Mille Lacs Smallies…….

Anyone been catching any lately?

Nubbin and I were out today. It was flat as glass and hot, water was a pea soup color, alge bloom, could not see bottom in 3.5 feet of water . Fish were there but hard to catch. Got a couple on cranks in 8-9 feet, tubes by big rocks.
I struggled as I really like to sight fish and with the water that color, I couldn’t see the rocks untill we were on top of them.

Ron

Got a couple of reports.

I was out on the 7/19 in my float tube; THAT’s RIGHT float tube. I broke it out after about 5 years of non-use figuring that Mille Lacs water would feel nice and the near calm conditions would be perfect for some West Side near shore Smallie Action. I ended up getting 4, nothing huge. 2 on 3/16th spinnerbaits and 2 on topwater with a couple of misses. Would have probably gotten more had I fished more than one area; I thought the area had more rocks than it it did and ended up spending way to much time in unproductive water.

Last night 7/21 I fished the SE side out of the boat. Got into 9 on offshore reefs with Topwater and X-raps with a couple of misses. Got to love the calm and near calm conditions that make topwater possible. Sure I maybe don’t catch as many that way but it sure is fun. Had a big one bust on it but not get it, that was the highlight of the night.

One thing I’ve noticed is that it is really hard to get more than 2 topwater fish out of the same area. It seems like I get 2 then it shuts down even when I know more are there.

I think I’m gonna get up early and fish some more for them today.

i need some definate help guys. i cant seem to catch a single mille lacs smallie. how deep should i fish?,what should i use?, how do i use plastics? if i use top water what should i use? please help guys. i have been trying all summer and havent caught one yet. saddest part. i live on the damn lake. thanks ahead of time

fish4fish,

have not been able to get up there yet, but hope to soon.

the east side islands and reefs do hold some good numbers of fish. try different things and depths. it is easier to try shallow water first, then if not much action move out some to 5-10′ or deeper. in shallow you can try super-flukes, spinner-baits, small cranks, top water try- skitter pop, x-raps or even poppers. rattle traps can work at many depths. deeper edges, still rattle traps, let them sink some then pull them in, and craw colored cranks. also tubes in natural colors. shallow or deeper, try changing your retrieve speed, use pauses and stops, small twitches and jerks. all fishing days are not the same. some clouds or overcast would be better for shallow water fishing, and if a cold front was coming out of the dakotas, with widely scattered thunderstorms ahead of it would be times you should be on the water. just be careful of approaching weather and watch you winds. don’t forget you camera, let us know how you do. Jack..

Jack covered it. When we were out last sat. SLOW was the key. We got rid of the traps and went to cranks. That allowed us to slow it down and chug them threw the rocks. I have always been a fan of bottom cantact on Mille Lacs. Work cranks or traps down so they are bumping structure every now and again.

Good luck.