View Full Version : 4 days till Mille Lacs!
We leave for Mille Lacs in 4 days and I can barely take the wait. Staying at the Red Door and just wanted to see how the fishing in that area is? Never fished the Lake before so any info would help. Very interested in the depth which most fish are being caught? Also, is there a spot close to the resort where you could catch smallies and/or Northern?
thanks,
NC
rogers
07-27-2002, 08:36 PM
I fished it Friday. We didn't catch tons but my first 3 fish were keepers (28.5, 14.5, 15). What are the odds of that? We fished the flats, didn't see people hauling them in except for 1 boat using planer boards. But everyone was catching fish.
It was a lot of fun.
Iowafishhawk
07-28-2002, 05:28 AM
A gps system is inperative for fishing Mille Lacs. Otherwise it is 5 miles out and join the other boats. One day of rain, one day of bugs and two nice fishing days. A buddy of mine and myself fished there on July 9th thru 13, caught over 150 fish between 21 and 25 inches. If you fish with slip bobbers, strike early as these fish are hungry and inhale earlier than the well-fed variety. Goodluck.
Any times better than others to fish for certain species on the lake? Probably will fish non stop from 6 a.m. to middle of the night. Just wondering when we should target smallmouth/northern and so on.
Thanks,
On days when the bite is tough - the low light times are best for Walleyes. The two hours before and after sunrise and sunset, as well as moon rise and set are great times for catching walleyes. This year, has been an exception - although the bite has slowed in recent days - it is still possible to catch fish during the day.
In general - the northerns and small mouth are easier to catch during the bright light of day. Although - you will find that the low light - but not dark hours - are still a better time for these fish as well.
Rock piles for the smalies, and the bays for the northerns.
Good luck and enjoy.
Remember -- as with golf -- if you see lightning - get off the lake, and stay off, until you haven't seen any lightning for 45 minutes. You are a sitting duck on a flat lake - with a graphite lighting rod, called a fishing pole in the middle of a big lake. You can work with wind and waves and extremes of temperature -- however, you will lose the battle with lightning every time.
Take care
REW
REW,
Thanks for the advice. I've been reading for 2 months how Mille Lacs has been the hottest thing going and I'm thrilled about our first trip. Hope everything doesn't slow while we are there. Good advice regarding the lightning. Won't have to tell me twice especially since we have never been on the lake before.
Any other tips would be much appreciated.
Thanks,
NC
mmillelacs
07-28-2002, 05:58 PM
some of the best small mouth fishing on the lake takes place right in front of the red door and west to barnevelds (the next resort west)
mbrandt
07-28-2002, 06:09 PM
I was there last week. Had better luck on the flats that had no other boats on them. It seemed like when you fished a pack, fish were there, but few and far between. Get out on your own flat, and the action really picked up. Had our best luck with leeches on Lindy rigs. We set the hook right away and had no swallowed hooks either. Hope this helps.
Mark
Mbrandt,
Yes it helps! Thanks for taking the time. Awfully excited to hear smallies may be close by as my father and I have never had the pleasure of catching them. Packed and re-packed my gear twice today!I imagine we will Lindy Rig and troll crankbaits the majority of the time for walleyes, but not too sure about the smallmouth.
I've always heard tubes and cranks over the rocks but never had the opportunity to test that theory out.
Any other ideas would be much appreciated.
By the way, does anyone know if the motel rooms at the Red Door are air conditioned? We are in Iowa right now and it is miserable!
Thanks,
NC
Leon W.
07-29-2002, 07:31 AM
Fished the Northern part of the lake a few weeks past. Things seemed to slow a little, but still caught nice limits of fish. Fish are deeper than I'm used to so make sure to get your bait down far enough.
Good luck,
Guest
07-29-2002, 02:10 PM
What's the forecast up there this week? Has it been very hot?
Thanks!
We had a big storm come through sunday night.
The long term forcast is rising temps into the low to mid 90s by the middle of the week.
Some thunderstoms might be expected - so keep an eye on the sky.
Take care
REW
mmillelacs
07-30-2002, 07:08 PM
although the water is high now and not as clear as usual, i like to sight fish for smallies. run the trolling motor in about 5 to 6 feet of water and stand in the bow with your poloroids, cast at fish or fishy looking rock piles, also to the west is myr mar resort with an abundance of good rock piles straight out in front of the resort.