Mille Lacs?

[10,000 Casts]

How do you guys that fish Mille Lacs predict how the Muskie fishing will be this year?

[Eskimoman]

Good

[mtreno]

i look into my crystal ball. so far it has not been good to me. i beat myself into a bloody pulp trying to find a pattern last season. but i do think this year should be better.

[b1gf1sh1]

only been there a limited amount. but... based on readings here, there and everywhere my prediction is....

muskies- on fire with a new state record sadly killed... pushing 60 lbs. before breakfast.

walleye- limited trophies harvested and very few limits.

perch- on fire

northern- moderate success with a few true trophies.

sunnies- big potato chips

crappies- smaller than wanted

speaking of smallies- bring the bass rod you'll need it.

largemouth- if you can find them in deeper water? nice fish.

the rest- your on your own

let's see how this pans out

[MUSKY18]

Same as it was this year, unfortunately! There are just too many small perch going to keep the muskies fed well and away from looking at our baits. I predict at least two more years of this before the perch are thinned out to the point where the muskie fishing comes back. I surely hope that I am wrong........

[fishcast]

There are just too many small perch going to keep the muskies fed well and away from looking at our baits.

I've never fished Mille Lacs much, and don't want to get too off topic, but do people really think a ton of 3-5" perch have the muskies too stuffed to eat? I'm not saying anyone is wrong or right in particular, just wondering?

[MUSKY18]

I believe that they do. Talking with Jonesi, who knows Mille Lacs as well as anyone, he believes so as well. Muskies will go to where the food is and there is plenty of it to eat in Mille Lacs right now. Schools are so big, it is easy prey for them to fill up on. Don't get me wrong, you can still catch them, just think the perch situation makes it that much harder!

[mtreno]

not to add more rain on the outlook but the cisco hatch with the cooler water temps last summer was near record levels...... some monster fatties in the future but they are going to be well fed

[10,000 Casts]

It's funny, 2 years ago there were articles saying that there wasn't enough forage to sustain a large Muskie population for years to come but now everyone is saying that there is too much and the fish are too full to even bite.

Mtreno, were you guys seeing fish?

I like many guys find it hard to believe that the muskies are just too full on perch but it is definitly possible.

When they do turn on, there are going to be some pigs caught...

[Shawn Kellett]

It just that goes to show that everything in goes in cycles.

With the reduced pressure and increased forage these fish should have a couple good growth years. We truely could see the ever predicted new state record come out of there in the next couple years if this keeps up.

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[Scoot]

It's funny, 2 years ago there were articles saying that there wasn't enough forage to sustain a large Muskie population for years to come but now everyone is saying that there is too much and the fish are too full to even bite.

That's exactly what I was thinking. Everyone and their brother is trying to figure out why it was a tough year out there. Lots of people have lots of ideas as to why it was tough going and nobody knows. Regardless of ones reputation or the amount of time they spend on the water out there, nobody knows. It's just speculation and wild arse guessing (WAG)... Regardless of the real reason, it was a tough year. Will next year be better? Who knows... I'm sure there will be more speculation, theory, and WAG going on regarding that.

[mtreno]

we were seeing fish - big fish and little fish - very few in that mid 40 range. plus some of my normal spots were worthless all season. others had there times. everyone i talked with and agreed with thought that the fish were just really spread out. no need to move up on the reefs or weeds to feed. feeding windows were really small. really really small feeding window.

[JRedig]

I'm waiting to see what the spring is like and when ice off is. The perch are a factor, but the fish are still there. I saw plenty the few times I was there, jonesi put my on a piggie that threw the hooks after about 3 seconds at boatside.

[SHAQ]

Same as it was this year, unfortunately! There are just too many small perch going to keep the muskies fed well and away from looking at our baits. I predict at least two more years of this before the perch are thinned out to the point where the muskie fishing comes back. I surely hope that I am wrong........

so throw perch baits

[SHAQ]

Originally Posted By: MUSKY18

There are just too many small perch going to keep the muskies fed well and away from looking at our baits.

I've never fished Mille Lacs much, and don't want to get too off topic, but do people really think a ton of 3-5" perch have the muskies too stuffed to eat? I'm not saying anyone is wrong or right in particular, just wondering?

perch baits