MN (Aitkin, Crow Wing, Mille Lacs)

Lake Mille Lacs

WATER CLARITY: 2/10

What you need to know about fishing Mille Lacs Lake

At approximately 100 miles directly north of Minneapolis and St Paul in Minnesota, Mille Lacs offers fantastic fishing opportunities for a number of fish species. Classically known as a trophy walleye fishery, a decline in walleye population began in the 1990s which the Minnesota DNR recently indicated coincided with changes in water clarity. And while only a correlation, not an explanation, walleyes thrive in cold water and low-light lakes and an increase in clarity may have reduced the habitat opportunities for walleyes over time. The recent introduction of zebra mussels has further clarified the water conditions and walleye populations have continued to remain lower that the glory years on Mille Lacs. Recently, bass fishing opportunities have received significant attention and even a 2017 Bassmaster Angler of the Year Championship out of Onamia, Minnesota. Lake Mille Lacs has specific fishing regulations that differ from statewide DNR regulations.

Mille Lacs Lake has been the center of a lot of buzz in the ice fishing world recently. Changing limits, slots, seasons, and bait restrictions have caused plenty of controversy for the world famous lake. Although Mille Lacs is known to be a big fish factory for all species, once anglers can access the lake via the ice the only species that matters is the walleyes. By using the endless amount of reefs and basins, anglers move periodically throughout the day until they find active fish. In low light periods, fish are normally found on the top or shallower ends of a reef. As the sun rises, these fish slide off the edges into the muddy basin where they roam looking for perch or minnows to eat. Fluttering spoons and rattling spoons are great options for early season fish, however once it becomes mid/late season fish become accustomed to seeing these baits and stop falling for them. This is where live bait comes in to the equation. Medium sucker minnows and shiners (if you can find them) under a bobber or rattle reel become the bait of choice.

Waterbody Type

Lake/Pond

Species Present

Walleye, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Muskie, Panfish / Bluegill, Northern Pike, Yellow Perch, Burbot, Common Carp

Coordinates

-93.6601W
46.2381N

Surface Area

518.67 sq. km

Avg. Depth

29 ft.

Gear
Fishing Reports (33)
Ambassadors (20)
Links (1)
Nearby Lakes

Relevant Gear for Mille Lacs Lake Ice Walleye Fishing

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Ice Walleye Fishing Reports

Reported by Ana Leschishin
Capitalizing on the early ice bite can be some of the best walleye fishing for the winter season on Mille Lacs. Safe ice measuring between 5-7 inches was found on... Read More
Season: Ice
Structure: Points
Species: Walleye
Technique: Ice Fishing Spoons
Reported by Brandon Meyer
Jigging spoons tipped with Minnow head were key. Found that UV colors were more effective during feeding hours of the day. 18-25ft depth range was the best depth to target
Season: Ice
Structure: Reef
Species: Walleye
Forage: Minnows
Technique: Ice Fishing Jigs
Rattle Spoon 1/8 oz / Glow Pink Fire UV
vmc
⚡2 Product Recommendations
Reported by Brandon Meyer
Found more active fish on reefs in that 18ft of water. The fish weren't as schooled up as they were a week ago but caught more individual fish roaming around.... Read More
Season: Ice
Structure: Reef
Species: Walleye
Forage: Minnows
Technique: Ice Fishing Spoons
Tingler Spoon 3/16 oz / Glow Pink Fire UV
vmc
⚡4 Product Recommendations

