Can someone help a tackle dummy?

[bikeoutback]

I'm heading to Mille Lacs tomorrow and for the first time going to try and catch Walleye. I've only ever fished panfish and Northern before so I'm not sure what I'm doing. Being better on computers than I am on the lake I've been googling and reading every report, guide service tid bit, and forum posting I can find on Mille Lacs. I've got a map with all the flats, pits, and structure and coordinates from a collegue. I'm completely lost on tackle. I'm going to stop at GM tonight and Reed's and probably Johnson's portside on the way up but can anyone help me on some simple basics to pick up? I want to pick up a Macho Minnow on a tip I read but beyond that not sure what I'm doing, I fish crappie and sunfish jigs before is about it and spinners and occasional rapala on open water so really am a newb when it comes to this tackle. Even the terms seem to be lost on me at times. Thanks for any help you can offer.

p.s. a HSOforum that has information on terms, types of tackle and such could help also.

[Jim Almquist]

Take a look at this thread for some good ideas on what tackle to try.

What to take into consideration when Walleye fishing

[bikeoutback]

I changed the title, sorry didn't know the word I used was poor word usage.

[eyebjim]

Get macho minnows in 1/12 oz in all gold, pearch and glow green colors. Those have worked best for me. use a minnow head on one of the treble hooks.

If you have a sonar unit it will help a lot as it is easier to catch them if you can see how they react to what you are doing. You can rent a sonar from several places on the lake.

[buckhunter21]

I like to use spoons if I am jigging really any kind will work but I usually use 1/8 oz Buckshots or Swedish Pimple with just the head of a fathead on the hook. If they seem to be really picky then switch to a smaller size. Like posted above some kind of flasher can make a huge difference in how many fish you catch and you can usually find places that rent them out for under 25 bucks a day but if you dont feel like spending the extra $$ then its not necessary just nice to have. If your not catching any jigging then try a dead stick or rattle reel with just a plain hook or something similar with a fathead or shiner and just leave it sit. Ive had days where a rattle reel that i dont jig will out fish my jigging line 5 to 1.

[bikeoutback]

Got my FL20 and buddy bringing his FL8 so 2 flashers for 4 people should be good to get us started this weekend.

[d.frazier]

Hey all..I just got back 2 hours ago from a 4 day and 4 night sleeper/wheelhouse rental out of Hunter Winfields..Bite was really slow it was sad actually..I threw everything at them spoons,genz bugs,rattling flyers,frostee's,forage minnows and plain hooks etc..If i got them to bite it was only on gold forage minnows,plain red or white hooks and a green glo forage minnow with treble hook and tipped with a minnow head..I used my fl-8 all the time and aqua view during the day..Saw alot of perch on cam and marked fish on vexilar throughout the day but they just didnt want to bite..I caught a 25 1/2 inch eye an 18" and a 15" and a couple 10"aswell but that was it in 4 days,really cold out there...I did mange to get 5 jumbos two of them were 13" so that was nice the others were 9-10"...I went out by hennepin island on a gravel hump about 29 feet of water...Wouldnt you figure a guy next to me got a 28" eye lastnight...

[harvey lee]

I have had very good luck over the years with a Rattlin Varmit tipped with a minnow head from JB Lures.

http://www.outdoorprostore.com/

[DTro]

bikeoutback, I know money is tight these days so understand that when I suggest this, but...

One day out on the ice with a guy like Tony Roach or one of other several other great guides on the lake is priceless in a situation like yours.

Most good guides will spend time not only showing you spots to fish, but more importantly instructing you what baits to use and when, not to mention explaining the whole spectrum of ice fishing terminology.

[herefish101]

Gold and perch colors as mentioned above have always worked best for me. My favorite this year so far is the buckshot rattle spoon.

[bikeoutback]

dtro, It was Tony Roach's podcast on the conditions on Mille Lacs that directed me to the Macho Minnow, perch colors, and gold colors. I've also read an article on how they fish and finding them, it's impressive article and very very systematical. A day with a guide is probalby not in the budget this year (not even sure what that cost) but maybe next year. I picked up some lures based on what I read here and other places and tried on Mille Lacs this past weekend. Didn't catch a single fish but had a blast. Sounds of it bite was pretty slow all weekend till Sunday morning and we didn't get out Sunday morning due to Saturday night's activities. Still a fun weekend and now have to find a lake in the metro to try Walleye fishing just to keep trying.

[bikeoutback]

Side note: We are going back to Mille Lacs in late February for Perch Extravaganza and due to the # of guys going rented two 6 man sleepers out of Hunter's. Be my first time ever staying on the lake itself so I'll have another shot of trying out this stuff and a new thing to try: rattle reels. I think I've caught far far less fish this year ice fishing and had twice the fun and still have trip to Mille Lacs and 2 trips to northern WI left.