Mille Lacs Weekend

Jon J. and I left the dock on Saturday morning equipped to search for both muskies and smallies. The first hour we worked an area with emerging weeds for muskies with no luck. The next stop was an area that has produced smallies in the past. We did pick up a couple with the largest a bit over 2 lbs. From there we ran down to the Hawkbill Point area and worked more smallmouth. We did pick up a couple more using both Kalins and Mepps spinners.
The next stop was the Twin Bay area for another session looking for muskies. We had plenty of company considering the popular area and opening day. Nothing worked for us and we did not see any action from other boats. By now it was noon and we decided to head for shore and have a walleye lunch. Jon had good luck on Friday evening and had his limit of 4 slots ready for the frying pan. There is not much that tastes better than fresh caught walleye.
Later in the afternoon we split up and as Jon prepared to paint his new shed , I took off for the mud flats. Finding fish was not hard , getting them to bite was another deal. I had to work plenty hard to get the ones I caught. Leeches a long snell and a floater finally took a couple of nice fish in the 21″ to 23″ range.
Toward evening I headed back toward shore and my favorite reef. The general area of my lucky spot was occupied by a large launch full of partying people so I moved a distance away and set up. I did catch a nice slot fish just under 17″ but that was the only keeper I could get.
It was a treat not having a bug hatch to contend with. About the only happiness associated with the bugs is the plentiful food for the birds. I have a couple of robins nesting close to the cabin. One decided to build right on top of my yard light. They are feeding young now and do not have to go far to find a meal.
Sunday was more of a work day for me but I did chase some smallies for a bit. The highlight was the pair of eagles gracefully soaring over Big Point. I bet they had better luck finding fish than I did.
Dino

No Musky or Smallie fishing, but did some walleye fishing. Saturday morning I pulled up beside a friend on the lake and tossed out the bobber. He was out an hour prior and had 3 slots before I arrived. After an hour I finally got a bite but not a taker, another two hrs passed without a bite. Then 3 slots in a row came in. That was it for the morning fishing. I headed in and came back out for the sundown and boated one slot and a 26 inch pike. Sunday morning I got out to 7 mile and had no problem catching fish with a plain red hook with a 7ft snell. All these where 20-26 in 28-35 ft. Right at the break to the deeper water was the best spot for us. In my opinion the fishing couldn’t get any better or it wouldn’t be fishing, just catching.

Here is a picture of my neighbor Joey Hukriede who went out with me Sunday morning to fish 7 mile.

He had others just like this one.

No chum slick???? Inside joke.
Way to go Joe!
Tuck

Congrats on a nice fish Joe!!
Looks as though fishing is is your blood!

The bite remains good but you have to be in the right spot. I have been having good luck both on the mud and on the gravel. Don’t be afraid to fish deep, especially around the mud. So far the tops haven’t been producing much.

Trust your electronics! When I mark fish I have been able to get them to go. I am still using leeches and snells however, the spinner/crawler bite is picking up. Most of the spots I have found fish I have been alone. It is a big lake so don’t be affraid to try other spots besides “the pack”. This year 30-40 fish days have pretty much been the norm. Not as good as last year but the fish are very healthy this year.

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Mille Lacs Guide Service

Chum slick?? Is this a new trick on Mille Lacs? I heard somewhere that the orange ones work the best. LOL Steve