Bill Lundeen
07-23-2004, 08:13 AM
Hi
The hot weather reduced angling pressure down to just a very few "die-hards" this week - Air temps around 90 degrees with NO wind can make even the most committed fisherman re-think a day on the water. A few folks had some success trolling deep running (Spoonbill Super Rogues, Reef Runners) crankbaits in 32-35 feet of water off the mud flats, but the most consistent bite is still with a leech and slip bobber in 18-25 feet. Surface temps jumped into the mid 70's, signaling the "unofficial" start of muskie fishing. Up to this point, a few fish have been taken, but "follows" have been much more common then "hook-ups". Look for fish to become more aggressive over the next several weeks. Some of the favorite Mille Lacs baits include Awakers, WakeMakers, Harrassers, Fatsos and Swim Whizs. Smallmouth action is good - Top-water baits are great when it's calm (like it's been this week) - plastic craws, crawlers and grubs have also turned fish so far this week.
Remember, the Mille Lacs walleye slot has "loosened" to a 22-28 RELEASE slot. This means you can harvest 4 walleye UNDER 22 inches, or 3 UNDER 22 and 1 OVER 28 inches.
The weather for the weekend (as reported by Weatherunderground) looks like
this:
Friday: Cool. Partly cloudy. Highs around 70. North winds 10 to 15 mph.
Friday Night: Cool. Mostly clear. Lows 45 to 50. North winds 5 to 10 mph becoming northwest around 5 mph.
Saturday: Mostly sunny. Highs around 75. Southwest winds 10 to 15 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear. Cool. Lows 50 to 55. Southwest winds 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday: Mostly sunny. Highs around 80.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear. Lows around 55.
The first quarter moon is 7-24
Don't forget to check out our weekly "Shop Special" at www.lundeens.com/shop.html before your visit!
Be sure to check your boat, motor and trailer thoroughly before launching AND before leaving Mille Lacs - weed growth is near its peak this time of year, and it only takes a small piece to get loose and BAM! Another way to "unknowingly" transport weed fragments is in your livewell - Mille Lacs is STILL classified as "infested water", and you MAY NOT hit the highway with water in your livewell (pg 14, 2004 DNR synopsis). The last major culprit is your anchor - it's easy to load up the anchor without inspecting the anchor itself AND the rope/chain for mud/sand and for pieces of weed. Take a minute, and help keep ALL of our lakes in good shape.
Finally...
On reaching his plane seat a man is surprised to see a parrot strapped in next to him. He asks the stewardess for a coffee where upon the parrot squawks "And get me a whisky RIGHT NOW! The stewardess, flustered, brings back a whisky for the parrot and forgets the coffee. When this omission is pointed out to her the parrot drains its glass and bawls "And get me another whisky you fool". Quite upset, the girl comes back shaking with another whisky but still no coffee. Unaccustomed to such slackness the man tries the parrot's approach: "I've asked you twice for a coffee, go and get it now you slacker!". The next moment, both he and the parrot have been wrenched up and thrown out of the emergency exit by two burly stewards. Plunging downwards the parrot turns to him and says "For someone who can't fly, you complain too much!"
Have a great weekend,
Bill Lundeen
Lundeen's Tackle Castle
38752 Twilight Road
Onamia, MN 56359
320-532-3416
lundeens@lundeens.com
www.lundeens.com
© Copyright 2004, Lundeen's Tackle Castle. All Rights Reserved.
The hot weather reduced angling pressure down to just a very few "die-hards" this week - Air temps around 90 degrees with NO wind can make even the most committed fisherman re-think a day on the water. A few folks had some success trolling deep running (Spoonbill Super Rogues, Reef Runners) crankbaits in 32-35 feet of water off the mud flats, but the most consistent bite is still with a leech and slip bobber in 18-25 feet. Surface temps jumped into the mid 70's, signaling the "unofficial" start of muskie fishing. Up to this point, a few fish have been taken, but "follows" have been much more common then "hook-ups". Look for fish to become more aggressive over the next several weeks. Some of the favorite Mille Lacs baits include Awakers, WakeMakers, Harrassers, Fatsos and Swim Whizs. Smallmouth action is good - Top-water baits are great when it's calm (like it's been this week) - plastic craws, crawlers and grubs have also turned fish so far this week.
Remember, the Mille Lacs walleye slot has "loosened" to a 22-28 RELEASE slot. This means you can harvest 4 walleye UNDER 22 inches, or 3 UNDER 22 and 1 OVER 28 inches.
The weather for the weekend (as reported by Weatherunderground) looks like
this:
Friday: Cool. Partly cloudy. Highs around 70. North winds 10 to 15 mph.
Friday Night: Cool. Mostly clear. Lows 45 to 50. North winds 5 to 10 mph becoming northwest around 5 mph.
Saturday: Mostly sunny. Highs around 75. Southwest winds 10 to 15 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear. Cool. Lows 50 to 55. Southwest winds 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday: Mostly sunny. Highs around 80.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear. Lows around 55.
The first quarter moon is 7-24
Don't forget to check out our weekly "Shop Special" at www.lundeens.com/shop.html before your visit!
Be sure to check your boat, motor and trailer thoroughly before launching AND before leaving Mille Lacs - weed growth is near its peak this time of year, and it only takes a small piece to get loose and BAM! Another way to "unknowingly" transport weed fragments is in your livewell - Mille Lacs is STILL classified as "infested water", and you MAY NOT hit the highway with water in your livewell (pg 14, 2004 DNR synopsis). The last major culprit is your anchor - it's easy to load up the anchor without inspecting the anchor itself AND the rope/chain for mud/sand and for pieces of weed. Take a minute, and help keep ALL of our lakes in good shape.
Finally...
On reaching his plane seat a man is surprised to see a parrot strapped in next to him. He asks the stewardess for a coffee where upon the parrot squawks "And get me a whisky RIGHT NOW! The stewardess, flustered, brings back a whisky for the parrot and forgets the coffee. When this omission is pointed out to her the parrot drains its glass and bawls "And get me another whisky you fool". Quite upset, the girl comes back shaking with another whisky but still no coffee. Unaccustomed to such slackness the man tries the parrot's approach: "I've asked you twice for a coffee, go and get it now you slacker!". The next moment, both he and the parrot have been wrenched up and thrown out of the emergency exit by two burly stewards. Plunging downwards the parrot turns to him and says "For someone who can't fly, you complain too much!"
Have a great weekend,
Bill Lundeen
Lundeen's Tackle Castle
38752 Twilight Road
Onamia, MN 56359
320-532-3416
lundeens@lundeens.com
www.lundeens.com
© Copyright 2004, Lundeen's Tackle Castle. All Rights Reserved.