Opener Reports

Shore spot was a dud this year. I think the moon kept them out of reach. There was a boat parked about 75-yards out that I heard get a few and they were bobber fishing. In all my years fishing this spot I’ve never seen bobber fishermen in the vicinity. Trollers lots of times. This was a new one. The bobber fisherman if they are around are usually quite a ways North up in Vineland Bay.

I may or may not get back to Mille Lacs this weekend. I think it is going to be a bass beatdown this weekend so I don’t know that I want to burn from both ends to go after the state fish.

It’s been a slower day for us. 2 keepers for the 3 of us. A few smallies and pike. But nothing to crazy

Slow. A modest take for us and saw very few fish caught, despite lots of boats.

We started at about 7:30pm last night. Got the first fish about 9:45 and got 20 fish through 1:30AM, and nothing for the next 2 hours and called it quits at 3:30. All on crank baits.

Only good bite I had and heard was at night pulling cranks. Anything during the day was slow.

Day time was slow for us, did decent Sat night 7:00-10:30 Slip bobber and a leech

We did well after dark pulling cranks. With the wind we did not even go out in the day.
We do midnight every year. No crowd, and get to hang out with good friends during the day.

Slow for us on the east side day bite. The fish we got were deep out on first break 27-30 FOW.

-J.

I haven’t seen the lake that slow in a long time. I boated a keeper at 6, and the boat didn’t get another fish all day. Marked a lot on the break in the sand, but all the boats around us were slow and saying the same as we did, 0-1 fish total. Ran to the flats and humps on the north end, didn’t even mark a fish.

The north end water was coffee colored, never seen that before. I think the late ice out and the monster storm right before opener messed everything up. Water level rose probably 8 inches from last weekend to opener weekend as well.

Alex Fox wrote:

I haven’t seen the lake that slow in a long time. I boated a keeper at 6, and the boat didn’t get another fish all day. Marked a lot on the break in the sand, but all the boats around us were slow and saying the same as we did, 0-1 fish total. Ran to the flats and humps on the north end, didn’t even mark a fish.

The north end water was coffee colored, never seen that before. I think the late ice out and the monster storm right before opener messed everything up. Water level rose probably 8 inches from last weekend to opener weekend as well.

What did you observe for water temps Alex?

Wanted to go for walleye but it was just too windy to get on spots that would hold them in my kayak. Went for bass and started skipping docks with wacky worms that was a bust went to chatter baits in 6-8 feet and started catching lots and lots of 12-13 inchers at some points every cast.

Sunday was a lot better went out on White Bear and caught 1-2 pounders all day with a couple of 3s not much size but nonstop action all day. Sight fishing with a wacky worm and flipping reed mats made it a great day. You would see them poke their head out from under the mat and then nail it. Such a blast. Also broke out the frog for a quick couple of fish at the end of the night. Bass thumb is always a good thing stopped counting at 35.

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Was nice out last night with the lunar eclipse happening. Fish were cooperative after dark. That moon was so bright before the eclipse.

Low 50s in the shallow sand to mid to high 40s on the main lake.

Headed up Thursday it’ll be my first time fishing it open water. If you don’t mind my asking what depths should I be targeting? Thanks

Depends on where on the lake you’re going, but I would stay shallower at this point. North end sand holds fish on the first break through June. But you’ll find fish anywhere. If you are marking lots of small perch, move to the next spot.

I finally had my energy back from the long day Saturday and returned to Mille Lacs after the eclipse was over. This time there were lots of eyeballs swimming around. I managed to land 5 of them all under 20-inches before they scooted about 4 AM. First came on a suspending Jerk, the next three on a 4.75″ paddle tail, and the final and smallest fish came on a SZ 14 Clown Husky Jerk that decided to take s swipe at the back of the lure. Felt good to get some licks in before the night ban. May or may not get out there again this month. One of the things that sucks about the night ban is that it concentrates the pressure into a window of limited time. I can drive over there and not have much to work with.

Agree night ban is silly at best. Glad you got into some.

Took off from the south end Saturday at 9 am and went to the north sand in the waves (I know that was a questionable decision!). I didn’t even have my line in the water and my buddy shouts “fish on” and catches an 18 inch Walter on green Fireball and a shiner. Spent about the next 4 hours moving around the sand. I missed 2 and that was it! Changed baits numerous times and worked back to the south end with zero success! Went in for Tacos around 5 and back to the water at 6. Filled up the boat at Hunter’s Point and started working the east shoreline with crankbaits switching lures and speeds until 11 with zero success! I got my 1st walleye at 11:30! 15 Walleyes between midnight and 1:30 with a monster smallie! 8 ft of water with Salmo Stings 1.2 mph, purple and maroon. What a day!

Hatch99 wrote:

Took off from the south end Saturday at 9 am and went to the north sand in the waves (I know that was a questionable decision!).

Lol I bet you took on some water during that travel route.

Just a little!

3 of us fished out of the Red Door Monday and Tuesday. Total fish was 4 walters (1 keeper) 2 pike, and 1 nice smallie.
Granted, we only fished about 6 hrs each day but bite was crazy slow for this time of year. Tried everything, saw lots of fish on the graphs, their bellys must have been full.

Any updated reports from the sand lately? I’m assuming most are pulling lindys? Thank you all