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.

Any recent reports?


Ole #1

Recommended Posts

I plan to go up on Friday after work for the afternoon and evening bite regardless of what anybody thinks. I am pretty sure it will be fun because I love my boat and being in it on any lake. Any tips for a rookie to the South end?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 92
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

  • Ole #1

    10

  • half2fish

    8

  • Ole1855

    5

  • eyesontonka

    5

I don't expect fish to jump into my boat, but when you put in alot of time and effort into finding fish and trying to catch them and get very little in return it gets a little discouraging. Why are there so many guys that claim that they don't care if they catch fish, driving all the way to ML?

If you want to just float around in your boat, there are plenty of lakes in the cities; why waste your gas money. I'm sure that there are big fish taken here and there, but if you are a veteran of the lake you have to admit that the fishing is a little off, don't you think? And yes I am well aware of the cycles the lake goes through.

When I was a kid there were never the problems on the lake that you hear about now. Don't you think that on a world premeir fishery like this that you should get your 4 fish in the slot easily? I have read alot of posts and articles and talked to people who were on the lake this year and last year and were very dissapointed. But thats just my .02, if you have low expectations on your success you will prob. be very happy with your fishing trips on ML.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Creators

Blackmax,

I don't know how old you are but when I was a kid(I just turned 40 this year)there were several summers where the lake was refered to as the dead sea. It's always been that way as I talk to those who have fished the lake much longer than I have. Difference then was there wasn't a slot and everything you caught generally went on the stringer. So it seem a bit less slow than it is now.

That doesn't mean the lake won't turn on later. But fishing is a bit tough now. For the record I don't fish Mille Lacs much early(rarely before July 4th). The fishing on the lake close to me is just too good to waste the driving time to get up there.

Borch

Borch

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I don't think the special regulations make any difference at all!
The lake is too huge for special regulations to make any difference.
It's hard to fool mother nature, and after all said and done the lake will have it's cycles and there is no regulation that could make a dent to what mother nature is going to do!
The only benifit of regulations would have for Mille Lacs would be the limit of four with no size restictions so people could get there fish and go. Rather then sorting through 50 walleyes to keep 4 and wounding 46!
Remember the bite in the early 90's when the walleys jumped in the boat fried!
There were no special regulations then and the population remained healthy, so why have special regulations?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Borch

Your prob. right in the fact that the slower times on ML didn't seem so bad because when you did catch a eye you had the option of keeping it. Now if you get a fish you have a pretty good chance that it's going to have to go back. By the way I am 32 and I think the fishing was alot better years ago before all the slots were put in place.

We used to be able to go out and fish, and if we so decided we could keep some fish at our discression and eat some. I thought the slot limits were put in place to protect the fisheries. Now we have reduced harvest numbers and put slots on lakes to even further reduce harvest. I am apparently in the minority of fisherman who like to go fishing and like to keep fish to eat, not just go out and hopefully hook one fish and then release it and be happy the fishing is so good that I was able to catch A fish. I like many of you am fishing closer to home where the fishing is better with less restrictions also. For those fellow fishermen heading out to fish ML I say good luck, and good fishing.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Back to the original topic, any recent reports? Is the bite improving at all, or is the evening bite going well?

I like to get up there even if I don't do too well, so any recent reports would be great.

Thank you.

Ole

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have been invited to go out on a launch from 2 to 6 pm on Friday the 18th. Can anyone tell me what to expect from Terry's Boat Harbor launch service. I have put my boat in there before but that was quite some time ago.

Thanks,

Brian

Link to comment
Share on other sites

was out to the jug 1st thing yesterday am. it was windy and boat control was a challenge. Funny thing was, there was 6 other boats on the flat at 7:15 am and they all came from different directions. We were the only boats on the lake that we could see, anywhere. It must have been a hotspot the day before. (several boats were practicing for the tournament, I presume) Not one net came out for the 2 hours we stayed on the flat. Saw several "clouds" of bait with no bites. Decided to move north to a few different flats, looking for active fish. We found no active fish on or around 4 different flats, or shallow, mid lake rocks and gravel just out from garrison. Went into the harbour where Terry's is and marked a few but still no takers. 8 hours af fighting the wind and dragging leeches, minnows and crawlers, casting a shap rap every now and then, and still nothing.
The bite is truly a tough one! Nice thing about it is, they will bite eventually.
Timing of your trip is the key. I will continue to visit ML because of the fishing it can deliver.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks largemarge,

I'm just hoping to hear that the bite picks up some what.

