Mille Lacs Report

[NickMcD63]

Taking a trip up to the big lake this weekend. Praying for some good weather, but also that the smallies aren't deep into the spawn!

We will be fishing around the Isle/Wahkon area...Any tips are appreciated as I usually only make the trip up there for walleye.

[bassfshin24]

I was out on the lake for a couple hours on Sunday. Water temp is in the low to mid 60's and a lot of fish were on their beds. I didn't really see any big ones though. I feel like they were just starting to move up so you might be there right in the middle or end of spawn. I did see some bigger females roaming around in deeper water but no takers. I probably ended up with 10-15 smallies though. Most of the fish I caught on a jerkbait.

[TurnUpTheFishing]

Fished Saturday, similar water temps. We tried lots of different spots and caught at least a few almost everywhere. Caught most our fish in 6-8' but they were "small" 15-16" fish some of the bigger fish came out deeper (12-14' on dropshots and texas rigs. We caught them best with jerkbaits, one snap and a long pause, watch the line many hit on the pause or were just there when you went to work the bait again. If you worked it too fast they would just follow back to the boat. Also caught 3 walleyes 24-27" up shallow on 'em.

There was a really big midge fly hatch when we were there and you could actually see the smallies eating the flies off the water surface. That probably didnt help the bite. We never got one over 18" which was odd.

[Craigums]

There was a really big midge fly hatch when we were there and you could actually see the smallies eating the flies off the water surface.

Did you try any topwater baits? any luck?

[NickMcD63]

Thanks guys! I already have a pointer all tied up and ready to go.

What are the key "tells" that I should concenrate on when picking my spots?

[RK]

Did you try any topwater baits? any luck?

I was wondering the same thing. One of the lakes I fish for smallies has a huge mayfly hatch - the great big ones - and when it's going on the smallies go after them pretty hard. Two best ways to catch them seem to be swimming a small smoke or black grub 2-3 feet down, or prop baits. Bomb the prop bait out as far as you can fling it, then give it a long, pretty sharp rip. Let it sit, twitch it for a few feet, then rip it again.

[bassfshin24]

I did try top water for a little bit but nothing was happening. I didnt stick with it too long.

Nick I would look for the rock/sand transition. This has been key for me all year long up there. Also look for big boulders. It seems liked everytime I saw a big boulder there were fish on it. The water is crystal clear on the lake right now so you will probably be doing a lot of sight fishing. Enjoy and let us know how it goes.

[rmkod]

I was out there last Sunday as well. We caught most on tubes and senko's wacky rigged. We saw a lot of fish in 4-6 feet of water where the rock and sand meets as bassfishin24 said. I think I saw you there bassfishin24. I was in a blue Ranger with a white Shorthair. I think we may have put in right after you.

[bassfshin24]

Yup that was me. Man it was a nice morning to be on ther water. I was hoping they would bite a little better then they did though.

[rmkod]

Yeah..I agree. We saw a lot, but not a lot wanted to bite.

[TurnUpTheFishing]

Did you try any topwater baits? any luck?

Tried a size 5 skitter pop, nothing. Also tried a fluke and the jerkbait without success. I think they were just so keyed in on those bugs they ignored the lures.

[Meyer8043]

On sat. When it was calm all I could catch them on was a chug bug. They would boil on the surface going after bugs, cast and hold on cause they hit it immediately. I caught 15 on a chug bug in a 75 yard stretch in about 2 hours. I did catch a few on tubes along with a couple bonus walleyes. All the fish were around the same size 17 to 18".

[beeflover]

good thread guys, I'm getting the itch for mille lacs myself. I've never been into numbers of smallmouth in many trips. If the wind is less than 20 I'll be out there this weekend too.

Come on momma just 1 over 5 lbs, 4.5 is my best so far.

Gotta little clear spook jr I've been havin fun with and I'm do to score.

Good luck fishin this weekend fellas, see ya on the water

Me little white and red NITRO

[NickMcD63]

good thread guys, I'm getting the itch for mille lacs myself. I've never been into numbers of smallmouth in many trips. If the wind is less than 20 I'll be out there this weekend too.

Come on momma just 1 over 5 lbs, 4.5 is my best so far.

Gotta little clear spook jr I've been havin fun with and I'm do to score.

Good luck fishin this weekend fellas, see ya on the water

Me little white and red NITRO

Hopefully see you up there! I have the red/white Stratos 295 pro xl if we run into each other.

[NickMcD63]

Did anyone else have a tough time finding them? Or is it the fact that I'm a newb at fishing Mille Lacs?

Ended up with a few towards the end of our time on Saturday in a bout 10 ft. of water, but it was a VERY subtle drop shot bite. I got nothing on a reaction bait at all. Did see a few gaurding bed, but no takers.

All of my fishing was done near the Father Hennepin area.

[hydrashack]

Anymore updates from the pond? My dad is up from OK this weekend and debating on heading up.....

[Meat-Run]

I was down on Indian point last Wednesday evening and we got skunked, don't know whats going on but we even tried the deep rocks where the charters fish and still no takers. Moved shallow where they spawn and only found monster Rock Bass, ended up finding a point and bobber fished for walleyes. I think the smallies are in a transition right now, give them another week and they should be easier to pattern.

Good luck,

MR

[hydrashack]

Thanks for the update. Don't feel like driving two hours and getting it handed to us.

[Cubbie]

I’m very much a novice at bass fishing, but I tried it for a couple of hours on Friday when the walleye bite slowed. Got 3 in 10’ of water with the biggest going just over 20”. Missed a few more. All were caught on paddletails.

[Juan Grande]

They're probably post spawn right now. You get that awkward period between early season when they're feeding up and mid to late season when they're feeding on crayfish on the bottom.

[RK]

They're probably post spawn right now. You get that awkward period between early season when they're feeding up and mid to late season when they're feeding on crayfish on the bottom.

Nobody does the post-spawn funk like smallies. Very mobile both vertically and horizontally, very very moody. A spot can be devoid of life all day, have smallies crawling all over it like ants for an hour, then empty out again in a flash. It can be really boom or bust, with a lot of bust. Doesn't last long, but a real challenge while it's a factor.

[Juan Grande]

Yep, smallie=fickle

You want to have a back up plan to your back up plan when you take a day trip up there. Instead of beating my head against the wall trying to figure them out, I usually head for the weeds to fish largies/pike or walleye fish (if I'm really desperate).

[Cecil]

Have to move around! They may be in post spawn in one area, but they are spawning or even pre-spawn elsewhere. Mille Lacs isn't your typical lake where the whole lake is in one mode. Use your noodle and you will find them biting.

[Juan Grande]

Yeah, I'm not that smart and I give up too easily

[Juan Grande]

Anyone check the Mille Lacs forum lately? There's more smallmouth threads on there than walleye. Is it bass boat central on weekends there?