I plan on opening on Mille Lacs this year and am looking for tips on what depths and structure types to target. Early in the season, I usually spend some time with the flotilla out in front of Fischers, usually 16-22 fow. My father in law is an old timer from the Aitkin area and says us citiods fish too deep. With the goofy spring weather we've had, will the fish be shallower or deeper than usual? I'm sure I'll find out easily enough but would like to "get away" from the mob and find me a spot on a spot. Not looking for GPS coords here, just some generally thoughts and ideas. Thanks in advance and glad I stumbled on to the site. Looks pretty cool.
Mike, There is going to be alot of guessing and good conversations leading up to opener on this topic. Our guide team has had alot of those talks already.
Some factors in the "where are the fish going to be topic"
1) early ice out = early spawning 2) warmer than normal opening day water temps
Here is my two cents.......
There are alot of under 18" fish in the lake right now. People will catch fish all over...all methods, like they do every opener. People pull plugs on shallow rocks at night...bobber any structure...rig leeches/minnows shallow break lines...deeper break lines....
If I had to give one answer of what my guess is on this topic...I would say fish water that you would normally be fishing Memorial Weekend. The timing of the spawn and water temp has more to do with fish location than an opening date.
As always, don't spend alot of time in an area if your not marking or catching fish. Also keep in mind boat speed is very important early season when rigging live bait.
Looking forward to all the fishing reports from everyone this season. Tony will continue his Podcasts each thursday, and I will be posting a fishing report earlier in the week in the walleye forum.
We hope everyone has a safe and fun fishing opener. Until next week....we hope to see you on the water!
I have been here for a few months now. The response to this post is what makes this site great. Thanks for the insight and be sure to thank your team. You guys are awesome. When I need a guide you will be the only choice for this guy.
Cody aka: drifter
how do I add my avator
-- Edited by drifter on Saturday 8th of May 2010 10:10:36 AM
-- Edited by drifter on Saturday 8th of May 2010 10:12:18 AM
im also thinking about hittin mille lacs i know ive been out on the flats on opener and caught many fish during the day on top. i just try to steer away from the mobs of boats because if you find a good drift or structure transition it is often hard to wrap around all the boats and get back in that spot. last year i was fishing a nice sand to gravel transition about 15 fow and i caught two fish bam bam, came back around two more like clock work right at our waypoint. came back around their were two boats that through a marker out and started bobber fishing and looked like shootin fish in a barrel. i dont get worked up about stuff like that just htink its funny, so i tried movin way out to the gravel and the flats and they were their too. hopefully this bug hatch happens that will really get em biting. it could be one of the best openers anyones seen if these bugs go.
I don't know what everyone else thinks, but with a new moon Friday I'm going to avoid the late night fishing. I could be wrong here, but new moon with possibly coudy conditions=great morning, high noon, and dusk bite in 17-22 fow. I guess it's a wait and see game, but I'm planning for a long night sleep and all day in the boat. Good Luck to everyone!
I've been holding off on making a reply to this thread! Why, cause I've been thinking long and hard about this weird spring that we have had! Early Ice out, I've mowed the lawn three times already this spring? The lilac are already blooming........might be time to get the blades out? all these thoughts...leeches up on the sand, no maybe out on the transistion areas...more thoughts! What I have decided to do is this: just go fishing!
I'll probably start my day at first around 4-5am out on the rocks. I'm excited to get the new "Lindy Spash Brite" Bobbers in the water and see them glowing!!! Once the sun comes up head north to the sand. I might plan to fish a tad deeper this opener than in the past. Look around and watch for a few nets! If its slower than normal, I'll head to the rock/sand transistion areas that have held fish the last few years. Those areas might be pretty crowded this area season.
Overall I think we will see some nice slots caught. This past summer/winter we have had a fair number of younger fish that now will be in the 15-16 inch range....maybe slightly bigger! should be a great opener with the weather that is now forecasted!!
We also plan to hit some shallow rocks early AM with hopes of finding them. (also to try out the new Splash Brite bobbers by Lindy!) Instead of heading to the sand, we may try the transition areas first...I'm thinking any where between 18-21 feet of water.
The way the forecast is looking, it could be one of those long snell Saturdays/Sundays....I wouldn't be surprised if mine reaches 9-10 feet in length with a #8 octopus style purple hook.
I also wouldn't be surprised if we pull out the bottom bouncers...we'll have to see what the fish want and how fast they want it!
Good luck to everyone coming up, and please be safe. Remember to have some patience and realize there will be a lot of boats out there especially with the stable weather.
Say hi to me and Perrrrrch if you see us on the Formica Flats enjoying a pizza!
Like Bob said I've been thinking alot about what I'm going to do this year. Scott said earlier, think more Memorial weekend. According to my notes, 2 years ago we did well on the mud that weekend pulling blades. We had a 28.5" and a nice livewell full of eaters. Last year my brother and I pulled blades and brought home 8 nice keepers on Memorial Day, although we couldn't buy a fish on a blade the next weekend. About 5 years ago it was 90 degrees on Memorial weekend and we anchored up on an East side rock pile and had multiple doubles and even a few triples. My Mom and I even had a walleye take both of our baits.
With all that in mind, we'll probably start with faster presentations and work down. I've got the leadcore in the boat, but that might be a little too fast. I'm thinking #3 Indiana or Colorado blade pulled just fast enough to turn the blade might just be the ticket. On Saturday night we'll be watching bobbers. We're staying at a friends place on the SE side of the lake and if past Memorial weekends of the past hold true, we'll only need to go 100 yards off his dock and throw out the bobbers.
Good luck out there. See ya on the water or at the Formica Flat.
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Humana Insurance Representative-Brainerd and Mille Lacs Area
As for the new moon, my attack is to make sure I am on th water doing something an hour and a half before it comes up and fish through its rise or set another hour and half. Then you can always consider the moon under and over as well. It is a strong positive influence and if you can get it to coincide with sunrise or sunset or weather moving in, so much the better. Also new moon should give you a dark night without the clouds, so don't give up on that so much if a rise or set occurs during the dark. Go get 'em!!!
Mark
P.S. I am thinking just to celebrate the MN opener, I am going to go fishing at midnight over here again. Fishing has been decent, of course since its opening the weather has been at its worst. Fishing was difficult last night with the swirling ESE winds last night. Two nights ago I got a 19" 4-5# smallie, just a brute!!!
Do you find that certain color blades work better? I always seem to tie on a hammered copper colored blade and I am reluctant to try another color/pattern blade.
Hammered copper is one of go to colors as well. I'm pretty sure I have undiagnosed ADD, so I usually swap out blades and bead combinations quite a bit if I'm going through fish and not catching them. Ask Jason what his favorite blade color is? He smoked me about 45 fish to 2 in the Red Door tournament a couple years ago and I went through about every blade I had.
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Humana Insurance Representative-Brainerd and Mille Lacs Area
I have never anchored on the rocks during the day on opener just in the evening and into the night. Anyone have success anchoring on the rocks during the day? Im talking the rocks in 10' deep water or less.
I've had a real good bite anchored in 10 ft on a reef during the day but it was in 20-25 mph winds. It was great I had a jig and leach hanging off the side of the boat in a rod holder. In the big waves the boat did all the work. When the rod tip went down I'd pick up the rod and pull in a fish. I caught a lot of fish that day in short order.
About 5 years ago it was 90 degrees on Memorial weekend and we anchored up on an East side rock pile and had multiple doubles and even a few triples. My Mom and I even had a walleye take both of our baits.