Ole

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think that if you are going up to fish, Find them, then fish them with high confidence, but little expectation. Make sure you are on or near fish in the low light hours of the day. They will bite, eventually. Hey, maybe you can sharpen your golf game from noon to 5, then back at it in the eve.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

we have been having farily good luck on the south end in wahkon bay next to half moon island. 15-18 feet of water being the best. saw fish on the camrera and seem to be getting a few good bites a night. the eyes' are biting very light.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I say we all keep our limits of perch every time out. Eventually they will be thined out and the fishing will improve, no matter the size!
J/K smile.gif

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ole- The bite is slow, even the evning bite is slow, you can pick up a few on the gravel flates drifting lindy rigs in 14-19 feet.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Pikes point has been producing some fish in 8-10 feet of water and deeper out to 19. seguchie point has been decent in the evnings and out from rainbow island in 10-19 feet. I wouldent put too much time into the Mud flates right now, the water is still preaty cold and your chances of geting a slot fish out there right now is slim. I dont know what the deal is with people now fishing the flates so early, I think its because they have heard you can catch them out there early. I personally have never caught much out on the flates early, and they have never been slot fish. I think people get too caried away with fishing the flates early and deep water early, I just saw a walleye under my dock last weekend during the day. We caught 4 walleyes last tuesday bobberfishing pikes point in 9 feet of water during the day. My neihbor just caught a walleye of his dock last saturday and the guy 2 cabins down got 3. Dont forget to try shallow the fish are there.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The #1 predator for small perch is larger perch. The reason that the perch population exploded like it did is because the adult perch population had shrunk so much that after the spawn many of the fry survived due to lack of predators. Once these 1st few year classes grow to a decent size then they will keep the young of year population in check and the walleyes will be hungry again. So the worst thing you could do for the lake is kill off perch for no reason, it is all a natural cycle and it will return to balance again on its own.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

HighLife100,

why did the adult perch population shrink so much and when did this happen? Did it happen quickly or over a short period of time?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I believe there was a die off of perch in the spring of 2001 due to a disease, not positive though
My 2cents on this whole debate is
That's the challange this year that why a trophy is in the eye of the beholder. to me I am very happy to get a couple each time out and thrilled to get one over 25"
"that's why they call it fishing not catching"

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Was out yesterday (6/10). Six guys. Caught 22 and kept 10 (9 eaters and one for the wall). Also got one 36" Northern(released) Fished from 8-4PM with slip bobbers and leeches in 6ft over rocks.

The Spook

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Spook,
how big was the one for the wall? Where were you fishing out of?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The one for the wall was 29.5". It's the biggest walleye the guy had ever caught. We were fishing just out of Garrison.

The Spook

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I just got a call from a friend of mine asking where the heck I am, he said with the wind blowing the way it has for the last several days up there he wasn't able to get out. That changed this morning, from 6:30-7:30 this morning he boated 15, 4 of them were slots, he also said everyone around him were hammering the fish with quite a few of them being slots and also alot of big fish that had to back. Oh well, back to mowing the hay field I call my yard!!!

Ole

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ole #1,

If you go out on Wed. what area will you be in?? I will be up myself fishing the south east primarily. I plan to hit some gravel hotspots and then some rocks in the evening. I feel confident!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Three guys sat. 8am 10pm. We fished all over, mud, sand, rocks. Caught one 22" on the mud around 11 am. We tried live bait rigs, spinners, and cranks all day long. Finally around 6pm. we ancored in 15' about 1 mile north of spider island. Caught 6 eyes, slip bobber and leeches. Two slot fish and four above slot - Quite a few rock bass mixed in. Slow day but the evening was pretty fun.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Three guys sat. 8am 10pm. We fished all over, mud, sand, rocks. Caught one 22" on the mud around 11 am. We tried live bait rigs, spinners, and cranks all day long. Finally around 6pm. we ancored in 15' about 1 mile north of spider island. Caught 6 eyes, slip bobber and leeches. Two slot fish and four above slot - Quite a few rock bass mixed in. Slow day but the evening was pretty fun.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Three guys sat. 8am 10pm. We fished all over, mud, sand, rocks. Caught one 22" on the mud around 11 am. We tried live bait rigs, spinners, and cranks all day long. Finally around 6pm. we ancored in 15' about 1 mile north of spider island. Caught 6 eyes, slip bobber and leeches. Two slot fish and four above slot - Quite a few rock bass mixed in. Slow day but the evening was pretty fun.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Wow, sounds like they did pretty good. What side of the lake were they on? I was going to get out tonight, but I'm taking the wife to dinner and a movie. I might have a chance to get up there on Wednesday though.

Ole

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Mayfly,

I usually launch out of the casino landing, but I'm pretty open to any part of the lake.

