My wife and I are planning on coming up this evening to try our luck so I'm wondering if anyone has any suggestions on where to go? We haven't been up fishing in about a month or more and I see the tactics have changed to trolling cranks compared to rigs and slip bobbers like when we were there last. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Well I went out lastnight and the fishing was terrible. Never caught a fish and only had one bite. Trolled Crankbaits in a bunch of different places including close to shore and as far out as the Boot. I just listend to Tony Roach's report and according to him the bite is still going good and catching lots of fish. Hmmmmmmmmm I talked to a few guys on the lake and at the boatlanding and only one guy had caught acouple small ones. Never saw anyone land a fish the whole time I was out. I just don't understand how the fishing can be good when your not catching anything yourself or seeing anyone else catch anything. Just makes me wonder
Does not make me wonder. I fall trolled a couple years back for 3 nights with the first night getting us 1 fish. We had reports of people getting 30+ fish a night. All night was a bitch session in the boat. The 2nd night we fished with a guide and we had our 30 fish. We fished the same areas. He tuned our lures and drove the boat, that's it. The following night we where without him and we did better, 7 fish. He was out with other people in the same spot and they had over 30 again. Our theory came down to boat operation and he was just lucky. i always say next time.
Thats funny that you were talking about the Tony Roach report.....I actually was out fishing with him this past Sat and we were trolling leadcore (my first time) and we (my girlfriend, Tony and I) had caught 30+ fish! So I know first hand that this technique work and work well. You just need to work at it and get your lure at the right depths and just keep at it. Boat control is a big part of it too.
Ive heard a lot of different people saying that they arent catching that many and others catching a ton.......those fish are out there and are biting. Dont be discouraged.
I, myself have been catching them rigging and like I said last Sat trolling and still throwing the corks a lil and they have been bitting! Just keep on the move, be patient and they will hit!
You don't really have to look to far to see varience in fishing and catch rates of what is happening on Mille lacs. Go in the tournament forum and pull up the results. The top half of the field has limits of fish, the bottom half is 1's and 0's. I still say despite some of the articles I have read that the bite is better than its been in years with very healthy fish to boot.
Looking at the tournament results will tell ya that the bite isnt exactly on fire like it was a few years ago when the fish were starving and jumping in the boat.It will also tell ya that some of these guides arent catching 30 fish EVERY DAY!!!! Conditions have also played a big roll with either flat calm days or heavy winds and cold fronts with very few nice walleye chop days.However there are still fish to be caught and the more expierienced guys are doing better than the rest day in and day out which is the norm on ML.I like these years on Mille Lacs when there are hardly any boats on the water and you actually have to put a little effort into catching some fish.You also learn a little more this way.
It doesn’t make me wonder either. My son and I have fished with a couple of the guides listed on the Hunters Point website this year and 30+ fish was the norm. We’re lucky to have guides like Tony, Bob, Jack, and Scott provide us fishing reports and we’re also lucky to have some of the guys that fish ML more often than most o fus provide the same – thanks guys! My two cents, try blades or bobbers if they’re not hitting crankbaits, always have a positive attitude – negative vibes turn the fish off, and find the fish before fishing for them.Good luck next time out!
Sorry I guess my post came across wrong I wasn't trying to bash anyone here. I love listening to the reports also and grateful they provide them for us. I also realize that they are guides and do this for a living and they know where to go and what works. My point was that after coming up there a few times and spending money on gas and bait and then get skunked just makes me wonder if the fishing is really as good as being reported. You know after listening to the reports and getting exciting about coming up and catching a few walleyes and then getting skunked 3-4 trips up is very frustrating. For average joes like myself who can't afford to hire a guide to see where and how to fish at this time of the year, we only have the reports to rely on. So when you hear that the fishing is good and catching tons of fish at least for me I kind of expect to at least catch a few especially when you try using the techniques that are being reported. Ok I'm done whining I just wanna catch some fish thats all.
Crest... I hear ya...... I have been fishing Mille Lacs for years..... I have had a brother for 41 years.... I fished a tourney with him, just a small one and I learned some stuff about technique and presentation. Just goes to show what can happen. We were in the same boat and he boated 2 to my 1..... !!!! Granted, I didn't have to hire him, but I learned some stuff !!
