When I was very young, my Dad used to take me to Sissabagama every opener. It is the perfect lake for kids. Tons of action with small northers. This was 50 or more years ago. So it appears that nothing has changed.
Part of the reason this lake was included in a survey the year I was doing it for the DNR was because they were considering implementing a lake-specific slot for pike. I only gathered the data from May – Sept that season and then turned it all in, along with data from several other lakes. The biologists were the ones who interpreted it and then recommended changes.
This was back when there wasn’t statewide slot restrictions for pike too. Of course now, there is.
Yes, there’s plenty of action for pike and panfish in many of these smaller lakes. They are not great for walleye even though they are stocked in many of them. I personally believe that you will net more walleyes even on the calmer side of Mille Lacs than you would if you fished one of the smaller local lakes.