking at the many success stories across the nation, including LOW and the Rainy River, sturgeon fishing and successful sturgeon management continues.   A good week sturgeon fishing on the Rainy River.  Speaking to some sturgeon aficionados, fishing will actually get even better as water temps rise.     Four Mile Bay at the mouth of the Rainy River near the Wheeler's Point Boat Ramp is still producing good numbers of fish, as are various holes along the 42 miles of navigable Rainy River from the mouth to Birchdale.   The sturgeon season continues through May 15th and resumes again July 1st.   Oct 1 - April 23, Catch and Release April 24 - May 7, Harvest Season May 8 - May 15, Catch and Release May 16 - June 30, Sturgeon Fishing Closed July 1 - Sep 30, Harvest Season If you fish during the sturgeon harvest season and you want to keep a sturgeon, you must purchase a sturgeon tag for $5 prior to fishing.    One sturgeon per calendar year (45 - 50" inclusive, or over 75"). Most sturgeon anglers are either a glob of crawlers or a combo of crawlers and frozen emerald shiners on a sturgeon rig, which is an 18" leader with a 4/0 circle hook combined with a no roll sinker.  Local bait shops have all of the gear and bait. Up at the NW Angle...  A few spots with rotten ice, but as a rule, most of the Angle is showing off open water.  In these parts, most are looking ahead to the MN Fishing Opener.  Based on late ice fishing success, it should be a good one.  
    • leech~~
      Nice fish. I moved to the Sartell area last summer and just thought it was windy like this everyday up here? 🤭
    • Rick G
      Crazy windy again today.... This is has been the norm this spring. Between the wind and the cold fronts, fishing has been more challenging for me than most years.  Panfish have been moving in and out of the shallows quite a bit. One day they are up in the slop, the next they are out relating to cabbage or the newly sprouting lilly pads.  Today eye guy and I found them in 4-5 ft of water, hanging close to any tree branches that happened to be laying in the water.  Bigger fish were liking a 1/32 head and a Bobby Garland baby shad.   Highlight of the day way this healthy 15incher
    • monstermoose78
    • monstermoose78
      As I typed that here came a hen.  IMG_7032.mov   IMG_7032.mov
    • monstermoose78
      So far this morning nothing but non turkeys. 
    • monstermoose78
      Well yesterday I got a little excited and let a turkey get to close and I hit the blind!!
    • smurfy
      good......you?? living the dream..in my basement playing internet thug right now!!!!!! 🤣 working on getting the boat ready.......bought a new cheatmaster locator for the boat so working on that.   waiting for warmer weather to start my garden!!!
    • monstermoose78
      How is everyone doing? Holy moly it’s chilly this morning I stayed in bed and will hunt later today when it warms up.
×
×
  • 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.