opener

[muskiejoe]

I am heading up to the pond for my first opener on Mille Lacs. We will be arriving around 4:00-4:30 am. I have never done the opener thing and I am a little nervous. We are either going to the casino landing or the isle landing. Will there be parking? do you recommend one over the other? Does anyone have a rock pile they would recommend to fish in the south? We only can fish until 10:00 a.m.. Thanks for your help, Joe

[Ole #1]

I was wondering the same thing about the landing by the casino. How early do you need to get there? If I can't find a spot, do you think there will be room at Eddy's?

Thanks

Ole

[Guest]

10:59 PM Getting Dressed!
11:10 PM Waders On!
11:15 PM Car Packed
11:18 PM E.T.D.
11:48 PM E.T.A. @ Eddy's
12:00:01AM E.T.F.C.
12:00:09AM E.T.F.E.

Time of next post TO BE DETERMINED BY THE BITE!

[fishface5]

It's Rolands bay! Not the casino landing!

[Guest]

Well it wasn't Mille Laction, but it wasn't a skunking either. I popped an 18", missed one that was probably under the protected slot, and I think I missed another strike. I also got to see one or two what I'm guessing were pout (ML doesn't have Cats does it) and a muskie that went about 46 inches. Not bad for a night from shore when there was no wind to help my cause.

[muskiejoe]

two words bru-tal. Fished 4-10. One 18 inch fish and one bite. Saw only one other guy catch one the whole morning. We tried Hawkbill, Big Point, Spirit everywhere. What a disappointment.

[Long Gray Line]

From midnight to 4am, boated 5, missed several, kept 2. Cold, windy, lake was a'rockin. Everything came out of 8' and under on top of the rocks. They weren't shy when they hit tho!!

[vikes40for60]

The bite was pretty good on the North end! Couldnt get the old man up till 6 am on Saturday, he made breakfast, then we were on the water by 7.30. After launching went straight out to the first break, found 18 feet, put my rig in the water with a fat black jumbo leech, and 10 minutes later a PLUMP 25" Walleye! What a start to the year!

My dad and I fished until the Wild Game at 2 pm and we boated 15 walleyes, no keepers. Two 17.5", but most of our fish fell in the 20-23" range except the above mentioned fish and a couple more 24.5" pigs. The length of the snell was key, as long as you could handle (10-12' wasn't out of the question) red hooks, single red bead, and BLACK leeches. For some reason the brown and tiger colored leeches just didnt produce as well.

The depth range that worked well for us was 18-21 feet away from traffic and other boats. I saw a lot of boats fishing much shallower and closer to the first shoreline break than we were and am wondering were they as successful?

Either way it was a very pleasant opener for my dad and I. Next week on to Leech!!!!

[This message has been edited by vikes40for60 (edited 05-11-2003).]

[waterwolff]

Was also up for the opener got on the water about 5:30 am till 10:30 pm ended up with 11 in my boat 1 in the slot 2nd fish of the day was a monstrous 28" pig man was she fat hit a jig and shiner in 18' over the rocks all the fish we caught were thick talked to the dnr guy at access he says they are still gorging on last years perch hatch that are now are 3" in length have to agree with Vikes that the blacker the leech the better I had the best luck with a gamakatsu blue hook with a orange bead and 8' to 10' snell Vikes my buddies and myself will also be on leech this upcoming weekend will probably be holing up at stoney point campground.

[mrmillelacs]

my son and were very fortunate. we hit the lake at midnight friday and got 14 with 2 in the slot pulling cranks on the north end, in bed by 3 am. went out saturday around noon and nothing, so back in to eat supper (the 2 slots from the previous night) yum.. Then saturday night bobber fished after dark in 12 feet of water and caught 8 with 3 slots. home this morning (son had to work) i am going back tomorrow (on vacation next week) good luck to all

[Guest]

We had good fishing as well considering the weather. Wish I could fish next week. Sounds like some nice weather coming.

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

[smellzalilfishee]

fellas, did the fish seem alot chunkier than last spring??

[Guest]

No they did not seem to be that much fatter?

Derek J I see in your fishing report on your website you were using long snells. can you tell me what lenght you were using? thanks

[metrojoe]

We were fishing the rocks on the south end and caught 16 walleye. Only had 5 under 17" and the rest were between 18" and 23". We caught all five from about 9:30 to 11:00pm.
All and all a great day on the lake. At least the rain held off until we were pulling the boat out.

[bigeyes]

Figured it must have been a pretty tough bite, drove by 169 on the way home from fishing(Sunday) and counted only 8 boats the whole way, that was at 5:30 p.m. Of course the south end was empty, but I was surprised there were not more boats in the North end? For those who posted thanks for the info on what worked/didn't work.

[Guest]

Angler: We were using 9-10 foot snells with a yellow or red bead and a leech.

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

[Labby]

Fished out of the south end Friday night. 12 fish in my boat from midnight to 3 am on corks. A couple fish Saturday on some cranks after nothing else seemed to work. We boated a few more Saturday evening before hanging it up for a few beers and smart talk back at the camper. It should pick up with the warmer weather coming in. I commented on the fish being thinner than last fall.

[Benfishin]

Fished the Malmo area in the morning between 6:30 and 11:00. We caught 6, all between 18.5 and 21 inches, all real healthy looking. The bites we had all hit real hard. We missed our share,too. As soon as the wind quit so did the fish. After 8:00AM we did not see too many fish caught. Not like last year, but there are fish to be had.

[Guest]

I got out from shore again late Sun. early Mon. Had to do it before the night ban ya know. Caught 4 was able to keep 2 (14",17") missed at least 3 with a few more "maybe that was a hit". Not bad from shore. All casting husky jerks.

[Sifty]

Got out on the water at midnight and had a tougn time off it 1 fish 5 1/2 hours. No luck pulling cranks. Saturday was much of the same put 20 some miles on the boat trying different thing 1 fish 22 inches. Saturday night went to the the spot and caught 12 had one triple and put four in the box. Hear reports of a 31 caught. But for the most part hear 1 to 2 fish was pretty common. Sifty

[Finlander]

Fished the north sand and rocks on Mille Lacs.
Walleyes: 4 caught, 16 3/4", 18", 22" and 26".
Smallmouth Bass: 2 caught, 17", 21 3/4".
Rapalas: 1 caught, #7 Shallow Shad Rap, Chartruese color that I saw
floating in the water.
Started fishing at 4:00 am. Stopped at 12:00 noon.
Figured the smallmouth around 7 pounds. She was a football. Joneshat11 and I had these smallmouth on the same time. A double (smallmouths) while trolling for walleyes!
We thought we had tangled line until his line and my line went in different directions. I thought my 21 incher was a musky until it jumped. What a thrill it was to catch them!
It was a good time on the water for sure!!

[This message has been edited by Finlander (edited 05-12-2003).]

[jjr]

Trolling raps over rocks produced 3 non slot fish on Friday 12-3am. Then Sat night caught 9 with 5 keepers. I was happy with that ratio as I have heard worse reports. As shallow and slow as possible with Raps. Good luck!

[eye]

I didn't get to hit the big pond until yesterday (Sunday). Fished from 1pm to about 9pm. Caught 7 'eyes; 1 keeper that was thrown back and 6 all over 22", the biggest was 25 1/2". It was a little slower than last year, but fun just the same. The fish we saw were nice and chunky, very healthy! I'm already jonsin' to get back up there!!!

[This message has been edited by eye (edited 05-13-2003).]