Hey all – I have a few days of vacation I need to use up and I am thinking of heading to Mille Lacs to fish for smallmouth on Friday (Sept 11) and then hit some other lakes in the area for a few days. I am just wondering what the smallmouth bit is like on the South end lately? Any advice will be helpful since I only plan on a day there. Thanks in advance.
Last weekend. But I dont fish the south side.
2 guys over q 100 fish day. Fished from 8am to 3
20200829_082401.jpg
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the bite is only getting better.
the bite is only getting better.
Nice looking Smallies!
Wow – those are nice – what part of the lake are you fishing
Thanks for all the replies guys – I hope the weather will cooperate with me on Friday.
Last weekend. But I dont fish the south side.
2 guys over q 100 fish day. Fished from 8am to 3
100 fish day is awesome. What were they biting and at what depths?
I am a big walleye guy and have a buddy that hates it but loves the smallmouth. We have tentative plans on heading up there for a day trip this weekend to put me on some big walleyes (dont need numbers) and him on numbers (dont need size) of smallmouth. I can only hope our day turns out as successful as yours. Nice catch Bearcat! Keep on em!
We have been doing well in the 10-15′ depth. Best so far this year is 22.5″. This one is 21.75″.
Smallie-21.75-1.jpg
Smallie-21.75.jpg
Bearcat / Jake
Are these fish coming on live bait? If so, what kind of live bait. I have been wanting to get up to Mille Lacs in the fall and try the whole large sucker minnow thing but have no idea of how or where to start. If you are using live bait can you share a little info. on the setup you are using?
. If you are using live bait can you share a little info. on the setup you are using?
I haven’t done it this year yet but it’s usually just a large sucker minnow, bullet sinker and wide gap hook on a 3ish foot snell.
Good reminder – Even though I don’t pan on keeping any of them. For those using live sucker minnow’s – what style hooks are you using? Do you set the hook right away when the fish picks up the bait or wait a little? How often do you end up deep hooking fish when fishing sucker minnows?
As soon as you feel the thump take them. If you miss it it was probably a walleye. Buddy of mine who’s a pro recommended that
Good reminder – Even though I don’t pan on keeping any of them. For those using live sucker minnow’s – what style hooks are you using? Do you set the hook right away when the fish picks up the bait or wait a little? How often do you end up deep hooking fish when fishing sucker minnows?
I do not give any line for that reason usually just the rod tip if needed. Sometimes the grab it and take off and all you can do is hold on. If you sweep and miss drop back more times than not they will hit it again. I upsize my hooks. Other than that it is simple walleye lindy rig set up. Most style weights will work most length leaders will work just have to experiment with that and all are kind of depth dependent.
I fish GBay in the fall with suckers and chubs. I use a 2/0 Kahle hook. I run a 3 way set up with pencil weights because of zeb’s.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>gimruis wrote:</div>
Just a reminder that harvest of smallmouth bass ends on Sunday, Sept 13. I don’t know if anyone is specifically keeping them but its worth mentioning just in case.Can you still target smallies if harvest season is closed now?
Yes, but catch and release only until everything closes in Feb.
Hooks … I prefer a Gamakatzu 2/0 wide gap. I don’t give any line either, only the rod length and hold until they hook themselves.
Can you still target smallies if harvest season is closed now?
Bass will stay fairly active until the water drops below 50 degrees. Once it drops below that, it becomes a lot more difficult as their metabolism slows to a crawl and they go into a bit of a hibernative state. You could still catch them below 50 but you’ll notice a steep drop off in activity level. Let’s hope that doesn’t happen for another couple months!
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>canoebasser wrote:</div>
Can you still target smallies if harvest season is closed now?Bass will stay fairly active until the water drops below 50 degrees. Once it drops below that, it becomes a lot more difficult as their metabolism slows to a crawl and they go into a bit of a hibernative state. You could still catch them below 50 but you’ll notice a steep drop off in activity level. Let’s hope that doesn’t happen for another couple months!
It was 62 yesterday
It was 62 yesterday
Cool thanks
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>canoebasser wrote:</div>
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>gimruis wrote:</div>
Just a reminder that harvest of smallmouth bass ends on Sunday, Sept 13. I don’t know if anyone is specifically keeping them but its worth mentioning just in case.Can you still target smallies if harvest season is closed now?
Yes, but catch and release only until everything closes in Feb.
Just contacted DNR and they said you can’t fish/target smallmouths. Season is over as of Sept 13, 2020.
Just contacted DNR and they said you can’t fish/target smallmouths. Season is over as of Sept 13, 2020.
Who told you that? It’s untrue. The MN DNR site says the catch and release season is 9/14/20 – 2/28/21.
Just contacted DNR and they said you can’t fish/target smallmouths. Season is over as of Sept 13, 2020.
That’s not what the regulations say. If what you say is true, then the DNR is contradicting their rules on page 23 of the fishing regulations. Bass regulations are little different specifically on Mille Lacs in terms of keeping one but the season is the same as the statewide regulations.
Smallmouth bass—Statewide(except Northeast Zone)
May 9 – 22 Catch-and-release only
May 23 – Sept. 13 6 combined total largemouth or smallmouth bass
Sept. 14, 2020 – Feb. 28, 2021 Catch-and-release only
Just contacted DNR and they said you can’t fish/target smallmouths. Season is over as of Sept 13, 2020.
Yet another agency embarrassment if in fact an official DNR agent is providing this conflicting information. 
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>canoebasser wrote:</div>
Just contacted DNR and they said you can’t fish/target smallmouths. Season is over as of Sept 13, 2020.Yet another agency embarrassment if in fact an official DNR agent is providing this conflicting information.
#DefundtheDNR
I agree with Andy. The regulations clearly state that the harvest is over, not the season.
“Smallmouth and Largemouth Bass: Beginning May 9, 2020 through May 22, 2020, all bass must be immediately released. Beginning May 23, 2020, all bass greater than 17 inches must be immediately released. Limit of three in combination. Smallmouth harvest ends Sunday, Sept. 13. Largemouth harvest ends Sunday, Feb. 28, 2021.”
MN_Info (DNR)
11:16 AM (2 hours ago)
to me
Good morning Dan,
Thank you for contacting the Minnesota DNR.
No you cannot target a species out of season. You can still fish for largemouth bass as that season goes until Feb 28 2021, if you accidently catch a small mouth just throw it back, but you cannot be actively trying to catch small mouth. If you continue to catch small mouth, we recommend moving to a different fishing spot.
Please feel free to contact us if you have further questions either by email or by calling 888-646-6367 M-F 8:00 am-6:00 pm and on Saturday 8:00 am-4:30 pm.
Have a great day!
Carey Ann
Information Consultant – Office of Communication and Outreach
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
500 Lafayette Road
St. Paul, MN 55155
Phone: 888-646-6367
Fax: 651-297-3618
Email: [email protected]
mndnr.gov
LOL
Back to the mailroom for Carey Ann!
Special regulation…so it must be true? No smallmouth fishing…
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