I just want to catch some fish and it sounds like the early moring and evening are the best times. I'll probably try slip bobbers around indian or shermans point.

Ole

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Fished ML this weekend. Mike and I caught 17,19,20,22,24 and a 27. Leeches with colored hook, bobber or dragging. Mike caught a humungous smallie.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest
This topic is now closed to further replies.



  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • Brianf.
      I'm not there, so I can't tell exactly what's going on but it looks like a large area of open water developed in the last day with all of the heavy snow on the east side of wake em up Narrows. These two photos are from my Ring Camera facing north towards Niles Point.  You can see what happened with all of snow that fell in the last three days, though the open water could have been wind driven. Hard to say. .  
    • SkunkedAgain
      Black Bay had great ice before but a few spots near rockpiles where there were spots of open water. It looks like the weight of the snow has created a little lake in the middle of the bay.  
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the south end...   Thanks to some cold spring weather, ice fishing continues strong for those still ice fishing.  The bite remains very good.  Most resorts have pulled their fish houses off for the year, however, some still have fish houses out and others are allowing ATV and side by sides.  Check social media or call ahead to your favorite resort for specifics. Reports this week for walleyes and saugers remain excellent.   A nice mix of jumbo perch, pike, eelpout, and an occasional crappie, tullibee or sturgeon being reported by anglers. Jigging one line and using a live minnow on the second line is the way to go.  Green, glow red, pink and gold were good colors this week.     Monster pike are on a tear!  Good number of pike, some reaching over 45 inches long, being caught using tip ups with live suckers or dead bait such as smelt and herring in 8 - 14' of water.   As always, work through a resort or outfitter for ice road conditions.  Safety first always. Fish houses are allowed on the ice through March 31st, the walleye / sauger season goes through April 14th and the pike season never ends. On the Rainy River...  The river is opened up along the Nelson Park boat ramp in Birchdale, the Frontier boat ramp and Vidas boat ramp.  This past week, much of the open water skimmed over with the single digit overnight temps.   Areas of the river have popped open again and with temps getting warmer, things are shaping up for the last stretch through the rest of the spring season, which continues through April 14th.   Very good numbers of walleyes are in the river.  Reports this week, even with fewer anglers, have been good.  When temps warm up and the sun shines, things will fire up again.   Jigs with brightly colored plastics or jigs with a frozen emerald shiner have been the desired bait on the river.  Don't overlook slow trolling crankbaits upstream as well.   Good reports of sturgeon being caught on the river as well.  Sturgeon put the feed bag on in the spring.  The bite has been very good.  Most are using a sturgeon rig with a circle hook loaded with crawlers or crawlers / frozen emerald shiners. Up at the NW Angle...  Ice fishing is winding down up at the Angle.  Walleyes, saugers, and a number of various species in the mix again this week.  The bite is still very good with good numbers of fish.  The one two punch of jigging one line and deadsticking the second line is working well.   Check with Angle resorts on transport options from Young's Bay.  Call ahead for ice road guidelines.  
    • CigarGuy
      With the drifting, kind of hard to tell for sure, but I'm guessing about a foot and still lightly snowing. Cook end!
    • PSU
      How much snow did you get on Vermilion? 
    • Mike89
      lake here refroze too...  started opening again yesterday with the wet snow and wind...  very little ice left today...
    • Hookmaster
      A friend who has a cabin between Alex and Fergus said the lake he's on refroze. He texted me a pic from March 12th when it was open and one from 23rd when it wasn't. 🤯
    • SkunkedAgain
      I don't think that there has been any ice melt in the past few weeks on Vermilion. Things looked like a record and then Mother Nature swept in again.   I'll give my revised guess of April 21st
    • leech~~
      As I get older it's really not just about sending bullets down range.  Some of it's just the workmanship of the gun and the wow factor. The other two guns I have really wanted which I'll never have now because of their price, is a 8mm Jap Nambu and 9mm German Luger.   Just thought they always looked cool!  
    • jim curlee
      I had a guy hit me with a lightly used 1969 BAR, he wanted $1650 with an older Leupold scope. More than I think they are worth, I made an offer, he declined end of story.   You know if you look at the old brochures, a grade II BAR sold for $250 in the late 60s, $1650 would be a good return on your investment.    Why would anybody want a 50 year old gun, they are heavy, have wood stocks, and blued metal.  I guess mainly to keep their gun safes glued to the floor. lol   You can probably buy a stainless rifle that you never have to clean, with a synthetic stock you never have to refinish, is as light as a feather, and for half as much money, perfect.   I'm too old for a youth gun, although I've shrunk enough that it would probably fit. lol   No Ruger 10/44s.   Jim      
×
×
  • 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.