I'm going up to fish Mille Lacs in a couple weeks, really looking forward to it. I've fished plenty of different lakes in MN, but never here yet. Still a couple weeks out, but man I'm getting excited. Water temp is in the mid 60's, and the general report is that people have been catching fish. I've heard people catching fish on plastics, and live bait. What do you prefer this time of year? I like running Rapala's, jigging, bobber fishing(I'm not too proud) whatever it takes really. The Plastic stuff is new to me, my old man was strictly a live bait fisherman for Walleyes - but I see videos and hear people talking like they love it. I'm staying on the south end of the lake in Cove Bay. Where should a guy try a few places late June, early July? The lake is huge, so instead of planning to fish the whole lake in 4 days, I'm trying to narrow down a few spots to hone in on. Thanks!
well just try to find one area of the lake to fish it is too large to be running all over I don't fish down that way much I go out of the reddoor on the north side but look for fish to be on rock bars and mud flats my favorite way to fish them that time of year is spinners under a 3 way keep in it is important to spend time locating the fish before you fish
Also look at a map good before you go out and set up a milk run have 2 spots on mud to try 2 spots on and gravel 2 spots on rocks and maybe a spot on sand if you can find it down that area..........this works for me most of the time
The spinner bite has not started yet and last week was a good bite on live bait rigs. Good luck. Work the closest mud flats to your resort....lots of fish showing up on the mud!
Sounds like the consistent view is head for the mud flats. What kind of depths should a guy focus on? Bait/tackle trip to fleet or Cabela's coming up, planning on grabbing some lindy rigs, jigs, maybe some plastics baits. What else do I nee to fish this lake well? Northland tackle has some cool new set ups also. Live bait of choice to have on the boat? Shiners/Crawlers/Leeches?
Had some of the best fishing in my life the week of July 4th last year. Hopeing for a repeat of that this year.
Fished mainly gravel dirfting or trolling with a bottom bouncer and a plain hook with a 6 ft snell with a leech. pretty simple, but very effective. Did some bobber fishing in the evenings wherever I marked fish. That lake can throw you some curve balls at times but for the most part if you find fish and keep switching up you can find out what works and what doesn't. Sometimes simple is better. Don't always need to get to fancy. Good luck and let us know how you do. Some pictuures from last year.
I would stick to leeches and crawlers. Leeches are the best all around bait for pretty much every area of the lake. Although, all of the fish I've caught over 30" have been on crawlers on the flats around 4th of July. It really is some of the best fishing you'll have all year on the lake. There's a lot of good advice here, but just get out there and fun with it.
Doug, thanks for posting the photos, those are all great fish! I can't even tell you how much I'm excited to go fishing up there @ Mille Lacs. I'm staying at the south end in Cove bay, so I need to start looking at some maps and getting a game pan together for some spots to try and locate fish.
Willy, thank you also for your insight on the leeches and crawlers. Why is it is that the mudflats hold Walleyes? My normal Walleye brain has always told me look for structure like drop offs, rock piles, and sunken islands. Is it because bait fish and other critters tend to congregate there?
Also, how well is the lake marked for Hazards? I've got a bigger boat and I'm a little nervous of any new lake, especially one this size.
Doug, thanks for posting the photos, those are all great fish! I can't even tell you how much I'm excited to go fishing up there @ Mille Lacs. I'm staying at the south end in Cove bay, so I need to start looking at some maps and getting a game pan together for some spots to try and locate fish.
Willy, thank you also for your insight on the leeches and crawlers. Why is it is that the mudflats hold Walleyes? My normal Walleye brain has always told me look for structure like drop offs, rock piles, and sunken islands. Is it because bait fish and other critters tend to congregate there?
Also, how well is the lake marked for Hazards? I've got a bigger boat and I'm a little nervous of any new lake, especially one this size.
Here's a link to some topographical lake maps; Lake Map
With the second week of July water temps at 74 degrees, most of the fish being caught are deep mud. I've been doing best on deep rock/mud transition areas like 2 1/4, three-mile and highway bars.