Other Season Fishing Reports

Reported by Omnia Community
Season: Pre-Spawn
Structure: Brush Piles
Species: Largemouth Bass
Technique: Texas Rigs (Worming)
⚡2 Product Recommendations
Reported by Tony Lee
Fishing rock/sand transition areas in 2-6ft with Megabass Vision 110. A lot of fish caught working it fast.
Season: Pre-Spawn
Structure: Rock Pile
Species: Smallmouth Bass
Technique: Jerk Baits
Reported by Sportsmens Bassmaster
56 degree water, 8-10ft of water. Rotating between a PBJ Ned rig and a 3.5inch keitech swimmer on rocks/reefs.
Season: Pre-Spawn
Structure: Reef
Species: Smallmouth Bass
Technique: Ned Rigs
⚡2 Product Recommendations
Reported by Cole Lunser
Look for matted grass where it transitions to sand/gravel 4-6ft of water.
Season: Pre-Spawn
Structure: Rock Pile
Species: Smallmouth Bass
Technique: Ned Rigs
⚡3 Product Recommendations
Reported by Omnia Community
Season: Pre-Spawn
Structure: Reeds
Species: Smallmouth Bass
Technique: Finesse Hair Jigs
Reported by John Figi
Season: Pre-Spawn
Structure: Rock Pile
Species: Smallmouth Bass
Technique: Finesse Hair Jigs
Reported by Harrison Dau
They are eating hair jigs and swimsuits on top of the rocks in 2-6 feet of water
Season: Pre-Spawn
Structure: Rock Pile
Species: Smallmouth Bass
Technique: Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6')
⚡1 Product Recommendations
Reported by Trevor Kraker
A few fish starting to pull up and lock down on beds. Big schools of fish cruising up shallow. Make long casts and be quiet!
Season: Pre-Spawn
Structure: Rock Pile
Species: Smallmouth Bass
Technique: Texas Rigs (Worming)
Reported by Omnia Community
Season: Spawn
Structure: Rock Pile
Species: Smallmouth Bass
Technique: Finesse Hair Jigs
Reported by Chad Keller
3.5" tubes with a shakey head approach was getting the big smallies to eat!
Season: Spawn
Structure: Rock Pile
Species: Smallmouth Bass
Technique: Shaky Heads
⚡2 Product Recommendations
Reported by Rich Lindgren
Large percentage if fish pulling up on beds. 3-8' of water on boulder to sand transitions. Water temps upper 50's to low 60s. Drop shots, Neko rigs and... Read More
Season: Spawn
Structure: Boulders
Species: Smallmouth Bass
Technique: Texas Rigs (Worming)
Tungsten Free Weight 3/8 oz
basstek
⚡6 Product Recommendations
Reported by Rich Lindgren
Mix of Post Spawn and Mayfly hatch makes for difficult fishing conditions. Fishing west side of lake. Best producing baits were Ned Rigs & Football Jigs fished in... Read More
Season: Post-Spawn
Structure: Boulders
Species: Smallmouth Bass
Technique: Lipless Crankbaits
⚡3 Product Recommendations
Reported by Katherine Field
Post spawn but still am seeing smallmouth very shallow and appear to be spawning. Caught smallmouth very shallow along reeds and submerged vegetation. Caught smallies on small swimbaits as well... Read More
Season: Post-Spawn
Structure: Reeds
Species: Smallmouth Bass
Technique: Chatterbaits
⚡4 Product Recommendations
Reported by Steve Pennaz
Casting rock flats and shorelines with Berkley 110 Cutter Skinny on 10-pound flouro produces several fish to 5 pounds. Key was focusing on rock/sand transitions in 4-8 feet of water.
Season: Post-Spawn
Structure: Boulders
Species: Smallmouth Bass
Technique: Jerk Baits
⚡1 Product Recommendations
Reported by Matt Traxler
Season: Summer
Structure: Humps
Species: Walleye
Technique: Live Bait Rigs
Reported by Kristine Fischer
Dog days of summer had a lot of people looking deep. My big fish were scattered from 6'-19'. Look for large isolated boulders on sand for a consistent... Read More
Season: Summer
Structure: Boulders
Species: Smallmouth Bass
Technique: Texas Rigs (Worming)
Powerbait Maxscent Flat Worm 4" / Green Pumpkin
berkley
⚡12 Product Recommendations
Reported by Samuel Moore
