With the one over 21″ regulation in place for smallies we have seen the quality of the smallmouth fishery explode. Is it time to loosen the regs a little? My opinion is no, keep it the way it is. Mille Lacs has turned into an incredible bass fishery, why change it. However, could it remain this good and still allow a 20″ minimum and a 2 fish limit? Would loosening things up a bit really hurt?? What’s your opinion??
My personal opinion is to leave it the heck alone. As soon as the average size fish up there, which seems to run in the 18″ – 19″ range for me, would drop a couple inches the place would completely lose its attraction for me. I can catch 15″ – 17″ smallies until I’m sick of doing so here on the river. What is to be had up there on Mille Lacs right now is truely a special deal.
Yeah, what he said. 
If it’s left as is, who knows what kind of fishery will ultimately develop? Right now Mille Lacs has a huge number of 18-19 inch fish. Maybe in a few years a bunch of them will be 20+. Think about that and try to sit still!
I fish a lake in Washington County that has had a 100% catch and release regulation for Largemouth for the last three years. Prior to that there was a 12-16 inch protected slot. The lake used to have a lot of 14-15 inch fish. A couple years later we were catching a lot of 16-17 inch fish. This year they’re 18-19 inches with quite a few over 20. Until the trend flattens out, why not let it ride?
Sure is fun to think about.
Rootski
Tell me why you would want to even keep a smallie? 
I would not consider them table fare.
Do you know what’s more fun than catching a 19″ smallie? Catching a 20″ smallie.
Do you know what’s more fun that catching a 20″ smallie? Catching a 21″ smallie.
I think you catch my drift….throw ’em all back.
I beleive the big smallies were in the lake long before the 21 inch reg. was on the lake.No one ever talks about the largemouth in the lake, maybe if they put a slot on largemouth more anglers would pursue them.
I am not advocating changing the smallie regs at all. Just wondering if the regs loosened up if it would adversely affect what we now have.
By the way, smallies are pretty darn tastey 
.
Quote:
By the way, smallies are pretty darn tastey.
I think I’m going to be sick….. 
But then again, there’s nothing like sticking a knife in a 14lb Northern Pike or a 28″ Walleye. 
oops…..I meant 
I know when those regs were put into place they came following some studies that found the overall bass populations in Mille Lacs to be rather low and a large majority of the available spawners using a limted number of spawning areas. It was felt, at the time, that the very stringent regs we have now were needed to protect a vulnerable fishery.
Very rarely do anglers get to enjoy a fishery that can produce trophy walleyes, smallies, pike, etc. that is in close proximity to 2+ million people. I do believe a move to 2 over 20″ (possession would still likely be 6) would have a quick and noticable impact on our beloved bass fishery.
Quote:
I am not advocating changing the smallie regs at all. Just wondering if the regs loosened up if it would adversely affect what we now have.
Oh yeah, Blue…
“bass, they’re not just for breakfast anymore!”
“bass, its what’s for dinner!”
“Ummmm-mmm, bass!”
“Can I get a bass burger to go? Yeah, super size me!”
Walleye, the other, other white meat.
How can 1 million restaurants be wrong.
If you like green carp go for it!
Blue… you’re still my favorite bass guy.
Mille Lacs is managed as a Trophy Smallmouth Fishery. The DNR is well aware of what they have out there now. They will not be changing the regulations.
I have been fishing smallmouth on Mille Lacs for a number of years now…….around 5-6 years? No one in my boat or any others that I have fished in have ever thought of keeping any of these bass! I think if and when I might catch Mister Big!!! I might have to put it on the wall? We had one break a line last summer that might have been kept? It was 6+ lbs maybe bigger?
Just my thoughts…..
the smallies have been there along time, the 20″+ fish. we found them during the summer of 85. found them while fishing muskie. switched to smaller gear and it was unbeleavable. i noticed, it was after tony capra caught that fish on his show, that was close to the state record, has the popularity of bassin’ taken off on the puddle. it wasn’t a big secret, the locals new that they were there. people came to mille lacs to catch walleye, nothing else. when the slot got tight and the walleye weren’t bitting, the local guides had to change their tactics. now most guides on the lake are multi-specie. roland martin has done a show or two on mille lacs smallmouth. the lake has got national attention about it’s smallmouth. i say keep the reg the way it is, or change it to total catch and release for bass. like i have said before, i didn’t move here for the walleye.
So it sounds like the smallies may have been the best kept “secret” on Mille Lacs for a long time. I never really knew about them until the reg changed to one over 21″. This made me curious about what else the lake had to offer. My son and I tried it one morning and both caught our “personal record” smallmouth. 
Gotta get back up there soon.
You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
Just remember a couple casts does not make a spot hot or cold