Smallies on Mille Lacs...

[Matt Johnson]

I can just feel those bronze backs pulling the drag 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

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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

[beretta]

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

[Sliderfishn]

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 and you could fish out of the back of my boat sometime 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).]

[Rick]

Here's an early season Mille Lacs Smallie
(not this year)

Another:

McQuoids Guide Service

McQuoids Guide Service

[Matt Johnson]

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...

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...

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

[Matt Johnson]

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

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

[Rick]

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:

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

[Rick]

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

[BDR]

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.

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I'd rather be skunked than follow the crowd!

Brian Rogers

JR's Tackle
Catch-N Tackle and Bio Bait

[Matt Johnson]

bassin,
Sounds like a fun day on the water! Congrats!

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

[bassin]

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.

[Matt Johnson]

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).]

[bassin]

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.

[bassin]

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.

[Matt Johnson]

I never really got into the largemouth out on Mille Lacs, mostly just smallies. I caught a few smallies that looked like footballs though 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

[Matt Johnson]

Nice smallies bassin! Those would be great tourny fish thats for sure!

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

[bassin]

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.

[JiggingSpoon]

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

[bucketmouth64]

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?

[Rick]

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.

[bucketmouth64]

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?