Something often talked about but still remains mysterious to some. Using side-scan to look out from your boat and find an isolated boulder, and then circling back to fish them... Read More
Season: Summer
Structure: Boulders
Species: Smallmouth Bass
Technique: Drop Shots
⚡2 Product Recommendations
Reported by Kent Mittelstaedt
Drop shots are a staple on Mille Lacs. Strike King dream shot work great. Using your electronics to find boulders, especially isolated boulders. Once you have one... Read More
Season: Summer
Structure: Boulders
Species: Smallmouth Bass
Technique: Drop Shots
Reported by Josh S
slow rolling/dragging Ned Rigs over rock piles / rock structure. Read your structure maps or just look for buoys and you'll find the rocks.
Season: Summer
Structure: Rock Pile
Species: Smallmouth Bass
Technique: Ned Rigs
⚡4 Product Recommendations
Reported by Drew Lein
Slow roll white trailered chatterbait over edges of the reefs.
Season: Summer
Structure: Reef
Species: Smallmouth Bass
Technique: Chatterbaits
Reported by Omnia Community
Bass are hitting keitech swimbaits on boulder reefs and ledges.
Season: Summer
Structure: Boulders
Species: Smallmouth Bass
Technique: Soft Body Swimbaits (Small/Medium)
Fat Swing Impact 3.3" / Smallmouth Magic
keitech
Reported by Josh Johnson
We fished a lot of rock ledges and rock piles. The bite was very slow. We used Finese tactics. Drop Shot, Ned Rig, Neko Rig. I... Read More
Season: Summer
Structure: Rock Pile
Species: Smallmouth Bass
Technique: Texas Rigs (Worming)
Finesse TRD GREEN PUMPKIN GOBY / 2 3/4"
zman
Reported by Brandon Meyer
Found a few nice rock piles on Garrison side. 10-15ft dragging drop shot
Season: Summer
Structure: Rock Pile
Species: Smallmouth Bass
Technique: Drop Shots
Powerbait Maxscent Flat Worm 4" / Green Pumpkin Party
berkley
⚡2 Product Recommendations
Reported by Austin Ryan
Found a good concentration of fish during the August time frame on gravel piles. Bomb casting neko Rigs and slowly hopping/dragging them back to the boat was the best presentation... Read More
Season: Summer
Structure: Reef
Species: Smallmouth Bass
Technique: Neko Rigs
Neko Weight 1/16oz / NATURAL
vmc
Reported by Bryan Skogheim
Season: Summer
Structure: Boulders
Species: Smallmouth Bass
Technique: Tubes
4'' Craw Tube Watermelon Red / 4"
big_bite_baits
⚡1 Product Recommendations
Reported by Bryan Skogheim
Trolling big spinner baits can make for a fun summer outing near Isle. Lucky color was black and red.
Season: Summer
Structure: Submerged Vegetation
Species: Northern Pike
Technique: Spinnerbaits
⚡1 Product Recommendations
Reported by Dan Fabiano
One of my last days of the season was out on the Big Pond. With the rougher conditions and cold weather I focused my time on large boulders the size... Read More
Season: Fall
Structure: Boulders
Species: Smallmouth Bass
Technique: Texas Rigs (Worming)
Reported by Austin Ryan
Covering structures thoroughly using electronics to find the fish was key. Areas where the largest boulders were adjacent to steep breaks were good places to start. We presented dropshots vertically... Read More
Season: Fall
Structure: Reef
Species: Smallmouth Bass
Technique: Drop Shots
Neko Hook #2 / 6
vmc
Reported by Josh Johnson
Fish were in small numbers in deep water. We fished boulders in deeper water and found schools of fish. Drop shot Seemed to work the best. Find... Read More
Season: Fall
Structure: Boulders
Species: Smallmouth Bass
Technique: Drop Shots
Fat Swing Impact 3.8" / Electric Shad
keitech
Reported by Keegan Witt
The bite on Mille Lacs was decently hot from rock to grass/weed transitions in about 6-15 feet of water. Try to cover as much of the transition as possible with... Read More
Season: Fall
Structure: Rock Pile
Species: Smallmouth Bass
Technique: Deep Diving Crankbaits (13'+)
DT 6 YELLOW PERCH / 2"
rapala
⚡1 Product Recommendations