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Smallies on Mille Lacs...


Matt Johnson

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I can just feel those bronze backs pulling the drag grin.gif We're not too far off. Thought it would be cool to start a page for Mille Lacs smallie pictures. Some piggies roaming the waters of Mille Lacs...anyone have any pictures from last year to get the blood flowing?

Good Fishin,
Matt Johnson

------------------
Matt Johnson Outdoors
Metro Area Ice Fishing, Team Catch-N, and more...

[email protected]
Iceleaders
Catch-N Tackle and Bio Bait
MarCum
Stone Legacy
JR's Tackle

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Is the water warm enough to have good fishing for smallies yet? Ive never fished them but really want to. Dont really know where to start though location...presentation...that kinda stuff. Not lookin for anyones hot spot or anything just some general info. I live by Mille Lacs but have spent all my time on the water chasing marble eyes. thanks

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beretta,
Just start at the buoys!!
As for tackle watermelon tubes, mepps spinners, huskyjerks and shallow cranks should get you started.
Maybe I could blindfold you shocked.gif and you could fish out of the back of my boat sometime smile.gif I go during the mid week, not as many boats then. Can you cast while blindfolded if not you better start practicing.

[This message has been edited by Sliderfishn (edited 05-28-2004).]

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  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Creators

Here's an early season Mille Lacs Smallie
(not this year)
rick-joe-mille-lacs-smallie.jpg

Another:
smallmouth.jpg

McQuoids Guide Service
bigfish3.jpg

McQuoids Guide Service
bigbass2.jpg

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Ring-n-Tubes in Watermelon Red and Smoke Purple are hot for Mille Lacs smallies. I like to pitch those in the shallows and bounce/twitch them back to the boat. These tubes give off a large profile in the water and can get a lot of reaction strikes, very effective for smallies in all bodies of water.

I also like to throw shallow running cranks. White seems to work pretty good, same with gold or clown colors. JR's Tackle makes a shallow running crank that I'm anxious to try this year for smallies called the Chub Minnow...

chubminnowcloseup.jpg

I've played around with these in the water the last couple days and they have a unique action that I think will drive smallies crazy!

Anyone fish with live bait on Mille Lacs for smallies?


Here's a Mille Lacs smallie...

MJsmallie.JPG


Good Fishin,
Matt Johnson

------------------
Matt Johnson Outdoors
Metro Area Ice Fishing, Team Catch-N, and more...

[email protected]
Iceleaders
Catch-N Tackle and Bio Bait
MarCum
Stone Legacy
JR's Tackle

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Wow Rick! Those smallies are beauties!!! Looks like you caught a happy fisherman in the first picture smile.gif

Good Fishin,
Matt Johnson

------------------
Matt Johnson Outdoors
Metro Area Ice Fishing, Team Catch-N, and more...

[email protected]
Iceleaders
Catch-N Tackle and Bio Bait
MarCum
Stone Legacy
JR's Tackle

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  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Creators

Matt those and Pumpkinchartreuse are very good colors.

Another little secret to use with the Ring-N Tubes from Catch-N Tackle is to use a Slo Poke jig when working the shallow (less than 6') rock reefs that extend into deep water. A lot of your bigger smallies hang on those spots just out of your sight.

Here's another Mille Lacs smallmouth bass with a happy youngster:
12.jpg

[This message has been edited by Rick (edited 05-28-2004).]

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  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Creators

That young angler in the 1st picture would be my son. He was having a tough time holding his bruiser smallie up.

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Wow! Those are some beauties Rick. That gets me going. If I didn't have a houseful of little ones this weekend I'd jump in the truck and have at em'. It be fun to have a few boats get together for some of that action.

------------------
I'd rather be skunked than follow the crowd!

Brian Rogers

JR's Tackle
Catch-N Tackle and Bio Bait

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Glad to see somebody respond. Its hard to keep these smallie conversations going. Either people arent fishing them or they are really tight lipped about them.

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Smallies are awesome! Those tough fighting bulldawgs are one of my favorites!

bassin,
You ever fish LOW for smallies?

Good Fishin,
Matt Johnson

------------------
Matt Johnson Outdoors
Metro Area Ice Fishing, Team Catch-N, and more...

[email protected]
Iceleaders
Catch-N Tackle and Bio Bait
MarCum
Stone Legacy
JR's Tackle

[This message has been edited by Matt Johnson (edited 06-02-2004).]

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Never fished LOW for smallies. Only been there ice fishing once. I love Mille Lacs though. I think I could give up fishing tournaments and just fish up there everyday and be a very happy man! The largemouth up there are unbelievable too! From 12" to 21" they all look like the ate a football. And it seems that the smallies bite better all year later in the day. So you can fish largemouth early, then smallies at mid day. Can't beat that action.

