Mille Lacs Lake
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Mille Lacs Lake Fishing Reports
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Reports from all past years within a 60-day time frame
Species
Smallmouth BassSeason
Fall
Technique
Drop Shot
Structure
Points
Forage
Crawfish
Water Temperature
48°
Species
Smallmouth BassSeason
Fall
Technique
Drop Shot
Structure
Reef
Forage
Perch
Water Temperature
61°
Had a great day out on Mille Lacs for the last time this year. Broke my PB with this 5.42. Fish were really all over the place and roaming. Caught the big one on a drop shot after following our bait in. Caught a ton on A Rigs and then pitching at them with drop shots if they wouldn't commit. Already missing these smallmouth bass. Can't wait to get out there next year!
Rapala Crush City The Mayor Swimbait 3" / Shad
Out of Stock
Daiwa Fuego LT Spinning Reel - EOL 2500 / 6.2:1
Out of Stock
Species
Smallmouth BassSeason
Fall
Technique
Ned Rigs
Structure
Rock Pile
Forage
Perch
Went over to Mille Lacs for the last time this season on October 12, and it was a good one. Not many bass were caught as they are stingy with all the change in weather, but all the ones we did catch were over 4 pounds. Had 23 pounds for best 5, so it was a good way to end the 2024 season. I have been messing around a lot lately with leader line, and I have found that Mastif from Shimano is my new favorite, and that is the leader line I will be using from now on
Species
WalleyeSeason
Winter
Technique
Lipless Crankbaits
Structure
Boulders
Forage
Perch
Water Temperature
45°
Fishing boulders on points seemed to work best today. Some gravel and rock transitions were good.
Species
Smallmouth BassSeason
Winter
Technique
Soft Swimbaits (Sm/Md)
Structure
Boulders
Forage
Cisco/Whitefish
Water Temperature
40°
Boulders and transition areas in 20-25 ft dragging a keitech swimbait on an Outkast jighead caught all my fish. Would take a while to find the fish but once I caught one I would catch 5-10 more in the same spot.
See Video
Michael Ringwelski
Bronze Ambassador
11/18/23
Species
WalleyeSeason
Fall
Technique
Vertical Jigging 0-9'
Structure
Rock Pile
Forage
Minnows
Water Temperature
38°
The east side of Mille Lacs continues to hold fish even in these later months when the water is cold. Water temps are dipping into the 30’s which is starting to make the fish a little more lethargic. Shallow shoreline rock piles around agate bay and gravel piles towards the sand hold larger schools of 18-20” walleyes. To find some of the bigger fish, they’ll be roaming around the sand in 7-12 ft often alone or with one or two fish. This is where you’ll find those slot fish and maybe slightly bigger. Gently dancing the jig on the bottom while slowly reeling produced the most consistent bite, you won’t feel the classic jig “thud” but you’ll just start to feel “mushy” weight while retrieving. It’s key to have a medium light action rod so you feel them before they feel you. Shiners and suckers seemed to produce the most, and if you can’t get them to bite don’t be afraid to toss a finesse bobber rig with a shiner to entice the bite
Species
Smallmouth BassSeason
Summer
Technique
Drop Shot
Structure
Boulders
Drop shots are a staple on Mille Lacs. Strike King dream shot work great. Using your electronics to find boulders, especially isolated boulders. Once you have one marked on your electronics, make several short accurate casts around the boulder to find the fish. Typically depth doesn't seem to matter, anywhere from 8' to 20'.
Species
Smallmouth BassSeason
Fall
Technique
Texas Rigs (Worming)
Structure
Boulders
One of my last days of the season was out on the Big Pond. With the rougher conditions and cold weather I focused my time on large boulders the size of the hood of your truck, or as big as your boat. If I found one smallmouth, I typically would find a few - but you had to capitalize on your 'catch window' and throw back in the same area as quickly as possible. If you spent too much time taking pictures or admiring your catch you could miss the window to keep them fired up in the colder temperatures. When finesse applications were not working - I would move to a Deep Jerkbait and normally got freight trained on the the very long pause. White and ProBlue colored baits were a key to the bites.
Species
WalleyeSeason
Winter
Technique
Soft Swimbaits (Sm/Md)
Structure
Boulders
Forage
Perch
Water Temperature
47°
Sand/Rock transitions had good amounts of fish spread out on them. Search around for better schools and stop and pitch at them. Active fish eat rattle baits, inactive fish come on plastics.
