From Steve Johnson at Portside: Tim Chapman ventured out over a mile from Isle bay and never found any ice under 6.5″, Most bays on the south have walking and ATV traffic. 8″ reported in the bays as of today.
My folks are heading to the cabin now, so I’ll have a report on Sunset Bay later tonight hopefully. Stay tuned…. 
Good to hear Dogg. Look forward to see what you find also.
George at Hunters Has 3-6 as of yesterday and in his update he was out 1/2 mile. They will be doing updates daily out of there on there webcam page.
dont look at the long range forcast guys 
As of an hour ago, (3 p.m. Dec. 6th) I can see OPEN water from the north shore–at least 200-400 yds. wide—that stretches from just east of Knox Point to just east of Myr Mar. All “mostly” about a half mile off shore. Heading west from there and then south from Garrison, you will find OPEN water in patches as big as football fields dotting the lake from less than 200yds. out from Pike Point to an average of about a 1/2 mile from shore.
So—I agree with the report from Johnson’s/Hunters etc. for the MOST part. But a trip across the open ice–say tomorrow–leaving the north shore or the west shore or maybe–ANY shore, (north of Indian Point) could become your LAST trip if you happen onto one of the open spots as I type this. And THAT is based on what I can see. There could very well be more open spots beyond my ability to see distance from shore- wise.
Stay on the “old” ice….that you know is the “old” ice, which makes up a huge percentage of the lake now, and you’ll be fine. ATV’s should be fine for the most part now. But!!!! until that present open water area is 4-6″ thick, the whole sheet can still shift 100’s of yds. either to the north or the south.
There are guys fishing, with a 20 mile per hour OFF SHORE wind blowing, 200 yds from OPEN water in Garrision Bay today. IDIOTS!!!
It’s ONLY Dec. 6th!
All for a fish…..
Steve Fellegy
218-678-3103
Wow!
I’m dumb, but I’m not stupid!
There are portables, ATVs, and even a small permanent house out close to shore in Sunset Bay as of tonight. Have a report from the resort in the morning….
Good Update Steve, thanks.
with warm weather this weekend, you know someone “has to go”, and get their name on the TV news.
I’d say, stay home and get some of those undone home chores done, then be ready when the ice gets safe…
like Steve says, “they are just fish”
Jack.
The long range forcast sounds fine for making ice, the only day(s) it’s supposed to get above freezing is Sat. afternoon and maybe Sun. That above freezing temp will only last a couple hours each day. Making good ice now with the below zero temps, once she locks up tight, ice will accumulate quickly. Can’t wait!! 
garrison forcast
We’ve got 9″ good inches in Sunset Bay and a small pressure ridge where in the usual spot. No big deal. They went all the way out to The Boot (!) and there’s 6″ out there. Sounds like things are going to be in full effect!
How anybody can travel to the flats without waiting for at least one more cold snap is beyond me! After OPEN water reports scattered randomly accross the lake have been posted as late as yesterday. Go figure!
Open water/waves were in sight yet from the Red Door Area this morning. Where that open water has been in the past two days….there is less than 3 inches! Believe me! It’s ONLY 24-48 hours old or even less!!
It’ll be one big SPLASH and ice cubes flying when those 4 wheelers hit the thin ice in one of those areas….which ALL look the same as the 6″ ice–I’m sure. GEEEEZZZZ
Kinda reminds me of people who drive wide open accross shallow water in the summer–because it’s there. Water is water right? lol lol
Steve Fellegy
218-678-3103
They were out there with their Wilcraft, so he was pretty confident even if they did get through. He said even if they went through that the thing could crawl out on its own. I’m not sure that’s the case after talking to the Wilcraft reps at the Ice Fishing Show last weekend. It could’ve been a long and lonely float for them out there! 
On a side note, we love it when idiots come flying through a couple or three hundred yards off shore in Sunset Bay (especially this year – it’s SO low). We see at least a couple lower units getting mangled each year to newbies that don’t know the lake and think it’s fine to fly anywhere there aren’t markers. Idiots.
p.s. – I don’t think I’ll be going to the flats anytime soon. Solid ice in the bay will work for me. 
So i have some friends in town who want to ice fish up on the Great Mill Lacs. I have Ice fished there a few times but was simply following a group of people to their hot spot. I want to show my buddies a good time up there so i am looking for some advice on where to fish. We will be there the last week in December and are staying at Izatys. Any advice would be great. Thanks all! 