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Anybody fish smallies over opener? We were able to find one spot on Saturday that was somewhat out of the wind. Got a mixed bag of smallies and largemouth. 16 total. Biggest smallie was about 4 1/2, same for the largmouth. But the rest were well into the 3lb range. They were in 2-4ft with rock and weeds. We fished other areas but didnt get anything. Those areas seemed to have maybe too much rock for this time of year but its hard to tell as it was so windy and we couldnt fish those as well.

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I never really got into the largemouth out on Mille Lacs, mostly just smallies. I caught a few smallies that looked like footballs though grin.gif I'll have to try for the largemouth early in the day next time I'm up there.

Good Fishin,
Matt Johnson

------------------
Matt Johnson Outdoors
Metro Area Ice Fishing, Team Catch-N, and more...

[email protected]
Iceleaders
Catch-N Tackle and Bio Bait
MarCum
Stone Legacy
JR's Tackle

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Was up fishing for smallies again this weekend. Got (2) 21 inchers. They were all spawned out though and a little on the light side. Lots of other good fish as well. The largemouth were all over on beds, and they were huge. We caught a 12inch crappie off a bed. He was chashing away 2 very large dog fish. It was pretty funny. He was nipping at their tales and they were actually running away from him. The dog fish were at least 6lbs each.

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Headin up this weekend, and i cant wait to hit up them huge smallies, it has been a while, hopefully the weather holds out for me, i am pumped, even though i am supposed to be prefishing a walleye tourney on sat and fish it on sunday, i think i will just fish smallies all day saturday, and then think about the walleyes on sunday!!!

JS

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I've been wanting to take my son fishing on Mille Lacs for smallies. I've never fished it, but it sounds like the whole southern edge of the lake is the area to fish. Is this a good assumption? Could a person start on one end and work their way to the other (east to west or vice versa). I've also read that the area around McQuoids is the place to be. I also notice a lot of reeds on the SW side of the lake. Are these areas good for both species?

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  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Creators

The whole area from Big Point to Wahkon-Cove is excellant smallie area. That is all on the Southeast-South side of the lake. Look for rocks (big rocks) and gravel/sand areas.

The smallies in here are extremely nice. Go to http://McQuoids.com and Terry or some of his guides can really give you your money's worth in learning the spots quickly. Then you have the rest of your life to enjoy pursuing these bruisers.

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Thanks for the info. Rick. What about public landings? Where are they on that side of the lake, not as familiar with that side of the lake, would landing at McQuiods be better?

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  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • jparrucci
      Very low, probably 2 feet lower than last year at ice out.
    • mbeyer
      what do they look like this spring?
    • SkunkedAgain
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    • mbeyer
      MN DNR posted April 13 as Ice out date for Vermilion
    • Brianf.
      ^^^45 in the morning and 47 in the evening
    • CigarGuy
      👍. What was the water temp in Black Bay? Thanks....
    • Brianf.
      No, that wasn't me.  I drive a 621 Ranger. 
    • CigarGuy
      So, that was you in the camo lund? I'm bummed, I have to head back to the cities tomorrow for a few days, then back up for at least a few weeks. Got the dock in and fired up to get out chasing some crappies till opener!
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the south end...   Lots of ice on the main basin, but it is definitely deteriorating.  Some anglers have been fishing the open water at the mouth of the Rainy River in front of the Lighthouse Gap.  The rest of the basin is still iced over. Pike enthusiasts caught some big pike earlier last week tip up fishing in pre-spawn areas adjacent to traditional spawning areas.  8 - 14' of water using tip ups with live suckers or dead bait such as smelt and herring has been the ticket.  Ice fishing for all practical purposes is done for the year. The focus for the basin moving forward will be pike transitioning into back bays to spawn,  This is open water fishing and an opportunity available as the pike season is open year round on Lake of the Woods. 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. With both the ice fishing and spring fishing on the Rainy River being so good, many are looking forward to the MN Fishing Opener on Saturday, May 11th.  It should be epic. On the Rainy River...  An absolutely incredible week of walleye and sturgeon fishing on the Rain Rainy River.     Walleye anglers, as a rule, caught good numbers of fish and lots of big fish.  This spring was one for the books.   To follow that up, the sturgeon season is currently underway and although every day can be different, many boats have caught 30 - 40 sturgeon in a day!  We have heard of fish measuring into the low 70 inch range.  Lots in the 60 - 70 inch range as well.   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...  Open water is continuing to expand in areas with current.  The sight of open water simply is wetting the pallet of those eager for the MN Fishing Opener on May 11th.   A few locals were on the ice this week, targeting pike.  Some big slimers were iced along with some muskies as well.  If you like fishing for predators, LOW is healthy!  
    • Brianf.
      Early bird gets the worm some say...   I have it on good authority that this very special angler caught no walleyes or muskies and that any panfish caught were released unharmed.        
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