Mille Lacs Lake
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Mille Lacs Lake Fishing Reports
Stay up to date with the latest fishing reports from Mille Lacs Lake. Reports are submitted by local anglers, fishing guides, and our team of fishing experts.
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Smallmouth BassTechniqueHover/Mid-StrollingSeasonSummerStructureReefFish are in a weird postspawn stage now. And for the most part they want nothing to do with your bait. Though if you happen to run across a feeding window hold on cause it's wild. That's what I ran across this morning and fish were coming 10+ feet off bottom to eat my bait. One of the craziest things i've ever experienced. Caught a ton of fish on that scoping setup and I've had a really hard time doing that out here so it works. Also spending some time working shallow breaks with topwater which doesn't produce many bites but they are quality when you get one.
- SpeciesSmallmouth BassTechniqueHard Topwater (Walking)SeasonSpring (Post-Spawn)StructureRock Pile
Found a good bite on a glass calm day walking the dog over 4-10 foot reefs.
- SpeciesSmallmouth BassTechniqueBladed JigsSeasonSpring (Spawn)StructureReef
Like I say in some of my reports I either go way small or way big. And there ain’t a much more fun way to catch a 5er than a CHATTERWAGON!! I actually use the 7’10 Hvy Mod but the 7’5 is a fantastic rod for it as well. I’ll tell you right now, if you get that setup and catch a big one on it, you’ll never want to pick up a fairy wand again. Nothing like a giant absolutely locking up a 7’10 rod.
SpeciesSmallmouth BassTechniqueNed RigsSeasonSpring (Spawn)StructureBouldersI did 2 days on Mille Lacs over Memorial Day weekend. Lake is moving along fast. Fish were locked on beds on the west side of the lake. But most were easy to get to go. Wind really laid down both days so even deeper beds were easy to see with the naked eye. I’d give 2-3 flips with a ned rig per bed and if the fish wouldn’t take, just move on. This isn’t my favorite thing to do to the smallies but for me, it was the only successful method. Couple random fish on a hair jig but no pattern there. Keep in mind bed fishing is stressful on these fish. Those beds in 3-5ft get absolutely hammered. I had more quality fish out on the beds in 6-8 ft or more. Take a quick photo and release them to produce more trophies!
Omnia Community MemberBronze AmbassadorSpeciesSmallmouth BassTechniqueUnderspinsSeasonSpring (Spawn)StructureRock PileWater warmed up quickly, fish more active moving back to spawning areas. Some fish back on beds.
- SpeciesSmallmouth BassTechniqueDrop ShotSeasonSummerStructureRock Pile
Fish were sitting on the edges of rock piles waiting to feed. They were extremely finicky so u had to be patient. Did not get many bites but the quality was there. Best five went 24.31 lbs.
- SpeciesSmallmouth BassTechniqueFinesse Hair JigsSeasonSpring (Post-Spawn)StructureBoulders
Find warm water and mixed rock
- SpeciesSmallmouth BassTechniqueBladed JigsSeasonSummerStructureBoulders
Mille Lacs Smallmouth are facing a ton of pressure, which means you have to do something different to get bit. I burned a chatterbait as fast as possible on 4-7 foot rock flats. The bites I got were violent, and of they missed the first time, they always came back. Big fan of the EVO, fishes just as good as a jackhammer in my opinion. Bama Craw did a great job of matching the hatch.