Sauger,
Get a hold of Scott Stiel or Matt Grow…They will be able to point you in the right direction….I have Matt hired for an afternoon in January for a group of us that is going up…..
Here is Scott/Matt’s website..They work together…
http://www.scottsteilfishing.com/
C’mon cold weather (keep the snow, just gets in the way)……Later & good luck…………Jim
Thanks a ton for the advice Jim… however I am yet in Grad school and am paying tuition like crazy, thus paying a guide is really not much of an option for me. If there is any other advice to give in regards to my message above i would love to hear it all. I appreciate your help though Jim.
-Sauger Sauce
Welcome to the site Jim,
The old question huh?…. Where should I fish? Let me take a deep breathe here, er I mean stretch my hands.
First off, you’re going to want to be able to get around on the lake. Last week of Dec. is in 2 weeks. You may need an ATV or snowmobile as its looking like poor ice making weather. This is difficult because I don’t know if you have a gps or even a map. If not, you’ll need them both. A lakemaster Mille Lacs paper map would be great if this is a one time trip. You’ll be on the south end of the lake, home of the most detailed structure on the lake. Setting yourself up with a map and gps should get you on some structure to start fishing. If someone has a flasher, make them use it! Don’t sit down to fish if theres no fish. Keep on the move. Start on the tops and work your way down. I would be fishing fast jigs like a go devil so you can stay on the move. Fishing in a group is the best way to fish. With 5 guys, we cover 5 times the area I would alone. This makes finding the hungry ones a bit easier. Let us know what you’re working with for equipment and such then we’ll know where you’re sitting. Have you fished the lake before??
I know grad students aren’t afraid of research. This site is packed with info from years ago. Doing a simple search of the Mille Lacs forums and the fishing reports should give you and idea. Again welcome on board! 
Matt…Jim Here…I am the guy that talked to you via e-mail last week regarding the 18th of Jan running out of Hunter’s…Sauger guy is the grad student…But anyway..
Sauger..Tell you what, if you want to run some tip ups, Between the points at the entrance of Cove Bay is a GREAT place for some pike action..You will usually see plenty of guys out there running tips….But yes, Matt is right..Invest in a decent waterproof map (with GPS grids) and a compass (these two will help on the BIG lake. Fishing HotSpots makes a great map. How are you guys traveling..Truck, wheelers,sleds???? The more mobile the better cause Matt is also right in the fact that there is a TON of structure, etc on the south end…
If you want to, drop me a PM or an e-mail @ “[email protected]” & I’ll tell you what i can…
Later and out…..Jim
ooops!! I thought we had 2 jims for a second. It looks like he’s signing off with “jim” in the end there.
Matt—–U know there just MIGHT be two jims in this world…that one could go either way…
I really hope you are not getting this rain up there..Down here in Rochester our ice is going away as fast as it came…I did get out last weekend though to take equip for a shakedown run…..
I think we are ready to head north..might make a trip up before our BIG weekend.Will let you know if I am coming that way………..Later…Jim
I’m headed to Milly right now. Shoudl be better than last time.
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I’m headed to Milly right now. Shoudl be better than last time.
Well, let us know how it works out for you. I will be VERY intrested in an update on things. I’m in Sunset Bay, so it could be a little different there, but I have my doubts that it’s going to be a great weekend for an ice adventure. 
Yep, I will get the details tonight but a buddy’s co-worker was off this week up on the Pond. At around noon his wheeler went through to the bottom. Was able to save the portable though. Someplace out of Agate.
I don’t think it’s worth the risk. I am changing my plans for this coming weekend.
Well looks like my weekend plans are going to have to head in a different direction…Grrrrr
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Well looks like my weekend plans are going to have to head in a different direction…Grrrrr
I was looking forward to meeting you Glen. I’ll be up the week between x-mas and New Years.
That is our next scheduled venture to Milacs so hopefully we can meet up at that time. But old Mother nature best try and be a bit kinder to us winter fishermen… 
http://wwwa.accuweather.com/forecast-15day.asp?partner=accuweather&traveler=0&zipcode=56450&metric=0
The 15 day forecast looks good if we can make throgh the next 4 days
Well if the weather forecast is accurate I would say the 27th might be a good day to plan a trip to Milacs… But before then I would feel a bit uncomfortable.. 
Anyody have any good advice as to where to go on the south side of Milly? Any specific landings to use to drive out from or even places to walk out from? I fish at Milly all but 2 times a year or so am not oo familiar with the lake.
Thanks.
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