Opening day bait choice?

[Ole1855]

So let's hear what everyone plans on doing on opening day, I say opening day because I'm getting too old to go out at midnight.

Is the water going to be warm enough so leeches don't "Ball-up"?

I haven't fished ML on opener for many years, in fact I haven't fished opener for many years, for the last 15-18 years I've been going to Leech on Wed. after opener, that way the crowds are a little easier to deal with.

Does anyone ever use shiners on opener? Or if you're using minnows do you stay with fat heads and red tails?

Just looking for some ideas.

Ole

[Finlander]

Go with jumbo leeches! The biggest ones you can find. Medium and small are useless for sure as I found out on opener there years past when I bought a pound of supposedly
"Jumbo Leeches" to find out they were not!
And to top it off, people fishing the same drift area we were fishing were catching eyes like crazy while we sat in awe wondering what we were doing wrong!
No matter what the water temp, go with jumbo lecches!
Good Luck!!!!

[Guest]

Bait is for bluegill (and walleye fishermen). I'm throwing suspdending jerks and Countdown Raps.

[Guest]

if its too cold leeches will just make a big ball

[WallEYES]

I have had excellent success with shiner minnows (spottail,golden) if available, drifting 6-8 foot snells.

[Guest]

I like the spot-tails too but will likely drag leeches during the day.

------------------
Mille Lacs Guide Service
651-271-5459
www.millelacsguideservice.com

[bigeyes]

Ole, I would use leeches. Even last year with the low minnow forage, leeches easily out preformed minnows. This year they have all the minnows they want to look at, I would throw a leech.

[Fathead]

I typically start the day cranking and then switch over to LBRs. I usually have Shiners, Rainbows and leeches (large) in my boat. Typically leeches seem to always outperform, but there are occasions where a shiner or rainbow is the ticket. I like large leeches better than jumbo as well. I think jumbos on mille lacs are a little over rated if you ask me. Give me a 3" large over a 5" jumbo any day.

Derek, where do you pick up your spot tails from?

[Sifty]

OLE1855, come on are you really to old to go out at midnight? I will be out sitting in 7 feet of water on a nice rock pile. Sitting watching a bobber with a leech on the hook and a cigar in hand. Good luck to all and have a safe trip.

Take a kid with you. Sifty

[Scott Steil]

Sifty, you got the right idea!! Oh, leeches in my boat too!

------------------
Mille Lacs Guide Service
www.millelacsguideservice.com

[Ole1855]

Sifty,
Generally speaking the weather on opening weekend is less than desireable, I've spent too many opening nights either shivering in the cold or trying to keep the snow flakes from going down the back of my collar. I love to night fish but I like the temps to be 60+ and I'll bet you a beer that it won't be 60+ on opening night!!!!

When you are out on the water freezing on opening night, I'll raise my beer and say a toast for Sifty, just before I crawl into a nice warm bed. HA! HA!

Have fun, be safe in the darkness and leave a few for us fair weather fisherman.

Ole

[Sifty]

Ole1855, Please fell free to have a beer for me. I hope that you have a go opener! The fish will be there waiting for us. If you are on the northeast side and run acrossed a 1850 green sportfish with the fresh smell of a cigar trailing behind give a hollar it would be nice to meet up with some FMers. Good Luck To All Sifty

Take A Kid With You

[Ole1855]

Sifty,
I will be fishing on the SW side of the lake unless the wind gets nuts, then I will trailer up to the Malmo access and fish the NE sand, if I make it up there I'll look you up. Do you have a marine radio? If so what channel do you monitor?

Ole

[Guest]

I will be either in Garrison or fishing the sand on the north side. I will be using Jumbo Leeches. Drinkin a Bud.

[Long Gray Line]

On another forum the consensus was to use channel 69 for the FM'ers on the big pond on the opener. Talk to you then, I'll be in the 1850 Sportfish w/ the Yammy. Smell for the cigar and you'll know it's me!!! See you on 69 (well, you know what I mean...)

[Sifty]

OLE185 In the past we have used channel 18. The other boats that had gone with us in the past are not going this year. So we will must likely have it on scan. I think I will strat a forum on a channel that all fmers could use to check things out while on the lake. Good Luck

Take a kid with you

[Ole1855]

Yea, I seem to remember last year everyone talked about monitoring 69, see on the 10th.

Ole

[Eastwind]

Ole and Sifty,

Channel 69 is the channel that FMers have agreed to use.