MilleLacs Sept 1st – What should I expect for Smallie chasin??

Yea, there’s NO doubt that I’ll be checking out the end of the VRBO house dock that we rented. IF it has decent fishy looking water and/or weeds in front of it, I’ll be picking up some suckers to put in my livewell or bait bucket and picking up some of those baseball sized bobbers. My dad always used to put shiners on for me as a kid up at Winnie, so I’m familiar with that approach. Haven’t drowned one in 25 years though I’d guess. Might be a good way to help my whiskey go down in the evenings as we hang out at the house. Love the suggestion!

What’s you all’s favorite or most interesting tackle and bait store in town??

Its kinda sad but most of the good ones close to the lake are no longer there. There is places to buy bait but nothing special about any of them my opinion.

yancimator wrote:

What’s you all’s favorite or most interesting tackle and bait store in town??

Not on the lake, but Princes Bait off 169 to the south is worth a stop. Quality bait and a nice selection of tackle and other items to look at. Reeds, south of town is good for gear / higher end equipment or just to look.

Thanks all!!!

Reeds is closed on Mon & Tues. It id on US 169 just south of the Mn 27 northern intersection. Great tackle selection but bait? TBD
Trailside is in a gas station just south of Mn 27 & 47 on the south edge of Isle. It is worth a look and if they have chubs buy them.

Brian Bezanson wrote:

Reeds is closed on Mon & Tues. It id on US 169 just south of the Mn 27 northern intersection. Great tackle selection but bait? TBD
Trailside is in a gas station just south of Mn 27 & 47 on the south edge of Isle. It is worth a look and if they have chubs buy them.

Heard trail side is getting 20 plus a dozen for chubs. Way to steep for me

Dunno Bearcat. I got some tackle and crawlers there in late June. I haven’t been in any bait heavy place since then. With the choices on the south / southeast end being Portside, Trailside, & Reeds the choices are limited.

Stop at Tutts Bait in Garrison! Huge selection of tackle, best prices on bait. 100th anniversary sale labor day weekend.

Bob I should have given you a plug. You did right by me. I love the Fenwick too.
My excuse is that Tutts isn’t in Isle.

Smallie bite on minnows should just be getting going. Can catch them more traditional ways as well now. Try an find the biggest rocks on a rock pile which there are several in that area. I fish a different area of the lake where I’m located but PM me if you want as I will be fishing at the same time chasing walleyes and smallmouth.

Smallies were eating this morning, caught a couple of the 20 inch 5 pound plus fish and many more 18 plus.
Also caught out keeper walleyes as well as up to a 24.5. Fished from 6am to 1

Bearcat89 wrote:

Smallies were eating this morning, caught a couple of the 20 inch 5 pound plus fish and many more 18 plus.
Also caught out keeper <strong class=”ido-tag-strong”>walleyes as well as up to a 24.5. Fished from 6am to 1

Fishing rock reefs or shallow rocks?

Youbetcha wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Bearcat89 wrote:</div>
Smallies were eating this morning, caught a couple of the 20 inch 5 pound plus fish and many more 18 plus.
Also caught out keeper <strong class=”ido-tag-strong”>walleyes as well as up to a 24.5. Fished from 6am to 1

Fishing rock reefs or shallow rocks?

Started shallow, then worked our way to 12 ft, then 20, out to 28. And opposite working from the deep back in to the shallow. We caught both walleye and smallies in every depth.

Welllll…….. threw the dropshot and Ned rig ALOT this morning all around and on top of several reefs and rocky areas and hazard marked areas. Tough tough tough. Gave it hell for 4 hours tho. Three smallies. One nice one about 4 3/4 lbs. can’t get a pike to even look at a spoon or spinner over the cabbage in 10 feet so pretty much giving up on that. Why can’t fishing be easy like it was 40 years ago???? Lol

Bearcat89 wrote:

Smallies were eating this morning, caught a couple of the 20 inch 5 pound plus fish and many more 18 plus.
Also caught out keeper <strong class=”ido-tag-strong”>walleyes as well as up to a 24.5. Fished from 6am to 1

Similar experience for us yesterday. A bit slower today but still have boated 25 so far… to damn hot today.
They haven’t start packing on the bellies yet.

It is stagnant and hot out today. Virtually no wind whatsoever. That isn’t helping

Bite picked up later in the morning. Until I started to melt. They are hungry. I am hot.

Was a bit of a grind today on The Pond, but we did manage a 25.5lb bag anchored by this toad.

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Nice Brian. What’s the water temp these days?

Also, I’m wondering how the OP’s trip went over Labor Day. He came in from St Louis.

Water temps were 69-70 yesterday

Thanks Craig

Wellllll…………wish I had more to report on the fishing, but it was simply TOUGH. I really appreciate all of you that offered assistance. We fished about 3-4 hours each morning. Air temps were in the mid-90s, water temps were around 70. Heck, I thought I left that temp behind at home!!! UGGG. As I shared with many of you, I just simply don’t use live bait, so I know as always, that hurts me, but it’s just the way I like to go after em. So, we fished about 3 hours a day for smallies and one hour for pike over the cabbage.

Tried drop shotting quite a bit, no luck. Flipped a ned rig and tube quite a bit. Tried hard to stay on rocks, fished many reefs. Used LiveScope, although it’s new to me so not great with it. Only caught 6 smallmouth in total. Three toads………5 1/2, 4 3/4, and a 4 1/2. THAT was fun! Caught only 3 pike. Nothing big. Around 4-5 pounds was biggest. Tried like heck in Isle bay, but only caught one of them in there. Found a good spot in Wahkon bay in about 10 foot of water on the last morning and had more luck. Lost about a ten pounder trying to grab him.

Had great luck at the casino, so that was fun. Was a very nice place and everyone was very friendly to us. REALLY enjoyed the Isle pizza/bowling alley. Played Itazy’s twice. Tore it up on day one……….played terribly on day two and my wife took my money! Enjoyed a Mexican restaurant about 20 miles to the SE of Isle for lunch one day. Great food!

Again, really appreciate everyone’s help! Glad I made the trip. Grabbed some Iowa sweet corn on the way home. And, now back to fishing my home spot………lake of the ozarks next week…….where I actually KNOW what I’m doing!!! Hope everyone enjoys the fall, hunting season, and the holidays!

Sounds like other than suffering through the unusual Labor Day heat, you had a good trip. That hot sunny weather usually doesn’t help the bite.